The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-02-23
1O5 YEARS OLD.

ldest Woman in the State Celebrated
 Birthday.
 Easton, Feb. 21.-Mrs. Deborah Silli- an celebrated her one hundred and urth birthday at her home here. She
 the oldest woman in Connecticut.
 ITS. Silliman, who was born here, has bt been out of town in the last fifty ears. 1e
 In converse ton, while her voice is not
 rong, she is keen at response and giv- to wit. She is devoted to reading er Bible and religious papers.
 The birthday of Mrs Silliman is ,rt of holiday in Easton. The towns eople call and offer their congratula- ons to the gentle old lady and not a ew of them bring some little token of aeir respect and esteem for her. In he gathering of her relatives are a umber of Bridgeporters.
 Mrs. Silliman was born February 21, BOO, within few miles of her present one in Easton, then a part of Fair cid. Deborah Staples, as she was ern. was the belle of that section eigh- E years ago, but every one of her asso- dates of that period have passed away. he has a remarkable memory and can arry on a conversation better than aany women at the age of seventy-five ears.
 During her quiet life, which was spent within radius of five miles of her resent home, Mrs. Silliman has trav- led very little. It is no exaggeration to lay that she has never seen an auto 1nobile, has never ridden on trolley ar. and the furthest she has been away rom her home was a trip to New York ity over fifty years ago.
 Motherly and mild hammered. Mrs. Billiman is a splendid type of the old ashioned Yankee woman. She is not n sympathy with women suffragists, Ind wonen's rights is a subject which brings smile to her lips and, as she ays, makes her pity some of her own Bex. She does not follow the news of he day and cares little about what is going on in the world. She reads with but glasses and she is busy between her Bible and the Baptist Watchman, the thief organ of the Baptist church.
 She can quote the scriptures like an bld parson and has read her Bible from lover to cover many times. After the Bible in her interest, comes the Watch han, which, she believes is the greatest paper published, and it pleases her be- .ause by reading it she can keep in euch with the progress of the Baptist faith in which sac is a firm believer bnd has professed for ninety years.
 In so far as her mental faculties are boncernad, they are keen to a remarka ble degree The only effect her ad EanGed age has lad upon her senses is 10 slightly impair Ter hearing. It is ne- tessary sometimes for her to ask a per- son with whom she is conversing to re- beat wliat has been said. As soon as the statement is uttered Mrs. Sillinan is quick to reply and she talks with ap- parent case and pleasure
 Demonstration of her renlarka ble ynem- ory are frequently given by her in ref erences to the three wars which this country has participated in during her lifetime She can recall the war of 1872, and distinctly remembers going to the stage coaches for news of it. She can discuss the events of the civil war as if it were but yesterday ,and she is post ed upon the great battles that were fought and the circumstances of them are at her tongues end. She did not pay much attention to the Spanish American war, but can give the day and date of the sinking of the battle ship Maine, Dewey's great victory in Manila bay and Admiral Schley's ahievement in sinking Cerveras fleet at Santiago.
 At tile age of twenty three years De- borah Staples, who had many suitors for her hand, became the wife of James Siilimafl, farmer. A son and later a daughter were born to them as result of the marriage. Mrs. Silliman has watched them grow into womanhood and manhood, middle life and ripen into old age and finally has seen death claim them. MT. Silliman died about twenty five years ago. Mrs. Silliman is living with her grandson, Frederick SillimaD. She has two grandchildren, both of them married, eind seven great-grandchildr She also has one granddaughter who is unmarried.
 Unlike most men or women who at eoiil lu SQS1 etll Ss &ll .. SlliliiieAlA To light hearted and good conversation alist. She is not a bit childish and all of her actions and statements are sane. She is good company, her grandchildren think She sits down to the table three times a day and eats we'll
 Mrs. sillimaA has remained indoors more this winterNthan ever before. She says she can remember many winters which were much Nmore severe, but re- alizes that by rea$on of her age she feels the cold more than when she was younger. It must not be inferred that she has remained isn-doers all winter, for such is not true. She has walked out on pleasant dayls and has fed the chickens several times since the first fall of snow in November.
 It is a remarkable fact and a source