New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-02-04
HER 1O4TH BIRTHDAY.
Miss Rachel Martense Too III to Celebrate
It Yesterday.

The birthday reception which Miss Rachel Mar
tense, of No. 3s Linden-ave., Brooklyn. always
gives on February g. was omitted yesterday, and
Miss Martense did not even know that it was her
birthday. Struggling with an attack of pneu-
rnonia at the great age of 104 years, she was I'M
able to leave her bed, and lay in sernl-conscous
condition all day. Notes of congratulation and
flowers were continually arriving, but she was not
told anything about them, and when the doctor
mentioned to her in the morning that it was her
birthday. she did not TO understand. Yet
such is the vitality of this remarkable old woman
that her family does not despair of her recovery
She had a very good day. they said. end they be
leve that she may live to still another birth
day.
Miss Martense has been i'll for the month and
a half in consequence OF a, cold contracted about
the middle of December and her being alive to-day
IS little short of miracle. During the holiday
she had sunk so low that all hope Of her recov
cry was abandoned She unable 10 take nour-
ishment, and quite rnconscious but she rallied
in most surprising wa. and has been improving
ever since few callers were allowed just to see
her yesterday afternoon, and were surprised to see
how well she looked.
Miss Martense does not look her age within
twenty or thirty years. Her complexion is fresh
and clear and remarkably free from lines, and her
hair though snow white is still abundant Her
hearing is still good. but, her eyesight has failed
considerably. Previous 10 her present Illness she
took keen interest in the events Of the day. and
always wanted 10 have the newspapers read TO her.
She has been al bic TO walk for fourteen years.
but that the result of accident sustained when
she was ninety.
This remarkable vitality IS attributed by the fam
ilv of the centenarian chiefly TO the stock from
which she came.
Fresh air and regular habits will do something"
said her nephew Martense Story, yesterday. but
Won must have the ancestors"
And the ancestors of Mrs. Martense, il appears
were tremendously long-iVed people, though there
is no record of ann having lived TO be l04. One OF
her sisters lived To he ninety and her mother died
at eighty five
Combined with the influence OF these ancestors
was a passion for gardening Miss Martense has
always loved pictures and flowers. and she spent q
great deal of time painting pictures and grow
ing flowers. She worked in her garden until she
was ninety. and when she could no longer steop
over her borders, she used 10 sit on box ana
cultivate them. Still another cause assigned Tor
her longevity is a good digestion, shown by the
fact that she able to eat a llrEe dish OF Ice
cream the other day and called for more. =,
Miss Martensa was born in 1901 and has LVSd az
her life in the neighborhood OF her present noI1le
She attended the old Erasmus Hail school, hEu
her nephew Joseph Story, with whom she iiVes
possesses curious relic OF those Gays In the Ioi
OF certificate Of merit. dated April :. IBIS Al Is
This certihes that Rachel Martense. by close
application and attention. has for SIX weeks eA1
celIed her class. and receives this as testhiota
Of the esteem and appreciation or her teacher
No one seems 10 know why Miss Marteilse neNFI
married. An early portrait shows that she Was a
most attractive young woman, and fanniiy ttauts
ton bears witness that she had plenty or beauA.
but why she did not accept any OF these sultois
history does not state