The San Francisco call., 1906-05-14
AGED NEW HAMPSHIRE WOMAN
SHOWS GREAT ACTIVITY
Though Past Ninety, She Does More
Work Than Any of Her Descend
ants in Four Generations.


Though Past Ninety, She Does More
Work Than Any of Her Descend
ants in Four Generations.
In all New Hampshire there is not
more remarkable old lady for her age
than Mrs. Saphronia Ann Eastman, who
is 81 years of age, one of the Oldest, II
not the oldest, woman in Belknap coun-
ty. Even at her advanced age she does
more genuine work in day than many
other women q score of years her Junior,
says the Boston Herald.
Grandma Eastman, as she IS known
to the people of her town, Is the head
of degeneration family, all OF whom
make their home in the one house on the
Eastman farm on Belmont heights. Her
son, Elbridge P. Eastman, is "a years
old; her grandson, George 81. Eastman,
80, and the great-grandson, Walter E.
Eastman, is II. Mrs. Eastman g hus-
band died 25 years ago and since then
she has made her home with her son and
grandson. The families Of her son and
grandson make large household.
Mrs. Eastman was born in Ware, N.
b, April 10, 1915, and lived there moro
than 40 years. She was educated in the
village schools and led her class in all
studies. She was married when she was
rs to Enoch A. Eastman. Immediately
after his death she went to live with her
son at Salisbury, and some l5 years ago
they moved to Lakeport, and bought a
farm In Belmont few years later.
OF the whole four-generation family
there is not one who Is more anxious to
work than the old lady. Although old
in years, she is young In activity, and
while some other members Of the family
are obliged to wear glasses, she has
never worn them and declares that her
eyesight Is as good as 1t was 40 years
ago. She is great reader and finds
more pleasure in reading the daily pa
pers than in reading a novel or any
other book. She sews, does fancy work
and knits daily, but not until she has
done her share of the housework. I'm
less she can wash dishes and sweep she
worries and declares that she must be
rapidly approaching her grave, and she
does not want to die just yet. She has
not been i'll for years, except for occa-
sional colds.
Even then she does not want TO see
doctor. She takes her own old-time
remedies, which she declares have been
found good enough by her relatives and
friends for the past 100 years.
Winter or summer she is out Of doors
frequently and thinks nothing of walk
ing a mile or two, even during the
coldest days In winter, to visit her
neighbors. For the past few weeks she
has asked her son almost daily to drive
her over to Salisbury and back, 1e
miles each way. The son has been post
poning the trip on account of the muddy
roads, but she is so determined to 60
that she declares she will ask one Of
her neighbors to take her If he does
not.
Mrs. Eastman recalls incidents which
happened when she was mere child.
She remembers distinctly how her
father, uncles and neighbors used to
talk about the war Of 1912 and how
her grandfather told about what he
had heard his parents say of the revo-
luton. On the events Of the day she
is very conversant and clearly remem-
bers what she reads in the papers.
She attributes her longevity to her
regular life. She rises daily at and
goes to bed at CLOCK She believes
that longevity is hereditary, and as her
father and mother, as we'll as her
grandparents on both sides, lived to a
round old age, it is only natural that
she should follow their example.
People had nothing to do but work
and live when I was young,o said the
old lady to a Boston Herald reporter,
"and there were not so many things to
take up. our time. We lived the genuine
simple life in those days. The women
folks did the housework, and they never
knew such thing as club life. They
did not visit one another's homes to
play cards, and the women never at
tended grange meeting or anything
Of the kind unless there was a dance,
and that was never oftenor than once
year. Going about visiting netghbors
and playing cards and attending meet
ings was done wholly by the men.
"It certainly does seem disgusting to
me at times to pick up daily paper
and read about the numerous women s
clubs In the cities and towns, where
! women attend one, two and sometimes
three meetings week. may be wrong,
but I honestly believe that the home Is
the place for the women, and I cannot
see how they enjoy life, leaving their
husbands and children and going to
some Of their club gatherings. We
never thought of such thing as that,
and if we did we would be ostracized by
the community, and certainly by our
parents or our husbands. The mothers
and sisters keep going SO much today
that I cannot sec how 1t is that they
can keep acquainted with their families.
We never heard Of divorces or husbands
and wives running away until this club
fad came into existence, and 1t is sur
prising that there are not more sensa-
tions as result Of Il. -
"Another great mistake the women
Of today are making is pleading to vote
the same as men. If these women would
only remain at home and do the work
they are naturally supposed to accom-
plish, they would have no time to follow
the preachings Of fanatics on this ques-