Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-10-17

Alive at lol.
The town of Wilton, Conn, enjoys
the distinction of having among its un-
usually large number Of aged citizens,
a person who lived beyond five score
years, and who is probably the only
centenarian at this time in Fairfield
county, and probably in the State.
This is not new to the community In
which she dwells, for everybody knows
and reveres Mrs. ClariSSa Davenport
Raymond, who. humanity speaking, has
fair chances of reaching April %,
1884, when she will celebrate her 192d
birthday and enter upon her 103d year.
Mrs. Raymond resides opposite the
Congregational church in Wilton of
which she became a member before
most of those who surround her were
born. in a mansion which has about it
lines of antiquity-just such a spot as a
centenarian would choose as an abiding
place. ''Her GIRL" as Mrs. Raymond
fdmlliarly calls her, Mrs. Nathan Com
stock, now drawing nigh to seventy
nine years and well preserved matron,
keeps house, and she is assisted in that
duty by son, Mr.. John ComslOck,
nearly sixty years old and his wife,
and when his son, Mr.. Frank Com
stock, aged thirty years, and his wife
and children come up to the old home
from Norwalk to spend the day, as
they frequently do, the scene under the
old roof is one peculiarly interesting.
Mrs. Raymond takes upon her knee
children of the fifth generation, and
talks to them of events occurring a
great while ago, when she was a child,
like them-years before George Wash
ington had been thought of as candi-
date even for President of the United
States. BY chance she might tell them
of his first Inauguration as President
in New York, in 1892. when she was
10 years old, of his death and the sor-
row which accompanied its announce
ment, in 1899, when she was IL years
old. Favored ones are they indeed
who can enjoy the privilege Of listening
to the intelligent narratives of their
great, great grandmother, and this
veteran, amiable in the lingering twi-
light of the evening of life so pro-
tracted, can interest those who are
older by calling to their minds events,
some of them historical, which she
actually observed, but which they knew
nothing of save in books, and she has
frequently been known to correct the
errors made by those who have gone
into print as historians wearing the
garb of authenticity. Mrs. Raymond
is very genial, and rarely forgets face
she has once set eyes ON. She hears toll
ably well, and her sight is so acute
that she can thread coarse needle and
read coarse print unasSiSted by glasses.
| She moves about the house with tir-
mer step than many who are fifty years
her junior, and when conditions OF
weather permit calls on her friends
residing near, walking to their houses.
She attends church seldom now, but
her interest in the church has never
tagged, and no mere welcome visitor
is on her list than the Rev. Frank
Thompson. A few days since she
called on Mrs. George. A. Davenport
and vividly described a thunder storm
which took place seventy years ago.
One secret of Mrs. Raymond's lon
gevity may be compliance for untold
years vita the rule, ''Early to bed, ]"
etc. In this particular her habits have
been regulated, as it were, by the
clock, and as consequence each
mornings light, to her, means glad
ness, and days decline and darkness
sombre" bring neither dread nor sad
ness.
When asked day or two before how
she felt, she said, "Well, as usual,
though L believe I'm getting old. ?"
Mrs. Raymond has no lack Of visitors,
many of whom call simply that they
may look upon the face of a centena-
rian. She has a pleasant word for
each, and she never forgets to express
an affectionate personal regard for all
her real friends.