New-York tribune., 1903-02-04
1O2 YEARS OLD.
Mss IHartense, IN Good Health and
Spirits. Celebrates Her Birthday.

In speaking TO the circle cf guests who Sat
about her TO offer eongratula tons YESTERDAY On
| the anniversary of her birthday. Miss Raehei
Martense said slowly
I am 1c2 years old to-day
| Just Think Of that" somebody interposed while
the elderly spinster got her breath and coht1ueu-
Not many people live to be as old as that
/ Except for knee-I dislocated that coulo
/ walk all over the house Ny memory is just as
good il ever was" Miss Martense stopped
| speaking and looked back at her waiting woman
who for ten minutes had been standing by the
| aged womans chair to help in the conversation
Ellen, sit Nown,' said Miss Martense
| Just then the bell rang and Ellen had 10 go
/ to the door Two came in ana Win
| them very small hoy.
Have I seen you before?' asked Miss Mar
| tense, as they took her hand and gave her flow
! erS. There were only chairs left
Ellen. called Miss Martense. 'get chair TOT
the little boy ottoman suff1ced for him. and
he in the with mis- young eyes very
wide open
Miss Rachel returned the boys gaze and
asked how old he She was sitting IN a 10"
armchair facing old-fashioned stove Her
usual seat is a couch where she is comfortable
! with pillows and LOOK out Of the windows
! but this her birthday and callers were
expected, Miss Martense said she would change
her place TO make for people to SIT
about her She wore for the occasion silk dress
Of fifty years ago, and diamond brooch WIhch
has long been kept for these birthday anniversa-
r1es, and in her hair were festooned some white
carnations
ELLEN fixed these" said Miss Rachel as she
pressed in Of the side combs.
is it all straight. EEen?" she had asked before
the guests had come. for Miss Martense IS woman
OF this old school daintiness and delicacy.
HER OWN HAIR DRESSED BECOMINGLY.
Her pretty white hair. OF which many e. younger
woman would be proud is snowy. and dressed
with pufs at the side and small knot on top.
Not many years ago her hair came out, then grew
ar--ir7 he hroyy be,
it is white again
A spray of orange blossoms was fastened on
Miss Martense's Dress there were roses on the
uanteI. carnations and other flowers on the win
dow SILL where she could them. Yes. she was
fond of flowers, always had been. She used to
raise them" This Miss Rachel" told her guests,
and Ellen, who has lived with her for eight years,
and has heard from Miss Rachel the remi-
niscences Of her young womanhood, told for her
how assiduous Miss Rachel had been with her
gardening She always busy" said Ellen,
and between whiIes she made these" Paintings
and ernbroideries all through the were her
handiwork, a large screen. numerous pillows and
ribbonwork. when ribbonwork was rare The large
parlor across the hall contained still more trophies
embroidered rug, and the old-fashioned high
backed chairs, with back and seat embroidered on
black satin.
The house where Miss Rachel" is now living is
in Flatbush-ave, at Linden-ave.. large white
homestead, which has been II the Martense FAMILY
for years. It has pillars across the front and
stands well back from the street. the way all the
houses used to within Miss Rachels'' remem-
brance. She recalls the times when people went to
Brooklyn by stage. by cars and then by horseless
cars" as she says Miss Martense herself used TO
ride horseback good deal as a girl
TO WHAT SHE ATTRIBUTES HER AGE.
Before coming to live in town. which is the way
Miss Rachel refers to her present home, she
lived for the first fifty Of her life in farm
house away on the outskirts Of the modern Flat
bush community, and here she spent good deal or
life outdoors. It is this life she considers is due
her longevity. She worked in her flower gardens.
and when she tired there took up her en-
broidery but. although she knew all the ways Of
the household the drudgery Of its tasks did not
fall upon her. for that was in the time Of slavery.
There were eight slaves on the farm and three
slave women in the house But @ the ad WGen cb 91 fe
with al the national characteristics OF industry.
about two hundred ysa5s and a fncfd n N ene fge
in land was the only thing necessary possess il,
and foundations were made q;s fer eomI9rsa0e ba @
is one of the reasons Tor her long life, t,ou
Longevity is also family characterlS1c s &c ts t1ss
seTersI relsfives Miss Raches three nephews,
Sha5 GaG the they 5'P@ had II reached s5 old age
are gsTsFaa said gofn MISS fTR Rach gesferday
s.They are only eighty years old, but they look
good deal older than do.
A QUICK OBSERVER
As a shrewd observer of humanity Miss Martense
has lost none Of her acuteness Sometimes visitor
will come TO the house and ask Show me the old
lady" but after such caller had gone MISS
Marteuse said;
'-They think they're going TO see a mummy Out
they'll find I haven't lost my wits yet
Miss Rachel is always sweet and aEniaoe so
that her faithful attendant delights to Tait a qPqb @
her and her nephew. Joseph story; VINO ItNeS
her is pleased to give her everything that she oe-
sires. ,,,.s hos I,een From
-ITond she has ma de 1t her habit to TO bed at
e'rIock and even when there was company she eA-
oodvy emf
& G has NOT risen until 40 o'clock but by that
t SO s tIe ria bIy stirring in preparation for the
'.incI breakfast which consists always OF TWO
coached eggs some kind Of meat tcflop Stethc u
PoooI1S and potato. She has always been aple 10
& aLy3erv+hing she wanted and she can DC so 10
80 Ferween meals she takes Slgnl stliiIIeIlL u
and Yesterday she slipped from time to time from
slss ft6 o. deep interest in phanthrophy which has
led Miss Martense until recent Sea1s ed m mtRsiasrn
ana ar Sf +b life about her. The newspapers are /
I'D 70 her each day, and she has been nuch InLsl
rs esCeG - IN New-YOrk and Brooklyn Among those
791bo came TO see her yesterday We're he lephS~'
", 1,3s11 % Miss Zabrfskie John D Prince Jr
~ Nr and Mrs Homer L. Bartlett Mrs SchaeIerr'
EaTr;S "a - Miss Wilbur SIiss Wnshp. Miss GARRISON
Mrs SchOnuard Mrs Baron MISS y I "a So,,+ Gu
4ovrers or fruit till the reception room was 4Ul'e
filed,
WoMAN's WORK FOR WOMAN.
naw and beautiful building erected by the
xor,an,s Home Missionary Society OF the Meth
5is+ E-niscopaI Church for the training OF mission
- - daaconesses for service In this country
- at baen dedicated Washington The
b,,i,dfnR-is known as Rust Hall. and stands as a
memorial to Mrs Elizabeth Lownes Rust the ac-
tive founder of the society. ana uhtli heI ued' "