The San Francisco call., 1901-12-29

NH editor. Can you make water
burn7 hat one interview with
Nanny Pleasant and my hat is
of to any one who can make
her talk when she doesn't want to.
Nanny lives out on Webster street, in
a dingy, old house, with a dingy old
stove and a faithful, old colored servant
who forgets TO light the hall lamp.
Nanny describes her as good but re-
curing a powerful lot OF talking to-"
One Of Blammy's eyes says just enough
TO give one a weird. uncanny feeling-as
though you were being hypnouzed At
my first interview I had bumped up
against a red-hot silence and her sphinx
ike conversational powers had not taken
q back seat in my memory. At this afore-
said interview Nanny had remarked that
she made her hit in life by keeping her
mouth shut. So I was prepared for the
worst as rang the bell The door opened
one Of those spooklike upper-hat doors
that open from above and leave the cheer
less guest gazing up in the darkness.
Hello. there" said Nanny in a CHEEKY
tone when my name was announced.
Behold. my lady Of moods is a bundle
OF surprises. Dumb yesterday-she is talk
ative to-day-always keeping interest
alive With the unexpected.
IT was afraid you might be angry al
me-" said as drew a sigh Of relief.
Me: Mad7 used to get mad-eut no
more. used to waste powerful lot OF
energy in that way: IT'S foolish. When
you have eighty-eeven years over your
head and the experience that ~ had
you recognize the fact that other folks
have a right to their point Of view.
IF you think the same as I do. then
there's no disruption and fight Ike
70 fight and I'm as brave as a rooster-a
game rooster-ready for fight IL he sees
one coming. I'd rather be a corpse than
a coward. II I'm dead I'm all right, but
as Iong as I live want to fight to win.
And don't want to be carried to victory
on fowery beds Of ease. either. 1 like 70
90 through bloody scenes. The papers
car say what they want as far as ] an
corcerned. When I am in fight any by
play doesn't feaze me- Some folks take
themselves too seriously. I take life
Joke and get lots Of fun out Of it.
Il know which SIDE my bread is
buttered On. and IL II aiat buttered at
all eat # just the same.
You tel those newspaper people that
they may be smart. but am smarter.
They deal with words. Some folks say
that words were made TO reveal thought.
That amt so. Words were made to con-
ceal thought"
Nanny admits eighty-seven summers
and the Lord knows how many winters.
but she scarcely looks 80. She claims
keen interest in life and the study of hu-
man nature keeps her young.
II haven't much book education: 1 study
people. don't require so much book edu,
cation. for don't need it. don't deal
with books. I've seen people that have
studied books till they knew nearly all
the books in the library. but when they
meet people their knowledge is locked in
the library and they're lost out in the
world.
Il am a great believer in. work. Do
.yess-H-orI and get through with it. I've
washed for twenty mine In family IN early
da:s. and sat on the lawn in the after
nocn. I'm not saying how well the work
was done-perhaps the selvages weren't
hung ex9ctly straight. but the work was
doro. ard that's the main thing. 1t woull
tale IN ordinary woman days to do that
WORK
There was some mighty grand living
in those days" said Nanny, spread SUP
pers and boxes OF balm tea. Do you know
what balm tea is? There was an old