The Washington times., 1905-01-16

Va. She is eighty-four years old.
Events that have become history are
to Aunt Fanny incidents of her early
life She remembers vaguely the war
of 1872; was a young woman when the
first train was run from Fredericks-
burg to Richmond. on which she took
a ride, and in the days of 81 became a
spectator of the strife between North
and South.
When dat fust train run from Fred
ericksburg to Richmond, said Aunt
Fanny, An wah Just about old enough
to be co'ted- One day dat train eS1:.e
along de tracks. and de boss he come
out and he says to US TO get on board,
and dat We would get ride free. All
de colored peoples on de farm done got
on board dat train, and We rid bout
ten miles when dat min stops and de
boss he come along agtn and he says
We must get often de train and walk
back whar We come from
Only Once Again.
dat train ride was enough for me.
De railroad done fools me onct and An
makes up my mind dat dey won't fool
me agin, and so All says to myself, dat
Ah'u never ride agin on de railroad. and
All never has since dat day. 'cept when
All come here and had to. cause dere
| was no odder way of coming"
Aunt Fanny also remembers on one
| occasion after hostilities had been de-
clared when the Union troops took pos
/ session of the farm on which she work
ed Her master had made ready for
| the appearance of the enemy by having
the great meat and vegetable supply
| hidden in the cellar of the house.
| Dem Yankees" says Fanny. In de-
scribing it, dem Yankees done SwOoped
down on dat farm. and dey seems TO
| know Wflar dat meat was, for dey went
right to dat cellar. and carried away all
dat meat as though dey owned it them
n ai1cy re
| IN nah life de way dey made away Wit
dat meat and vegetables.
Her Mode of Life.
| Heavy SHOWS In Virginia are few and
far between now. but Aunt Fanny re-
| calls the time when snow has been sew.
en- and eight feet deep. The remarkabl.
| developments of the age have been Il
her a part of the generations which sh,
has survived.
/ Health sanitariums and physicians IL
longevity have written to the venerabl
woman, asking her how she has retain
ed her health and mental vigor through
the 104 years OF hsr existence
The mode or her living has been moth
ing out of the ordinary. For years sh
has made a habit Of getting up early il
the morning and going to bed at sun
down. IT has been her custom to drinl
!. two or three tablespoons full of whisk
at least once a day. A pipe has bee
her constant companion for years. an
scarcely a day of her life has passe
lthat she has not smoked ii with the sat
: isfaction of one who enjoys tobacco
When All wah a young gal" say
Aunt Fanny, "Ah never used to wea
low-necked dresses or short sleeve:
'cept in de summer time. cause All knee
: dat If All wore dem in de winter tim
= An would catch cold. All used to b
mighty fond of parties, too and whe
de young wags would get up Somethin
r in de summer time All was always raid
{ TO de fun"
r One OF the early callers TO congratulate
Aunt Fanny was Dr. ]. G. Butler c
/ the Memorial Lutheran Church. IN who's
S family the aged colored woman worke
for many years In celebration of he
birthday cake bearing the inscrfptio
5 MoJher-lSH-l9e6, W2S presented h
j, | by her children