St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-07-13
Our Seventy Club.

Mrs. Mary R. P. Hatch has delight
ful article in the Club Woman on st.
Johnsbury's Seventy Club and as this
unique organization has a national repu-
tation the article will be read with much
interest.
"There is something inspiring and reso-
nent in numbers. They sing true. They
do not lie and seldom deceive. The 600,
the 400, the 70! What better title than
the last could have been chosed for the
unique club born on the birthday of a
dear old lady in St. Johnsbury, VT?
One is usedto seeing all sorts of move
ments in the young, even the middle
aged, if we admit the term but for old
ladies to form club of their own, with
the age limit of 70, is surely proof of
AN occasional new thing under the sun,
and this has been in existance since Oct.
4, 1891. The Seventy has its officers,
constitution, minutes, ETC., and the
members meet on each Others birthdays.
That there are more meetings in the cold
months than in summer argues, / think,
that persons born in the winter have
better constitutions, or perhaps it is only
case of 1.-THE survival OF the fittest," in.
dicating that an infant living through
its first Vermont winter is surer of
long life than babies of the coddling
summer months. One old lady, Mrs,
Hazeltine, born on Feb. 14th, was ad-
dressed by the members as "Our Valen.
tine" she died last winter at the age of
92 When lady reaches the age limit
che w hacnu1a n
of small fee and by telling the story of
her life. The papers read and presented
before the club bear such titles as "The
Venezuela Question" "Woman's Suf
frage," "Cuba," ETC., and while it has
not been my pleasure to read any of
these papers have not the least doubt
that they cover quite as satisfactorily
these vexing questions as many another
and more ambitious attempt. Could an
enterprising reporter hide himself behind
a door or screen during meeting of the
Seventy Club he would get good bit of
copy OF the unique order. while the folk
lore" hunter could enhance his collection
by quaint stories, poems and proverbs
known to the grandmothers and great
grandmothers who constitute the club.
However much club member may mean
to young women it means infinitely
more to these dear old ladies who have
passed many mile stone in lite's pill
grirage and are now to pass from the
mystery called lie to the scarcer greater
mystery called death. But they do not
feel old in spirit; it is the body only
which bows to times assaults. They
are young in their enjoyment OF the pres
ent, their interest in the future and in
their rich treasures of "reminiscences.
The fame OF this club has gone abroad
into other places. In the West thereis
one modelled from it, as its, founder
wrote to the president, Mrs. Bingham.
who is sweet, dainty gentlewoman of
the old school, with whom it is a far
greater pleasure to converse than with
many younger woman. Indeed, there
is peculiar charm for contemplative
minds in the companionship OF those
who have done with active service to the
world, who have rounded their half
century and came near to completing
the perfect circle, as have some OF these
ladies. For which they still see darklv
1t will soon be face to face; and it doth
appear at times as II sort Of presence
came to such, their vision is apt to be so
clear and true, their estimate of people
and matters so strongly accurate. i'll
have tinted little lugubriously this
picture of the Seventy Club. l beg it's
members pardon, for certainly there il
no hint OF melancholy in their lives; they
are just as sweet, Jolly and companion
able as young girls"