Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-03-23
WOMEN AND OLD AGE.

& Since DR.. Osler made his remarkable
statement that men over so years old
should be chloroformed, the press and
public have recalled many facts to
prove that the physicians idea is
! wrong. The names of many men who,
after they have passed the age of 60,
have retained their capabilities and
their fame. have been arrayed against
the theories of the doctor and the pop
ular idea is that he is wrong and that,
like wine, men grow better as they
grow older. But in all this discussion
the women have been overlooked.
What of them?
Investigation develops the fact that
there are many women now living who
have become famous and have re-
tanned their fame and the character
istics that brought fame after passing
the age of 60 years. Some, having
passed the allotted three score years
and ten, have given up the activities
of their earlier years and are content
to spend their. last days In peace and
quiet. Others are still busy and will
give up the work which has made
their lives happy and bright only when
death seals their lips and Quiets their
hands forever.
Miss Kate Livingston, aged 107
years, is the oldest living woman &C.
Mbrity. She is cousin of the great
explorer and is spending her last days
in Scotland. Elizabeth C. Adams aged
95, granddaughter of the second presi-
dent Of the United States, has retired
from the public eye and is living in
Quincy, Mass. Baroness Burdett-
Coutts. aged 81 is more active than
ever in her philanthropic career. Al
though born year before the battle
of Waterloo. she was the patron of
Tom Moore and Charles Dickens and
others who became famous. She was
raised to the peerage by Queen Vic
toria-the only woman upon whom
such an honor was ever conferred.
Florence Nightingale known the world
over for her deeds of mercy on the
7 battlefelds of Crimea, where she spent
months, is still living. On this side
of the water is Clarissa Harlowe Bar
ton, who, within year, has laid aside
the dignity Of directing the"Red Cross"
organization, at the head of which she
had been for quarter Of century.
She had served humanity since the
battle of Bull Run; had crossed the
seas to the scenes of the Franco-Prus-
sian struggle, into Russia and Ar
menia, and a few years ago into Cuba.
She is "a years old.
Julia Ward Howe began writing at
u years of age and penned the noblest
battle hymn ever composed. She is
active in her eighty-sixth year and
works eight hours day. Susan B.
Anthony and Mary A. Livermore, the
former IS years old and the latter a
year younger. are still active in suf-
fragists' circles. There are a host Of
/, other noble women of old age who are
known for their good works. Some of
these are Letitia Tyler Semple. Anne
Whitney, Fanny Crosby, ADELAIDE Ris-
tori and Mary Baker Eddy all Of whom
are "a years old. Julia A. Carney is
81, Mrs. Jefferson Davis is 70, Amelia
3. Barr is 70. Blanche Marchesi is 76,
Adelaine D. T. Whitney is 80 and
Julia G. R. Dorr is 70.
This list, while large one, is in
complete and the readers memory will
no doubt supply others. 1t is enough,
however, to establish beyond any doubt
that the women are not behind the
men in growing old without losing the
characteristics which in earlier years