The Osceola times., 1884-09-27
WASHlNGT0N'S Kiss.
stiIl Lingering In the Memory of AL Aged
Woman,

'
Hundred and Twenty-third street, yes.
terday aft rnoon, "why don't the Jour.
nal interview Mrs. Nancy Skidmore, the
eldest woman in New York, if not in
the world?"
The Journal reporter had never heard
of Mrs. Skidmore, but expressed his will
ness to call upon the lady.
"All right, will take you around to
her house." said Donnelly.
Together the visitors proceeded up to
One Hundred and Twenty-eighth street
and walked east until the black waters
of the Harlem river were in view.
There is the house." said Mr.. Don
nelly, pointing to three story wooden
structure which had once been painted,
but which is now worn and discolored
by the storms and SHOWS of many years.
1t is numbered 23s East One Hundred
and Twenty-eighth street, and is owned
by Mr.. John Campbell. a greal-grandson
of Mrs. Skidmore, and who is the pro
prietor of meat stand in Washington
market.
The inevitable Harlem canary, in the
shape of a well developed William goat,
was calmly chewing section ofthe pick
ct fence when the reporter and Mr.. Don
nelly entered the yard. The goat stop
ped chewing and looked inquirngly at
the visitors as if Cebatinp whether to
charge upon them or not. The reporter
threw William an empty tomato can,
which decided him in favor of peace
A small tow-headed girl opened the
door in answer to the pull at the door
bell, and the reporter inquired: "Can /
see Mrs. Skidmore?"
"My Observation-Disclosures is not
very well, but guess she will see you, F"
was the reply, as the tow-head and a
glimpse Of red stocking DASHED up the
stairs Mr.. Donnelly and the reporter
seated themselves in the little parlor to
await the appearance of the female cen
tenarian. A faltering step was heard
coming down the stairs, and the tow
headed girl opened the parlor door and
said: Here's the gentlemen, grand
mother"
"Howdy do, gentlemen" squeaked the
lady in a piping voice, as she sank into
"A big garm.chair. Mrs Skidmore certain
ly appeared to be over century old.
Her form was as thin as match and
the bones could be seen sticking through
the skin of her arms. Her face was the
color of parchment and she resembled
closely an Egyptian mummy which the
reporter had seen in the Eden Musee.
Fetch me the invigorator, Jennie"
she continued, and the girl brought a
quart flask, from which the old lady
drank it quickly. 1t smellel like whis-
ky and the reporter asked:
"Do you ever use liquor, Mrs. Skid
more?"
The latter smacked her lips and re-
piled:
"Ever since was seventeen years old
my dear. ldr.nk about quart of strong
whisky every day ami DR.. Biaedon oI
Harlem says it, the only thing that
keeps me alive
"fIow old are your asked the report.
er.
Il was born in 1764," replied Mrs
Skidmore. "That will make me l2C
years old on the Both of next Deceni-
ber."
Seeing an expression of incredulty On
her visitors faces she cried sharply
"Bring me the Bible, Jennie On cx-
amining the ancient relic the following
inscription, blurred and faint with age,
could be dimlv distinguished: "Nancy
Nevers, born December 80 l764.'
That's it," exclaimed the Old lady
triumphantly. "Its in the Bible and
that settles it. | was born in this city
on what is called Ann street, near where
the site of the Postoffice now is. That
was considered GU, IN the country then
and | remember young David Barker
who was my first husband, had to leave
my house every night soon after mid
night to get down town TO work in the
morning. That's when he was courtng
me-" and Mr.. Skidmorc smiled at the
recollection Then she called for the
flask, and after an interval, resumed:
81 was married five times. My last
husband, Adolphus Skidmore, who com
manded the Skidmore Guards, died when
] was ninety-six years old. don't ex
pect to marry again, as ] promised him
not to-"
The old lady sighed as if regrettinl
her promise, and then remarked blithe'
ly:
"What handsome man General
Washinton was! / remember him de.
livering his Farewell Address to the
army on Battery Green. How grand ano
noble he looked! And when he bent
down and kissed me, how happy l felt
Poor Mr.. Nichols, who was then my
third husband. W. real jealous about IT
But coiae and So 'u collection of curl
osities,N said Mrs. Aidmore.
She conducted the visitors to bed
room upstairs, where git from every
President from Wash uetnn TO Arthur
We're displayed upN Iitc sn,r nantel
Washington had givoD hr i So it-Dnttor
which has since turned a ~ tmsh color
but Mrs. Skidnorc insists that it is rea
gold; John Quincy Adsms presented hel
with ole of his back teeth which ht
had broken off while eating railroad
sandwich. From Lincoln she had pret
ty silk handkerchief Ex. President
Grant had sent her an empty cigar box
X. b. Hayes a bottle of cold water ano
an essay on How to live on fourteen
cents day" and President Arthur hac
given her pair ol his gaiters, which ar
somewhat badly used.