The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-11-07
BABIES BY THE LITTER.

The Remarkable Fecundity of the
Austins-Three Mothers With II2
Children Matr0n Who ScOrns
Anything Less Than Twins.
Washington Post.
"Is Mrs. Austin in? asked the Post,
upon being odmitted to a neat little
cottage, en- the corner of II and
Fourth streets, yesterday.
''That's my name" replied the lady
who opened the door. "Have a seat.
sir" The Post man accepted the prof
fered chair, and, turning towards the
lady, observed that she was above the
medium height, of full figure, not
more than fifty years of age, and,
though feshy, active. Her hair was
sprinkled with gray, and the only
eye she was possessed of, blue. That
she enjoyed good health and a fine
constitution her whole appearance
indicated, and her manner was that
of woman who could take care of
herself.
Mrs. Anstin,' began the reporter,
"the Post sent me to interview you"
''About what? Oh, know; about
the Children Eve had. Amt that
it?"
''That it, precisely, madam"
"Well, PIl tell you all about it.
Pm not ashamed Of it. I've given
birth to forty-four children, and Pm
not an old woman vet, am I? l don't
feel old, anyhow, and l don't believe
1 look old. I'm not quiet fifty-1our
yet, but I'm so near it I mightas well
call that nay age; I'll be ffty-four
years old on the 18th Of this month.
Ain'tI I young woman to have had
that many Children? I've had forty
since l married my present husband,
and he's right out there in the back
yard now" Stepping toward the
rear door she called called out,
civilian, come in here
Then she resumed her seat near
the reporter, and, ratified right ON
said:
my husband don't like NE to tell
about the children I've had, but 1
will do it. He's ashamed oft, but I
amt. I'm proud of it and why
shouldn't be? 1 got cause, don't
you think so?
The reporter replied that he had
seen people very proud of a single
child, and on that principle Mrs.
Austin certainly had a right to be-
come ecstatic Of forty-four. Just here
a gentleman entered the room, and
Mrs. Austin, pointing to him, said :
''That's NY husband, and forty of
my children belonged to him. Now,
William, you needn't shak, your
head at me; Tn just going to tell the
reporter all about it. 1 say it's
nothing to be ashamed of. Then
why shouldn't I tell him if he wants
to know? Yes, sir(turning to the re-
porter), I've had triplets six times
and twins thirteen times. Inever
had less than twins at a time"
'.How many Of these children
lived, Mrs Austin?"
"Only eleven of them were born
! alive; all the others were dead at
their birth Why, I've got sister
only forty-three years old and she
had twenty-six children, and eight of
them are living to-day. Her names
Carry Kinny, and William, there
husband-has got sister that's had
forty-one Children, and ten Of them
are living yet. She brought eleven
Of 'em to this town"
E'Does she live here now?"
''No; she's moved to Connecticut.
What's the name of that place your
f sister went to, William? Oh! !
| know now, Norwalk. That's pretty
good for one family, amt it,? Where
can you find another family with
three women that's had as many
children as me and my sister and
2 my husbands sister"
: care you native of Washington
: Mrs. Austin?'
T ssNo. indeed. was born in Soutl
t Carolina, ard raised in Tennesses. Ny
e grandfather's name was Irby, one O
/ the big families of South Carolina.
5 come of royal blood 1 tell you My ia
o ther was John @. KIink, a printer
f He published paper in Memphis be
h fore the war. Casey Young knew hin
y wen, I've been through the war, i
T you want to know about that 1 en-
e listed in 1862 in Tennessee.
+ "On which side?"
/ son the Union side I've never be
# trayed my country. I've always triec
! to be a loyal and God-fearing woman
Il I was sent to the hospital service in tn
army Of the Cumberland, and Py
: been right to the front and taken tn
wounded of the battlefield. Oh
Lord !. that was an awful time Pv
!. been through the storm, 1 can tel
It you. You see Pm a regular physician
IS have been practiing for twenty-hy
: years. l was one Of the first wome