New-York tribune., 1902-02-17
YOUNG AT NINETY-ONE.
SOME OF THE THINGS TO WHICH MRS.
YARBROUGH ATTRIBUTES HER
LONG LIFE.
WATER EVERY MORNING-HAs NEVER
WORRIED MUCH.


Mrs. James Gates Yarbroush. a Southern woman
now in New-York. expects TO celebrate her ninety
second birthday on May l3. She retains all her
mental endowment. and is physically we'll and
active, except that sight Is almost wholly
Her excellent health she accounts for in this way
Perhaps it's because I always got up early while
the morning glories We're in bloom and fun OF dew,
n the DAYS when we had fine. old boomy gardens
and people all lived in whole houses (all their OWN
where they had TO turn around and breathe
4 fortunate then. in having financial
worries. I did have lie awake nights trying
plan for the next day. Those the things
that kill youth and strength. We went to bed
early and arose early. We took time to eat and 10
sleep. work and to play. We had fewer enjoy
ments, perhaps. but they were simpler. purer
deeper. and lasted longer There
spirit Of neighborliness when I young. We
laughed and cried together. worked and prayed and
kept faith in God. helped each other when one was
down. and sent him along full of cheer and hope
People rolled logs together. they danced to-
Eether, and every felt he had a neighbor. You
didn't have TO possess millions be rich. and very
few were so poor they didn't have anything We
opened windows. did our hearts and let
in the fresh air and sunshine and perfume OF the
flowers
I never took much medicine We had the doc
tor when necessary, but IL was a sort of pleasure
TO get sick little. sometimes go TO bed and be
petted. and actually paid TO take the medicine and
chicken soup We had plenty of company and So
cal entertainments. did not dissipate and keep
late hours and eat late dinners. Bless you no!
Our dinners were from y TO o'clock year in and
year out-and delicate supper
"Of course, 1 have had great sorrows in nv long
life. but have always tried to repine as little as
possible. for fretting does no good and makes
everything harder. I have never allowed myself
any idle hours for worrying. Until 1 lost my
woman possible, bur was busted with my own
hogsehold affair affairs-work that was full OF love and
10 help others who needed nett was not the ever
lasting rush ana crush and wear and tear that
wears OUT ana Kills people these DAYS.
AN my life have taken a cold bath every morn
ing, hot bath several times a week bur never a
Turkish bath No Turkish bath for me 10 steam
lime from To 6cInc' 10y aI'6r e. ger up at any
mild laxatiye and hold my head under the cold
cools off Ny daughter protests against the latter,
nsfer 90 how w. 6o9 a19 Il ta geIeyeS me
nathed ny lace IN The coolest water could get
metics, save little baby powder sometimes after
using bath OF CASTLE soap to get the dust out Of
away to clean the face and neck beanfifuijY E and
lightly brashed off afterWsrd Of coaTse one one a9
posure to sun and winds. especially The March and
carry parasols when out walking or driving. Women
co noI seem 10 care much for fine compilations
cover it. or grow old and paint it over Only vui,
gar women used 10 rouge, but long before lost my
sight ] saw respectable women painted though
We girls used TO wash our faces in buttermilk.
rain water, lemon juice. boiled with the white OF
egg. and such harmless lotions, and rub on
fresh cream TO take off any sunburn after travel,
d picnic fishing party.
7 ha e never been 'fussy' about diet. ! any
thing I like, drink coffee and tea, and always
drink glass Of cold water as soon as 1 get up in
the morning
Ths speakers complexion is as clear and IN
eyes. though nearly sghtless, bright and
expressive that il is hard believe that they are
blind She has travelled much in her native South
and through the North and remembers incidents
and people with accuracy that makes them still
q source Of interest to her.
II was all SO different in the old days, she says,
reiectVely. My grandfather served in the Revolu-
and mother born in those stirring
times and died at the beginning of the Civil War,
Her stories OF the Revolution, heard from my
grandmother. were the delight of my childhood
days.
7 have seen a good many changes myself. Your
modern cOnVeniences are good In their way, but
you pay dearly for them. You may live more, but
we lived longer I think that the sweet, free, un-
conventional intercourse of neighbors and friends
without much social rivalry. has much do
with health and long life People knew each
other at church. both in cities and everywhere in
my day, and children were better acquainted with
their fathers and mothers, and wives and husbands
cared more for each other because they lived more
Tor each other When people got married they
were married until death do us part To be di-
NOrced be dsgraced,"