National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-26
NINETY YEARS OLD,
Talk with a Remarkable Lady from
MONTGOMERY County.

montgomery county,
Miss Melissa Greenfield, of Montgomery County.
Maryland is visiting friends in this city. She is
very interesting character and for one so aged is
exceedingly bright and agreeable. She has not
only reached the three score years and ten allotted
to man. but has gone twenty years beyond it, being
ninety years of age, with every prospect of COM
plotting the century. HermemOry is excellent, and
She related many Interesting stories of her carly
lea and events connected with the early history of
our country. She was a young lady when the
battle OF BladenSbuTg was fought, and had a lover
and five brothers in the service at that time. She
says Tie excitement throughout the surrounding
country vas intense after the battle, and people
dared not venture from their homes, as the high
ways were filled with rude s0ldiery who spared
neither friend foe. After the destruction of the
Capitol she visited the ruins, and remembers the
old well where number of cartridges had been
stored, which, by accident OrdeSign, were fired and
exploded with terrific force, throwing down build
ings and killing many soldiers. The British,
alarmed at this explosion and the terrible tornado
which ragged al the time fled precipitately from the
place.
The first view of the stcam-cars made deep i'm
preston upon her, and she says they reallyseemed
supernatural and an emissary from the Evil One
Her mother often talked about the hard times af-
ter the Revolutionary war and how difficult ii was
10 obtain supplies, and told her about one time in
the winter season they were obliged to send man
on horseback 10 Baltimore to purchase salt with
which to cure their pork, and he paid SIS bushel
fOS it.
Her first experience with raising tomatoes is
quite amusing. She had heard of the new fruit or
vegetable, and was curious to see them and taste
them. a friend kindly sent her some seed with
instructions to plant them in very rich earth
and when they were very red they would
be ripe and ready to be cooked. which
must be done in butter She says she
followed these directions and watched every
day to see them rpen, and was delighted when
she saw them ready to be cooked. They were
brought Upon the table, and the family gathered
around to enjoy the treat. But alas! what disap-
pointment; the taste so peculiar, SO disagree
able, not one could eat them, and they were
thrown away, and the unpleasantSmelling vines
We're destroyed, and it was years before she saw
any more and not then until they appeared in our
markets and were only purchased by the wealthy
She saw Jackson often during his term of office
and knew Mrs Eaton very well. She did not ad-
mire jackson, and could never be prevailed upon
TO visit the White House during his administration
Last summer, when visiting Washington, she at
tended the Christian Church and was introduced
toTencral Garfield. Heconversed with her for some
TINE and she has great respect for him. and hopes
10 be here when he is inaugurated
Miss Greenfield Is very plain in her tastes has
always resided upon farm, and has never worn
aTuite or an overskirt, and, of course has never
been guilty of bangs. During the late war she
eSlouSed the Southern cause, and was bold de-
hant rebel, and we are little afraid has not yet
been reconstructed.