The new age. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1902-190?, 1902-10-04
LEARNING TO READ AT 81.
(The Inter ocean,

LEARNING TO READ AT 81.
(The Inter ocean,
Danville, ILL.,, Sept. 5.-The saying
that people are never too old to learn
is exemplified in the case of Mariah
Vance. Familiarity known by hun
dreds of citizens of Danville as
Grandma Vance," who at the age of
81 years is learning to read. This of
itself is remarkable, but 1t is equally
wonderful that she is learning "her
letters" as she calls it, without the
aid of spectacles. She declared yes
terday that she could see as well as
she ever could. She said that she
had been a hard worker all her life
and never had the time tos tudy I'M
til recently, when she has been left
with considerable leisure. She has
been making her home with son,
William, at $40 North Gilbert street,
where she receives attention and is
permitted to enjoy herself as best
she can.
Besides being able to see as we'll
as she could when she was a young
woman, Grandma" Vance Is in per-
feet health. with the exception of
slight touch Of rheumatism now and
then, which, she says, interferes
somewhat with her favoritte exer.
cise-walking. She attended the col.
ored peoples picnic Friday and walk
ed as much that she complained of
feeling tired when she returned
home. Her daughter. Mrs. William
Vance, says that she insists on walk
ing to church, several blocks from
their residence. and the condition of
the weather does not seem to make
any difference.
She walks to church after night
often. and she is usually back before
the rest of the folks arrive. Her
appetite Is excellent and her hear
ing is as acute as 1t was when she
was a girl.
Was Never a Slave.
TGrandma" Vance's history is an
interesting one. She was born more
than nienty-one years ago on Round
Prairie, Sangamon county, ILL.,, and
was raised in the country five miles
west Of Springfield ana in that city.
She was never a slave. but her
mother was in bondage In Virginia
and was owned by William L. May.
When Mr.. May removed his family
from Virginia to Sangamon county,
he brought Mrs. Bartlett, Mrs.
Vance's mother. and two children.
Marian and Betsey. May raised
Mariah and DR.. Todd. an uncle Of
Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, raised Bet
sey. Grandma" Vance says that she
was bound" to Mr.. May, as was the
custom Of that time, until she was
rs years old. Her sister was bound"
to DR.. Todd and remained in his ATM
lily until she was of legal age.
At the age of Is the sisters started
out to earn their own living, but
worked nearly all the time in the
families of Abraham Lincoln and DR..
Todd. Grandma" Vance. of course,
was well acquainted with the famil-
les OF both Mr.. Lincoln and Dr. Todd,
and now ailudes to the sons and
daughters of the doctor as the Chill
dren." She had played with them
nearly ninety years ago, but to her
they were still the children. She
went to Springfield, which place she
still calls her home, asfew years go,
and on the occasion of that visit had
found things so changed that she
scarcely recognized the old place.
Packed lincoln's Belongings.
Mrs. Vance says that she packed
up all the belongins of Abraham Lin
coin and his wife before they went
to the White House to live. and after
this was done she cleaned the house.
carefully closing the windows and
locking the doors when her work was
he
MOTEL. and delivered them to the pro-
prietor. who handed them to Mr.. Lin
coin.
Il never saw Mr.. Lincoln anv
more, said Mrs. Vance. sadly, until
they brought him home dead" She
says President Lincoln was one of
the best men in the world She knew
mis- when he was a struggling young
lawyer. His treatment of her was
always kind. She says that DR.. Todd
was also a good man, and was very
KIND to her sister, who had lived
In the family from the time she was
years old until she was of age.
Mr.. Navy. the man who raised
me. was one of the kindest-hearted
men In the world" said Mrs. Vance.
Il remember one day when he was
away from home. his son made me |
go out into the field and work. | tell |
you his father got after him when |
ne returned home. for he never would |
let me work in the field. After that |
was never asked to work in the |
field AGAIN."
Mrs.Vance says that she was about |
10 years old before she ever saw a
colored person other than her mother
and sister. One day she saw a col
pred man coming along the road and
tearing that IL was an evil being that
had come to do her harm. ran a
quarter OF a mile to the house and
herself.
Treasures an Old Stand.
Grandma" Vance treasures an old
fashioned stand that the wife of DR..
TODD gave her for a wedding nres.