Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1895-04-25
THE CHARD ANNIVERSARY

Aunt Hannah Cbard celebrated her one
hundred and seventh birthday last Satur-
day at the residence of her son Joel, in |
Ferrell. The Chard family was well repre-
sented and came from all over the southern |
part of the State.
All through the day visitors called from |
far and near to pay their respects to the old !
lady, and quite number dropped in on
Sunday.
Aunt Hannah looked as fine as peacock |
in her black dress and snowy lace cap, as
she sat in her chair OF state receiving the
congratulations of her visitors. She has
tack of pneumonia, but shows little effects
of it now, and the indications are that she |
will live to celebrate many more birthday |
anniversaries.
The old lady is living example of the
truth Of Shakespeares famous saying, that
"Some are born great, some achieve great |
ness and some have greatness thrust upon |
them" She shows that in order to become
famous, it is only necessary to 60 on living |
and presently your name shall be as widely |
known as that of George Washington, or |
Mrs. Lydia E. Pinkham. And why not =?
Many have conquered nations, but none
have conquered death and so it is only |
natural that when we hear of persons who
have withstood the Alch enemy for an un-
eI1 70
see and congratulate them.
Among those present were noticed ex-
Senator Pierson, who himself is no spring |
chicken, and is not in the least ashamed Of
it; ex-Judge Stratton, James Benezet and a
number of other prominent citizens of Null |
lica Hill Millard F. Dubois, urbane and
handsome, suPremely satisfied with the
world and most especially with the popular
Surrogate Of Gloucester county; and County |
Clerk Ridgway who, smiling and affable as
usual, dropped in like a flash of sunshine,
and shook hands with all the voters, as well
as Aunt Hannah. John V. Beckett came
up from Mays Landing to see the old lady |
and renew his acquaintance with the boys |
and girls who passed under the rod in his
hands when he taught the public school
here good many years ago. Many other /
well known citizens of this and adjoining |
counties called during the day, and Chard's
corner presented quite holiday appear
snce. During the afternoon the hat was
passed around among those present, and a
snug little sum of money was contributed
dame.
From the fact that Aunt Hannah has no
documentary proofs of her age, there are
some who doubt it. However, it is abund-
antly proven, by the known age Of her old
est child, and by the recollections Of those
who have heard their parents speak of the
length of time she has been in this vicinity
and her apparent age when she came, that
she has long ago passed the century mark.
If not 107, she is not far from it. The
deeply lined face, immobile, passionless and
sphinx-like; bleached to an ashy paIlor by
the sunshine aud storms of many years,and
her general appearance, not showing de-
crepitnde as much as the imprint of Times
fingers, afford convincing proof that life's
journey has been long one for her.
The associates of youth who participated
with her in the activities of life have, with
one or two exceptions, long since gone, and
she is placidly awaiting her turn to hear
the Master of life call. And as the years
60 by faster and faster, it is curious how
the past becomes mixed with the present.
So hard sometimes to separate them, and to
distinguish between dreams and realities
Was it yesterday the children were play
ing about her knee, and the good man was
coming up the lane from his work-or was
it long ago? And the stage coach with its
toaming horses goes numbering down the
Bridgeton turnpike enyeloped in cloud of
yellow dust, and the drivers whip cracks
merrily, and the sound of the horn comes
loud and clear across the fields as they
swing around into the yard at the old Pine
Tavern. Was it last night the fox hounds
went bayiDg down the swamp with the
hunters shouting noisily after them, and
the riders went galloping down the road
until their hoofbeats died away in the dis
tance-or was it only fancy?
How strangely things turn about, with |
bewilderiDg kaleidoscope variety of forms. |
There's new house oyer the way, but it is |
not as interesting as the old one; and there |
are new houses all around with new faces |
at the windows that come and go, and the |
people pass to and fro all day long, but SO |
different from the Ole, and how can one he |
come interested in them But the old |
things were the best, and the old flowers |
sweeter, and there's mellow sunshine of |
remembrance over them all.
An Offer to Public School Teachers
The New Jersey Forester, a bi-monthly
journal, devoted TO the development of our
forests, in its March issue makes the follow
ing offer: "The ten teachers in the public
schools of New Jersey who write the best
essays Of one Thousand words each, des-
criptive Of the trees of the forest-conditions
of their neighborhood, may attend the 1895
session Of the Avalon Summer School of
Forestry, free Of charge. The essay must |
be ready by June 1. For further particu-
lars apply to John Clifford, Mays Landing,
N. j." There is great need in America OF
education in the principles of foestry.
These prizes are offered for the purpose Of
stimulating the teachers to the study of
forestry, and through them to reach the
coming generation in the public schools,