New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-05
FULL OF SUNSHINE AT 1O2.
MRS. PHGBE W. CRABBE IS TWO YEARS
BEYOND THE CENTURY MILEPOST.


SHE rs THE OLDEST MEMBER OF THE TRIBUNE
SUNSHINE socIETY-HER BIRTHDAY TO
BE CELEBRATED TO-DAY.
Mrs. Phoebe W. Crabbe. Of Norwalk. Conn. an
honorary member OF the Connecticut Branch OF
The Tribune Sunshine Society. and the oldest
member OF the organization. Is celebrating the
io2d anniversary of her birth to-day.
Mrs Crabbe has many friends. who will call TO
congratulate her and wish her happy returns OF the
day This will not be inappropriate for Mrs.
Crabbe is enjoying her old age. Once she said to
q friend: ~ used TO think the years would pass
slowly when I became old, but they seem TO go
faster and faster"
The callers will enjoy their visit. Mrs Crabbe
Is never tresome. She lives in the present as well
es the past She IS keen Of perception still and
quick and logical thinker. She grasps readily
what is said. and replies without hesitation. Her
old fashioned humor is highly entertaining.
Mrs Crabbe was born August 8. 1877. in North
Stamford, Conn, two years before the death OF
George Washington. There were several brothers
and sisters in the family. of whom nearly all lived
m be eighty and two passed beyond the ninetieth
birthday; the last, Mrs Sally Bailey, Of Litchheld,
Mich died last year after nearly attaining an age
Of ninety-1ve years.
In 1876 at the age OF eighteen. Mrs. Crabbe Joined
the Congregational Church at North Stamford.
She believes she converted at six. BY letter
she ioined the Stamford Congregational Church In
1872 and is still a member after lapse OF fifty
seven years.
She married David NJ. Crabbe IN 1880, and to-
gether the two lived until Mr. Crabbes death In
1855 at the age of Lightweight. Mrs. Crabbe's
father died in ls45, aged seventy-fve, and her
mother in 1850 having become an octogenarian.
The hundredth anniversary OF Mrs. Crabbe's
birthday was a notable event in her simple lie
Upon that occasion she received large number
Of friends and acquaintance. Many OF these she
met standing, and for all she had some appropriate
word.
The Stamford Congregational Church presented
her at that time with silver loving cup. suitably
engraved. and a friend added bottle of choice
wine a little Of which she was to drink from the
cup. AS the cup containing the wine was pre-
rented TO her she uttered remark which revealed
the Puritan simplicity Of her life. Said she: Il
am not much OF a drinking woman and my hus-
band was a temperance man. But the force OF
habit formed in early years and continued through
nfe that of putting others wishes above her own,
asserted ITSELF and she slipped little OF the Wine
Mrs Crabbe was trained early after the fashion
Of our New England forefathers and had to
memorize parts of the Bible by chapters, as well
Is many long hymns. These she could repeat until
/ serious attack OF the grip a few years ago de-
prived her memory of the larger part Of these
treasures The Bible and a few books dealing with
The sacred volume were her favorite reading. and
At the age Of ninety-seven Mrs. Crabbe was Nv
ogo DeTforung herself the simple duties Of her
little household. and dispensing sunshine TO all VINO
eame In contact with her sphere of existence. II
6 related that when q touring wheelman would
tsk for an apple from her orchard, she would MI
nag and insist on his taking IT away with him.
When the accompanying portrait was taken, Mrs
rrabbe sat in a stn backed chair having thrown
sown her cane. To the artists expressed desire
70 have her look in a certain direction she said with
smile playing upon her lips: 'lll do anything you
Want me to. I'll submit. I've been doing 1t all my
few DAYS ago, when asked TO become member
" The Tribune Sunshine Society and contribute
message TO other members as her eues, she Sc
ected these words Trust in the LORD and &c
rood; so shalt. thou dwell in the land and verify
.hou shalt be fed -, ,..u 49, en-
In talking over the kind Of work which the so
,Iefv nerforms she told Of family which she
sncs endeayored TO aid AS she put It, i TOOK
bag over my shoulders and went around 70 IN.
se'ehhors To- gather up what i could get SHOES
md stockings and clothing were the articles enc
Mrs Crabbe thinks her friends are good to her
sha sometimes declares that when they are gon'
he viii 60 back TO her little farmhouse again q
dive Should death call at any time she w0ulC
DOT be surprised. yet her and tbre
GTeat- grandchildren.