The Portland daily press., 1898-07-14
RECALLS WAR OF 1912.
birthday Anniversary of Aged Portland
Lady.

Mrs. Susan T. Peters, mother of Mr..
george U. Peters, cashier Of the Canal
National bank, celebrated her 93d birth
DAY yesterday at her residence, No. AZ
Cnapel street. Mrs Peters is remarkably
well preserved for one of such advanced
age, ana talks entertainingly, her mind
being filed with delightful "reminiscences.
She particularly recalls the old war
times. When she was about seven
years Of age the war of 1912 broke out.
and some of her childish impressions of
that conflict are as vivid as though they
were occurrences of yesterday.
''It was a delight to me-" she saws. "to
view the militia companies coming in
from the country walking along King
street while their band Of one drummer
and two fifers perhaps played Yankee
Doodle or Jefferson's Liberty"
Mrs. Peters remembers the funeral of
Commanders Blythe and Burrows of the
Boxer and Enterprise which she witnessed
fromsthe roof Of theIKing. street mansion.
AS some of the priyations consequent up-
on the war of 1919. Mrs. Peters recounts
how her aunt used to make carrot coffee
having the carrots dug from her garden,
scraped and washed, then dried and
roasted in the Dutch oven, then pounded
in mortar and prepared for the table.
AS a little girl she was brought up on
purely milk diet so this makeshift for
coffee dill not bother her, hut it must
have been very trying to lovers of the
genuine article.
'Oh, there were hard times for awhile.
I can tell you. And what time of re-
joicing there was when peace was pro-
claimed The news came in the night
and the bells rang out Justify. EFor several
nights previous theresh had been alarms of
fire which had called the citizens from
their beds at unseemly hours and suppos-
ing this bell ringing WIGS for the same
cause my uncle arose and dressing in
haste came out at the front door in no
very genial mood just in time to encoun-
ter his sons, who rushed into the house
exclaiming. Father. it's peace It's
peace. WELL said my uncle, If it's
peace let us lie down in peace and he
marched into the house until he should
have soothed his ruffied feelings, which
was quickly done, for everyone particle
pated In the general rejoicing and jubi.
lee.'
Mrs. Peters tell church remin iscenoe
of her childhood. The whole family at
tended DR.. Payson's church, their seats
being just back of the pew occupied by
the family of Hon. Levi Cutter. On this
particular Sunday the numerous family
of Mr.. G. filed into their pew each with
spray of flowers in their hands. All
went well for while, but presently q
restlessness manifested itself among the
youngsters and there were whisperings, u
comparing of floral treasures, perhaps at :
tempts to exchange. Be that as it may,
however, presently the pater arose ard
collecting all the flowers he reached over
to little Susie, who had been bestowino
looks of admiration upon them for some
time. he placed the whole bouquet in her
hands "Well," she says, 81 was the
happiest child you ever saw, 1 know. !"
There she sat in her little corner seat
scarcely daring to wink even lest she, too,
might suddenly lose her prize. At the
close of the service she took the hand of
her eldest sister, young lady who was
devout member of DR.. Payson's church
and such a display on the Sabbath day
troubled her rot little, but she evident
ly tried to conform to circumstances until
happening to spy a large feur de lis
among the collection she gave it gentle
FLIP with her thumb and finger, scatter
ing its petals far and wide at the same
time remarking sweetly, 81 wouldn't
have that one if were you, it is such
gaudy flower for Sunday whereupon
little Susie sat herself down upon the
curbstone and cried heartily for some
time, refusing to be oomforted, much to
the chagrin of her loving but very Puri-
tanical sister.
At the time of Mrs. Peters's marriage,
DR.. Payson performed the ceremony, it
being the last time but one in which he
off iatad in that canaojty