Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1878-04-19

Away off in Central New York,
there lives Mrs. Lydia Graham,
who has just celebrated the 102nd
anniversary of her birthday. The
celebration attracted no little atten-
ton throughout the country, with
occasional streaks of humor, of
which the following letter. which
we find in the Port Byron IN. "
Chronicle, is a sample:
WATERTowN, N. Y, March %.
10 Mrs. Lydia Graham
DEAR OLD LADY: On looking
over the Utica Morning Herald to.
day l saw it announced that you
had just passed the one hundred
and second anniversary of your
birthday. [ write to congratulate
you on the occasion. l will euclose
with this poem, with my compli.
ments. On the eighty.seventh an
niversary of my birthday I called
on thirty-six widow ladies, all over
seventy years of age, aud which
was performed by going on foot in
different parts of the city. I left
with each lady a copy of the same
kind of poem that send you. All
were in my own handwriting. That
evening l was invited to tea by one
of the ladies. 1 called on her, and
to my agreeable surprise 1 met with
half dozen of the ladies that I
had called on. We had very soci-
al and pleasant time. made music
for them by playing some of my
old style tunes on a violin, which 1
have owned for more than half q
century. One week later was in.
vited to attend the celebration of
the birthday of an eighty.four year
old widow. There 1 met twelve
widows, all over seventy years of
age. The lady's name that gave
the entertainment was Baker,
which made out the BAKERS dozen.
There we had u social time, with
music, but no dancing.
Now, L relate one little incident
in my life. The year was eighty
years old 1 called on a widow lady
at Carthage, and after having a
very pleasant time, 1 said, "Now,
Mrs. Hubbard (by.the-way she
went by the name of Grandmother
Hubbard, am now only eighty
years old, healthy and active, and
have been thinking and looking
around to see if 1 could find some
one that would be willing to share
with me in the joys and sorrows of
a downhill life. What would you
think If 1 should make you the
proposition?n After a moments
consideration she made the reply
that she made promise to never
marry man that was younger
! than she was. She then was past
one hundred and two years old.
This was damper upon me.
However, L survived it, and still
remain q widower.
Now will close by wishing you
good health, prosperity and bappi-
ness during the remainder of your
life, and may you finally be re-
ceived into happier sphere.
II. d. CALDWELL.
WATERFOWL, N. Y, Jan. "a, 1873.
Days Oh my youth, ye nave gllded away;
IL airs OF my youth, ye are frosted and
gray;
Eyes OF my youth, your keen sight is no
more;
Checks OF my youth, 20 are furrowed all
DER.
Days Of my youth, 1 wish not your recall;
Hairs of my youth, regret not your fall;
Eyes of my youth, much evil have seen;
Che eks OF my youth, bathed in tears oft
have been.
Thoughts of my youth, ye have led me
astray;
Strength Of my youth, why grieve at decay?
Days Of my age, 20 will shortly be past;
Agonies and pains, yet awhile may We last
Joys Of my age, in true wisdom delight;
Eyes of my age, let faith give you sight;
Thoughts of my age, dread ys not the cold
sod;
Hopes of my age, b, ye fixed on your God