The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-08-05
VOL. XIII. New Series---VOl. 2.
Points and Paragraphs Of Things
Present, Past and Future.

| 1HE COMMONWEALTH mas once D0
tore printed something about tina
noted old man, Noah Rabey, who live
IN New Jersey, but who was born il
Gates county, North Carolina. Per
haps as interesting reading as we could
put in this column of "passing events
is what the New York World said O.
Mr.. Rabey, Monday, July 25th. That
paper said:
Old Noah Rabey, whom to call old il
not disrespectful, has received his sec.
ond sight.
True it is but glimmer and for one
eye only, the left, but when it is said
that Noah is 125 years old the wonder
grows.
Old Mr.. Rabey is the prime exhibit
in the Piscataway poorhouse, near New
Brunswick, N. J. Henry Hummer
the overseer, is proud of him and re-
sents any imputatlon upon the old
mans veraclty as to his vital statistics.
When Mr.. Rabey reached the 10th
anniversary of his birth on April LIST
the overseer gave him party, and the
recipient was as pleased as if 12O years
had been knocked off his age.
Just afte.: that time The World sent
| New York oculist to examine the old
mans eyes. For ten years he had been
totally blind. Cataracts had formed but
the oculist found that they were drop
ping very, very slowly down and that
glimmer of sunshine would soon visit
the old man, long past the span OF life.
It was deemed impracticable to bring
old Mr.. Rabey to New York tor an op-
Grafton. His age forbade the trip and
the necessary shock. The oculist did
what he could on the spot and nature
did the rest.
When the first ray fell upon the al
most worn-out vision Mr.. Rabey was
enraptured. Hope still tells fatter-
ing tale to him. He is ambitious to
celebrate his 15Oth anniversary and
beat all records outside the Bible.
There is a beautiful tree in front OF
his window and he has seen that tree.
He can hear the birds sing in the
branches and see about where the
winged choristers are perched.
So much excitement has told upon
him and he was in his bed yesterday,
weak but happy. The kind overseer.
who treats him as nearly like MEM
of the family as possible, would not dis
turb him.
His room is just off the living rooms
of the oyerseer, In long, rambling
white house which nobody would take
for an almshouse. It is one of the
most cheerful poorhouses in the world.
Mr.. Rabey has borne his years and
his lack of sight with spirit uncom-
planning and thankful heart for be-
ing simply allowed to live as long as
possible IN the world which he says is
good enough for him.
The physicians do not believe that
the renewed sight will last long, but
are not cruel enough to tell Mr.. Rabey
so. Neither do they hold out any
hopes to him.
So popular has the centenarlan be-
come that the overseer of the poor
house has limited visiting days to Sat
urday afternoon. To all Noah Rabey
tells the story of his life. He says:
81 was born in Eatontown, Gates
county, N. c., on April l, 1772. I
lived there on farm till was 81.
Then worked in Norfolk and Ports
mouth as lock-tender. While there
I heard George Washington make
speech.
"I went on the old Constitution for
a years training, after which was Or
dered to do duty on the Brandywlne, a
receiving ship.
"Next I worked in the Brooklyn
Navy Yard, and after three years ser
vices there got my discharge papers
and lost them.
~ then got work on the Connecticut
farms, one mile from Elizabeth, in
New Jersey, and I have not been out
OF the State since.
"Thirty-one years ago l came to the
farm here, and have been here without
interruption"
Mr.. Rabey lives on bread and milk
with occasionally boiled rice and fish
on the side. He makes no trouble and
is philosopher of philosophers.
He Is a little man, feet inches
high. but age has reduced his height
He Is very particular about his toilet
and when women call to see him, be
lkeeps them waiting while he spruces
up.
/ Mr.. Rabey has snow-white hair and
whiske-s, which he wears neatly trim
~ ~,<~1