The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-09-06
sToRY Of A LONG LEE

hundred and thirty-second birthday ami
versary If sSe lives until the l4th day OF
! next November.
/ She was a eusky little pickaninny in a
big farm kitchen at Valley Forge. when
| George Washinstons hungry soldiers be-
gan 10 climb the barR-yard fences Of the
reighhorhood-
Cntil few days ago there was every
reason 10 anticipate that she would step
as lightly out OF the old year as she en-
/ tered it-or at lesst would cross the mile
/ stone on her own small feet; but slight
attack OF pleurisy has intrEded on her
confidence. She has been lifted out Of the
/ huge armchair that hstherton comforta-
/ bly, engulfed Eer tiny bent form. and has
/ been intrusted 10 2 white cot in the Home
| for Aged and Infrm Colored Persons.
/ in West Philadelphia
Mary. a pipe2" asked a visitor re-
rroachfully as the box Of tobacco was
| espied beneath the table There was no
1 penitent embarrassment in Mary's re
/ Spouse. Her dim eyes twinkled as she
I turned her head. she stretched out
wrinkled. emaciated hand and with loyal
fondness reached for the pipe Three
! tines a day throughout her present ill.,
ness it has been her conidant and com
| forter.
The physician who attended her made
/ no objection. She cannot remember when
/ she did not smoke. She learned how 10
use the narcotic weed from her white
mistress. in the reign OF King George
/ III. When any one. not OF her own race.
/ frsyns on her frequent prolonged indul-
| gence. she always narrates this piece OF
history and peasively closes the CONVEX
sation. Her earliest duty as an linden
/ tCred maid was TO hold the taper that
lighted the pipe OF her superior. She
soon learned how 10 hold il for herself.
No one appeared to think anything OF il
when I was girl, she often replies.
She was never q slave bat lived
In the family Of Reese Howell from the
age of four until she ended her maiden
I hood by becoming a bride at eighteen.
Household GomeStics were then held by
contract They were bound for a term
| Of long service as securely as if they had
signed the agreement. Mary was one OF
the fortunate waits who was happily
placed among strangers. She won kind
ness from all of them; and looks back
over a hundred years 10 q giTlhood bright
ened by long walks. horseback rides
quilting-bees. and popcorn parties in the
glow of open fire-places.
She never danced to the accompani-
ment OF a fiddle in the barn. Il didn't
care for that" she explained. with a dep
recatng gesture. Il had plenty OF other
exercise" To Mary's permanent regret
II must be recorded that she never had
any exercises in reading and writing. SO
she has never read any book except
Natures.
"All the schools We're pay-schools when
was young she remarked and there
were not even pay-schools near Valley
Forge. SO I had to learn by listening 10
what l heard about me every day
Her cheerfulness is one Of the secrets
Of her long life-in not only her own
opinion. but that OF the scientists who
have studied her history. She never was
worried. she told me candidly-not even
about her age. Proof of this looks down
from the wall of her room. Mary has per-
mitted a card to remain there which tells
the whole world the date of her birth:
MRS. MARY N DONALD
WAS BORN
THE ELEVENTH MONTH. THE FOUR
TENTH DAY.
IN THE YEAR no
In a small postscript of pardonable van
ity she reads on the placard every day
or would read if she knew how to spell
that she has sewed 1881 pounds OF carpet
balls since January. 1891, without using
spectacles.
Il never wore glasses" she adds in
comment 10 increase the wonder that her
record excites.
But this summer her sight has failed
slowly. Cataracts are forming over both
eyes And her hand is less steady I'm find
Ing her pipe. But her voice remains
clear her hearing is keen. and her mental
faculties apparently are as strong as they
were when she was only a hundred years
old
She does not seem TO weigh more than
forty pounds. Her fral, withered BODY
sometimes droops like a piece of old
brown parchment; and only the soft lace
cap and white apron betray A woman 5
presence in the depths Of her favorite
-11-sw
mates her appears inexhaustible. She
does not care to talk when her head pains
but at all other times she is a winsome
hostess. for she chats of events that no
one living except herself ever has seen
and she always is ready TO laugh az the
Wit Of herself or others.
Valley Forge is the word with which to
conjure when she drifts into words OF
meditation-when her brown head falls
low on her breast, and her clay pipe
slips from her withered fingers. II never
fails 10 fathom the deepest reverie or
tempt conversation out OF Hstnessness. /
Her voice grows strong with excitement.
as she pictures the tragic scenes Of the
revolution, and her whole being quivers
with interest.
Valley Forge, Oh. il was dreadful.
dreadful I'll never forget the FIRE and
noise The soldiers were tramping all
day long-up and down up and down We
couldn't take breath between the Skin
mishes- / have been as close to them as
you are 10 me. once / peeped through q
crack in the wall and was almost blinded
The smoke was 50 thick and heavy
around me that I couldn't see my own
hand
A college professor. one warm day re-
Gently interrupted Mary AZ this poins q
her narrative. He wanted 70 apply q
scientific test 10 her memory.
Was the weather as hot al that period
as it Is Just now2' he asked introducto-
rily 20 the cross examination
Mary's voice changed Instantly she
either OWNED his intentions or pronounced
him guilty Of objectionable ignorane~.
Sir. don; you know your couutrv's his
tory any better thar ;hat2" she sscl8lr1-
ed. Indignantly You ought t. be
ashamed Of yourself"
That is another side 10 the picture u
life al Valley Forge that makes Mary
diuinutive form shake with laughter
When she banishes the gloomy visions -
battle and forgets the boom Of cannon
that 'skeered her So much ~ night she
loves 70 talk ahout the continental ans
form ard the escapsdes q its wearers in
farmers storehouses They found 81 Mar,
learned conspirator she knew whsr.
che best mats. potatoes. and apples -vere
hidden in cellar and barn stall ard she
dealt them cut Win - lavish a hznd fhsr
Reese Howell himself Yves bereft ~ CO.
portunity. lie steaifhily avoided discover
Ing her plots
sde was a patriot says Hsrr admir-
lnglT. she sBsaks = a re.ehbor nannel
Issac Walker. who also vas good e. TIE
soldiers 4 member % the Society % the
Daughters - the Revolution has Under