Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-07-22

veteran readily sgreed 10 the PROPOSE.
ton and left his wife without show of
iil-feeling or resentment He lived on
ly two years after that but during
this uns his wife bought his clothes
out OF her small earnings and sent
them 20 him from time to time as
needed.
Concerning her husband. who has
been dead sc years. Mrs. Damon can
give but little information. lie was
born In 175s. and at the axe Of I6 en-
listed in the continental army. in
Massachusetts regiment and served
i've years. lie participated In the bat
tie OF Long island and several other
Important engagements. and frequent
~ mentioned having fought under
George Washington HON he idolize6.
The succeeding 6p sears In the life
of Mrs. Damon were comparatively IN
sventful During most OF this period
she supported herself by sewing for
tailor and nursing the sick. A few
years after the death OF Mr.. Damon
she was granted a pension Of $50 per
year, this amount a score OF years ago
having been increased 10 $12 per
month. the amount she has received
up 10 1905. This 40 cents per day.
since she became too old 20 work has
been inadequate TO provide even the
most necessary food and clothing. and
although ueighbors have not permitted
her 20 actaully want for food.
During the early years Of her widow
hood Mrs. Damon had several offers
OF marriage. but she turned deaf ear
10 all proposals.
In 1890 she became acquainted with
Mrs Snow. like herself an aged wid-
ow, who fortunately owned a little cot
tage on the mountain. These widowed
ladies seemed strangely drawn toward
one another and the visit. intended for
day, was protracted into week. and
then u was agreed they should con
tinue TO live with each other FOR an
| indefinite period Mrs. Snow was 20
furnish the house and garden. and the
fl2 pension money Of Mrs. Damon was
TO 20 into the common fund. the story
OF Damon and Pythias reduced TO fem
ininity in the closing days OF the nine
teenth century.
Until 1901 Mrs. Damon aud Mrs
Snow lived together in the little white
cottage among the clouds. and never
were bride and groom in a mansion
more happy AID cOntented than they
BY the exercise OF the strictest econo-
my and the gist OF an occasional cord
Of wood. sack OF -four and dress pat
tern they got along on the 40 cents
per day allowed Mrs. Damon by Uncle
Sam
Mrs. Damon recalled without hesita-
ton the names OF practically all OF the
presidents and many OF the great
statesmen since 1890 and Is informed
IN remarkable degree concerning
events contemporaneOus with the ad-
ministration of each president Not
only does this widow OF the revolution
possess a memory which Is literally
an encyclopedia OF events for rs years
but she has original ideas and convic-
tons upon the great questions that
have occupied the public mind during
that period and commands language
and force 20 express these views clear
~ and Interestingly.
The 81 years OF Mrs Damon's life
have been spent in one little spot on
the mountain top. In her earlier life
she occasionally journeyed TO Cuttings
Vile or other railroad towns. and she
has upon a few occasions made trips
TO neighboring stations on the cars
but aside from these Interruptions for
day, sandwiched In between decades
OF years. she has known no other sur
roundings AL these fourscore and ten
years except the pine-clad green noun
tains.
Mrs Damon has oftentimes ex-
pressed desire to visit Mount Vernon
the old home and present tomb OF
George Washington. and To see the
capitol and white house in Washing
ton. She had also wished very much
20 visit Mrs. Rebecca MAYO. OF Viz
ginia, her partner on the roll OF revo-
lutionary war widows. who died last
year. but the slender means OF 40 cents
per day would not permit the necessary
expenditure for railway trans portation.
and until Mrs Mayos death the two
last widows OF the war for American
liberty were compelled TO limit their
acquaintance within the scope OF the
mails. exchanging an occasional let
ter
OF all the strange features in con-
nection with the remarkable story Of
the life of this aged woman. perhaps
the most striking is the fact that her
existence has been practically IN
known In the state where she was born
and where she has lived for nearly
81 years. Ten miles from her noun
tain home. not dozen persons could
apparently. be found who had ever
heard OF Esther Sumner Damon. Che
solitary surviving widow OF the revo-
luton.
Not What 1t Was.