The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-27
AUNT JENNIES 1Os YEARS.
FREED FROM SLAVERY IN 1904, fET
STILL WITH HER MASTERS FAMILY.
ssitisus OF Her Youth and Habits or Her
Old Age-Her Mysterious Reticen~e-Ru.
mors that CHE In youdOoed.

Old Age-Her Mysterious Reticen~e-Ru.
nors that Che In youdooed.
Jennie Adler has lived on the Cutler place at
| Morristown, n. j., for JOG years. Ex- Congress-
| man A. W. Cutler has traced her SO far back
| beyond all question. There are some things
which make him think she is still older. II is
| possible. even proba BILE. that she Is ITO years
old. But in view Of the doubt he gives her age
| a. 100 and makes the statement confidently.
| The members OF tho family call her Jennie,
| or Aunt Jennie. So do the townsfolk. Her
| last name is matter Of tradition. She some
| times hcsitates herself when asked what 1t Is.
| so unfamiliar Is she with it. She Is colored
| and a servant. Everybody in Morristown
knows all about her, although few have seen
| her, for though she is strong aud active and
accustomed to walk out Of doors in all sorts OF
weather. she has not been outside Of the front
gate In thirty years.
Old Jennie was born a slave in the days when
they had Slaves in New Jersey. Tradition has
1t that she was born in a negro hut adjoining
the house where she now lives. The place
was then known as the Condit place. 1t was n
| large, fertile farm. and on it stood the family
mansion OF Silas Condit. a great man in the
days OF the Revolution. when he represented
New Jersey in the Continental Congress-. 1t
was n very respectable thing then to own
slaves and Silas Condit had plenty OF them
Tradition says that Jennie Adler was IA likely
young neGress black and Jolly. and favorite
in her masters family. Silas Condit's dauch-
ter married Col. Joseph Cutler OF the New Jer-
scy State militia. and. in course OF time nher-
tied her fathers mansion and acres. The es-
tate soon became known as tho Cutler place
as 1t Is to-day. Col. Joseph Cutler was thu
fnther OF ex-ConGressman A. W. Cutler. He
DIED f. I mnny x years 1. ago: ,,,uu,
gradual emnnncipation which extend ed over
not avail herself OF her liberty. She had mo no
folks EXCEPT the Cutters, and no home en-
Sept owa hf no E dec.a as 10 hs me master
viii most Of tie family slaves and she y aursea
"s When she s Mss s csts4 ;S Ss
hrs jane ss" d: S ana
t woas II s mere na ,"n vs y s1s Gd
who nmrsed her when a baby is still strong
and active and smokes her daily pipe with as
nursed the Congressman. too. She did not
nurse the present generation. She was get
they were children, Even then and that WAS Wss
long ago. she was the last Of the Cutler slaves
and an am ,;E the very few of the New Jersey
For many years Jennie hasbeen moody and
sllent' seldom speaking except when spoken
Or f that her temper or disposition is not agree.
aSe she hs is eSers set and
sorrows heartily. but after a fashion Of her
own. Mrs; Mrs Cutler is the only one Of The family
we Even IS MSs the art
srenks old times Ths is np r ns sfuS s,
vsiISped aeit , on 1ennies part It has grown
ent members OF the family can remember
Jennie tnrv has been noticeaby reticent There is
tradition through generations Of negroes
1 ronn, w the time M,on when jennie was
cGmely-alI the traditions MAKE ser eom nIv
%aa Gir,Mshe was very gay and happy and
mac . hearty laugh and no end of nonsense at
her masters family. and she had many adj.
mirers among the young negroes. There
ored people Without Jennie. and Of course she she
Inspired 1salousies among the colored girls Of
to picnic Before the fostvities we're H" over T she
% wa missed. IT There was great search for her
ad n rn nway sf II. ,hSnSh
where Sic had been bit She weS dsK nos tell ef[
talIy she ted What had S Sap aedrt t.
her her that pisht. and it was never learned. But
lie From that time her lips were closed to
chat cha and laughter She avoided the society II
She shs Ssd by ss.
men. and she never married.
rS N9 Soo wnat n was the matter with 1en1e
Voices she @ss rely You On a isT
what that the only shake thu II head;
thug to be hoodnoed ia ajso METZ awful
their talk that devils have a hand in the
operation. "
Now; at The ago o. 1oG; Jennie is very in
teresting old woman. She is not erect hut
she holds herself we'll and. wa ks slowly. hut
faca !. a mmc NI;nssd ihs aid "i cane Her
Her sight and hearing gre fairly good. She
pretends to read. although whether She knows
how or not Is secret which she has iealously
members OF the family. She has not been re-
quired TO work for many years. Still she works
daily. She brings In wood from the pile in the
back yard. and the summer kitchen is her
special charge. This kitchen She sweeps and
dusts and arranees every day. whether, used
her duties are ended she sits down by the fire
f9r hours ut time with book in her hand
She loves pictures.
Jennie takes her walk outdoors every day. no
matter what the weather IA. She always wears
red bandana wound around her head after
est or wettest day she PREPARES for her walk
merely by wrapping shawl around her Shout
| de!s She despises an umbrella as she de-
spises cane. She has not been of the prem
ieeS for thirty vsn "a md huSp fray Cd