The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-16
YOUNG-OLD WOMEN Who Have Achieved Fame

Come to think of it. can the mas culine sex show today half as many aged men in the full current of busy life. conducting all the activities or existence just as they always did. as there are women Of great age still busy as they were thirty years ago Tn their respective fields of work? In America there are of men Russell Sage of New York. nearly eighty nine, and Hon. Henry G. Davis of West Virgin ia, eighty-one. When it comes to women, however-illustrious@ ones at that-the count Is numerous. what does a woman care for after she is thirty? Well, If she has any sense all the larger, sublimer. sweeter interests of life come crowding in upon her with a power and intensity she never thought possible when sine was a mere green girl
 What brings the subject to mind is the fact that in England Baroness Burdett -Coutts. the worlds greatest living philanthropist, has passed her ninety-hrst birthday amid congratu- Iations from all tho people of Great Britain, from the king and queen down to the poorest toilers of London.
 That marvellous old grand dame the dowager duchess of Abercorn lived Tn vigor and brightness till past ninety two: then only few weeks ago her
  earth in the stately, dignif1ed manner which characterized all her actions in life, even when she was rearing her thirteen children, ten of whom-fve sons and five daughters-survive her. The duchess of Abercorn left behind her in this earthly vale of tears and laughter J62 descendants. Naturally she shone chiefly in the domestic sphere. but she had time to lead in London society movement against American women. whom she disliked heartily, no doubt because they were marrying so many British dukes. How ever, we forgive her for that, especial ly since she did not succeed in her so- cial crusade against American women. We forgive her because she showed us all how to live and be well and look we'll She lived long and looked well and kept in tho swim because she had the will to do so.
 Five sovereigns have ruled over Great Britain within the memory of Angela Burdett- Coutts She was six years old when George III. died. Then came George ", William w, Victo- ria and Edward SII The baroness witnessed the coronation of two of these, Victoria and Edward.
 The baroness mind is as clear and strong as ever. and she mas yet will of her own. While' she vas single she received more offers of marriage than any other woman in modern times. though if our own Helen Gould lives long enough she will furnish a good second. The Lady Burdett-Coutts' mind seemed wholly bent on philan- thropy-spending her millions to help the poor-when suddenly at the age of sfxty-seven she up" and married William Ashmead Bartlett, aged thir- ty Ever since their marriage MT. Bartlett, who took the name of Bur dett-Coutts, has managed her vast philanthropic enterprises for her. He was her secretary. faithful steward and devoted friend. adding the title of husband in 1881. The young husband has saved the baroness no end of trouble, work and annoyance. At the time of the marriage the baroness set tied $50,O00 a year on MT. Bartlett. It Is likely she draws her splendid vitality and common sense from her Grandmother Betty, the beautiful bousemaid of Thomas Coutts, whom he married Betty Coutts had three daughters one of whom was the moth CT of the present baroness. The Bur dett- -Coutts millions are from the es. tate of Thomas Coutts.
 The English people did not like 1t when the baroness married Mir. Bart lett, though what concern 1t was of theirs Is hard to see Tn spite of her immense benefactions and klndnesses to all who were in need the British \ nublic was for a time put out with \ Raroness Burdett-Coutts. but the Brit I ish public got over it. MT. Burdett- ]. Coutts entered politics. Once he was H making a speech in which he attacked N Gladstone bitterly, calling the great 8 statesman "an old woman" Instantly S a man in the audience rose and said in a loud voice that he thought the z speaker ought to be the very last man 5 fin the world to speak contemptuousIy f of old women.
 < How many are aware that Miss Kate { Livingstone, sister fthe great Afri- 4 can explorer is yet living in Scotland? ! She Is 107 years old. Not to be omit ted either, is Viscountess GIentworth, # who, though actually past 101, is stlh rrominent in English society.
 We have grand young old women In