New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-11
MRS. W00Ds's HEALTH RULES.
Woman of 1870 Says Forget Yourself and
Be Temnerate.

Mrs Mary Ramsey Woods. of iillsboro Ore
20 years old proclaimed Mother Queen OF
Oregon on July BY Judge George H. Wams
former United States Attorney General The cere-
mony took place at Portland. hut II was thought
unnecessary hardship TO bring Mrs. Woods from
her home for the occasion, although is still in
excellent health, walks unaided about her garden.
receives callers the front stoop and talks with
the authority TO which her years enttle her
Mrs. Woodss rules Of health are: Don't live ar
( tifcialy; work, ent sleep and rest In natural
! manner: forget Yourself be temperate"
She still eats the food prepared for the rest Of
her family and sleeps twelve hours out Of the
twenty-foU~ Her face bears the marks OF her
years, but she has changed little In appearance
since she passed the century mark. She says she
does not see why she may not live for many years
70 But she is prepared for the end and
shows visitors the shroud ana little bonnet in
which she will be buried.
Never until after had passed my hundredth
birthday did / think Of DEATH said Mrs. Woods.
II believe that mind more than bodily ills affects
ones happiness and welfare. never built air
castles. and motto has been Sufficient unto the
DAY is the evil thereof
Observation has taught me that most people
live always I'm world OF their own creation. Con-
sequently their sorrows and discomfort and unhap
pness are imaginary Every event that comes
within their view OF personal signih-
canoe TO them, when In fact such events are with
out relation 70 their being.
with mind grasping the world It is and
science at rest the problem OF long life consists
only Of the questions OF diet work and sleep.
have always eaten tho coarse foods Of the farmer
class. and have sometimes gone hungry, but was
never overfed. One hundred years ago people lived
in much primitive fashion than now. All
through the first half Of the last century and. in
fact until after the Civil War. the people practsed
economies that would not be dreamed Of these days
They lived largely bread and pork, and
chicken eaten for Sunday dinner because the
farmers all raised poultry.
"As work, did Just what there to do.
We worked hard but worried little. We went to
bed soon after dark and slept soundly till morning.
Since I have been A very old woman have gone
20 bed soon after shutdown and have risen very
early take a nap every morning. and again In
the afternoon
II come OF a long lived race. NV mother died
sIty-five years ago at the age of 10. My father
died a.fow years before almost old.
Mary Ramsey was married at the age OF seven
teen TO Jacob Lemons, a prosperous farmer. and
the couple lived happily together in their Tennessee
home for many years. She was left q widow
enty-fve years ago. about the time Andrew Jack
son was nearing the end Of his first term Presi-
dent. -Four children were born TO the couple Mary
]. Lemons, who died in Tennessee four years ago
at the age Of ninety-eght; Isaac Lemons, who died
in Kansas City, Mo-. forty-two years ago. Nancy T.
Bullock. who died at Hillsboro forty years ago.
and Mrs c. B. Reynolds. who IS living I'm
Hillsboro. and who, though seventy-seven years
OF age is devoting her life TO the care OF her aged
parent.
The family moved 10 Hillsboro in 1858. and soon
thereafter Mrs. Lemons married John Woods, who
died a score OF years later.