Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-12-05
Long Livers.
The Montville section of Uorneeacut


is paradise for old people. Within q
radius of two miles from AlIyn's noun
tain, that historic knob on the Thames
river midway between New Loncon and
Norwich, are to be found more old
people than in any other part of the
State. There seems to he a subtle, un-
defined something Ill the air that helps
old people to live on and on hereabont.
and to keep their spirits buoyant in the
utter abseuce of hope of ever being able
to cross the dark rIvor and JOIN their
friends on the other shore. A few
months ago Noah Champman, the old
est Masol in the State of Connecticut,
died at the age OF niaety-seven years
and six months, and only short time
before that Guy G. Stoddard, of Gales
Ferry, hero of the war of 1912 passed
away at nearly the same age. Both
these men were active workers in the
troublous time of our late war with
Great Britain, aud lent invaluable aid
ut the time when Commodore Decatur's
fleet was blockaded Ill the Thames
river by the British squadron. The
historic Did earthworks, now crumbled
and reen with age on the top Of Aliyn's
mountain, which were created by Deca-
tur to prevent the British from ascend
ing the river, have barely outl.sted the
lives OF these two remarkably aged men.
Across the river from here, In Ledyard,
are more than a score of elderly ladies',
ali OF whom are widowed pensioners of
the war OF 1872.
Directly opposite Allyn's mountain,
on the west bank OF the Thames, in
this town, are the beautiful grounds OF
the kltemaug association, and Organiza-
TIN Of Norwich genfl man who came
down here summers to cath catfish aud
PLY bILocle and visit their ceutenarian,
Directly III the rear of their park stands
the hum. le cottage of Marvin Smith,
who Is now IN his hunlredth year. He
will be one hundred next spring II he
lives. And yet this man OF 50 many
Years does not look a bat over sixty.
He Is ali old farmer fisherman and Is a
ixvoT.te oil the kItemaugers, and their
guests a: g invsr ably given to peep at
the Old gentlemen. Nor should his
worthy 81 ouse be considered at all
BACKWARD III coming forward with
great age. She Is elghty-seven ard has
just celebrated her birthday. Tho oc-
casiOn WAS phenomenal one. Many
wore th,rs. Children of the fifth gen.
elati,n were present, but none we're
younger and none seemed to enjoy
themselves better than MIR. Smith hIm-
self. Mrs. Smith took as much interest
Ill the birthday reunion as would a
young girl She got out some bedquiit
work and to set an example for her
nieces and grahi-niecee, and i murely
stitched and chatted with the rest.
She comes OF a family remarkable for
their longevity. During the day, with
out the aid OF her glasses, she wrote
letters Ill bold, found hand to each OF
her three sisters, Mrs. Eunice Deer. OF
Waterbury, aged eighty-four; Mrs.
Prudence Lord, of GriswoId, aged
Mrs. Charity Cliff, OF
Mystic, aged seventy-elght. The COM
bined ages of these five persons aggre.
gate AL years. Mrs. Smith is OF Mystic
stock,
Mr. Smith is small, wrinkled man
with long, white beard, which Is the
only feature suggestive of his great age.
he is little hard of hearing, but reads
without the aid of glasses. he is act
i've as ever, and goes out to oyster in
his little row boat as easily and rs handl-
ly as he did ten Years ago.
'How does 1t feel to be hundred
years old. Mr.. Smith," asbed the re-
porter.
81 don't know as it feels any dif-
ferent than il did when l was fifty years
old, was the reply. 81 don't ieel any
older now than did twenty-five years
ago."
The old man is not anxious for news
paper notoriety, and some times is de-
clde1ly non-cOmmunicative. Again,
when his interest Is excited, he will
talk uninteruptedly for hours upon the
changes that have come over the world
siuce he was boy. He saw the first
he bought tue first stove that was ever
used IN this town and lived down the
opposition of his town people in conse /
quenca. He had lived long enough to
have railroad run through his front
yard, and he had noted the successful
rise OF the telegraph and the telephone
and the spread of newspapers. All
these things interest him, as heis posted
Oh the worlds work; ''but for a man of
my time of life" says he, ~ must be
looking toward other thau these puny
Inventions of men,"