The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-14
Feeble for Woman Of
Eighty Six, But Men
. talVisionis Clear,
MASTER OF HER
OWN AFFAIRS
Alert in Brain and Body, She
Discusses Her Health and
! Work. Showing Wonder
full Preservation--Talks
OF Her Son and Pend
ing Law Suits.
ny LEIGH M1TcnELL HODGES.

BY LEIGH MITCHELL HODGES.
,tCopyright, 1907, by Leigh MttchellI
Hodges. All rights reserved.)
PHILADELPHIA, Ju,y 13-Mary I
Baker G. EDDY will be eighty-six years
old on Tuesday.
Mentally and physically she is re-
bile.
Almost without exception she is more
alert. in mind and vigorous In body
than any woman OF her age with whom
i ever came in contact
While she does not In any way re-
.semble the so-called photographs OF
herself which abound plentifully, and
in which she looks hardly more than
fifty, and while she reveals in some
measure most of the shadows thatffall
the other side of seventy, time has
certainly dealt more tenderly with her
than with the common run of her sex.I
1t must be admitted In fairness, that
her years of invalidism. followed by
years OF adversely, and these, in turn,
by four decades of large mental and
physical expenditure. might. In the or
dinary course of existence, have left
her far more feeble than she Is. H. in
deed, they had vouchsafed her any
bodily hahitation whatever
fully well preserved. and the casual OBJ
server would scarcely think her over
seventy I'VE.
When she arose from the great easy
chair at her desk az Albert Miller and
myself entered her study. which over
looks the beautiful valley of the Mer-
riu1ac. there was no sign of unusual
effort. The outstretched hand which
reciprocated my grasp. while thin and
m f. a OIL
was warm to the touch. betokening a
nearly normal flow OF the vital fuid
which age SO often stasnates.
The steady eyes which returned my
y Eaze-dim blue and insquiescence shorn
of5tne sparkle that presently respond
ed to a tenser mood-are deep sunk In
3. somewhat angular. rather small face,
strength, though none OF the fea lures
Is lacking in force or distinction.
Mrs. Edhy's Face.
Enthroned above the thoughtful fore
head, and falling IN soft curlytripples to
brush the temples and half frame the
face, Is an uncommonly generous mass
Of snow-white hair. in which is worn a
comb Of tortoise she'll.
BY comparison. the slightlydraw
cheeks are warm in tint. and the faint
est tinge OF pink shows upon. rather
than through them. Her thin lips be-
speak immense frmness and persever-
&. ance before they part to reveal witt
what skill man may supplant the work
of nature. and to form well-choee er
words. which are given birth in high.
pitched. spare voice.
small but resolute1 and exquisitel!
chiseled chin completes the oval coun
tenance. which admits momentar!
and rather formal smile by way o
greeting then assumes a seriousness
of expression which will yet deepen a
she deals with certain subjects. o.
the whole. 1t seemed to me more sa
gacious than spiritual.
With ease breeding informalitE sh
called attention to chairs close by, her
self standing until We were well-ni q
seated, then resuming her seat. and u
response to an expressions Of gratitud
for the interview. saying briskly:
''Oh, always try to be kind, bu
when matters take such turn as
presentrit Is not easy to exercise IN
virtue as we should
Finds support In Bible.
There was a barely noticeable ton
of resentment In her voice and he
look. AS she sat forward, quite erect
the crown OF flawless diamonds at he
throat glowed and sparkled gloriouslS
while tho cross of similar stones wor
on her bosom was agleam With man
colors. These We're the only jewel
that adorned the plainly fashione
waist of rich white satin brocaded !
black tracery. On one OF her hand
q group OF small brilliants proclaime
O circlet OF old-time workmanship.
II find support in the Word of God
she said, quoting the NTH and sixt
verses OF the Thirty seventh Psalm:
Commit thy way unto the Lore
trust also in Him; and He shall brin
1t to pass. And He shall bring fort
thy Righteousness as the light. an
thy judgment as the noonday!' III
Thence. l place my guidance who'll
in the hands Of God, Truth, who hs
thus far led me into the ways th;
were best for the cause In which
have labored, and to which my life@
given" she continued speaking raj
Idly, but most distinctly, and witho,
the least semblance OF urging on tt
part of either Of her two listener
who comprised her whole audiences.
7 could not but recall at this M
merit some of the wonderful propheci
Eratuitously presented me by sundl
parsons previous to my arrival in Col
cord.
"You will never see Mrs Eddy" o,
had said,
/ was looking into her face as 81
talked, and l had made a close enout
study Of earlier and valid pictures
be sure this face was their burde
changed only as time changes all
MS.
You will be given aNfew WRIT
answers to a, few questions and tn
will be al.'' said another.
Her Hearing Defective.
She was talking, as freely and "
4 restrainedly as might some old frel
and her manner was devoid of a
pretense of authority, There was not
Ing the least mystical about her, a
. she made not the slightest effort
create an impression of superiority
.A-- cnenial edre Ina ead hat. j, 4