Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-31
Mrs. Esther Davis GEL
ebrates 114th Birthday.
Says She will Try TO Beat
Jacobs Record Of 600 Years.
Notwithstanding Weight Of Years
She Is Well and Happy.

New York, July 3O-Mrs. Esther Da-
Wis celebrated her Hath birthday ami
versary yesterday at the Home OF the
Daughters of Jacob, No. 302 East
Broadway, and thanks to wcll-mean-
ing friends, who loaded her system
with dainty delicacies she started the
18th lap of her second century today
with a dark brown taste. In all the
years that she has been accepting con-
CALCULATIONS she never had better
time.
"In the future I shall bar all wines
and sweets from my birthday celebra
tons," said the old lady last night
through an interpreter. "Such things
are nice for youngsters. but I'm grown
I'D now and don't want to be cOddled
any longer. When person is 60 or 30
natal feasts it doesn't matter, but
when they come as fast as mine have
been coming it's time to stop. Can
YOU imagine how it feels to have each
of your friends slap you on the back
ia timeS?"
From the time the cheerful old lady
arose yesterday morning until she
climbed into her trundle bed to dream
of coming birthdays her friends kept
her busy She is in splendid health.
Jacob trusted in the Lord, and ne
lived to be GOO years DID, Mrs. Davis
explained. "Fm following Jacobs ex-
ample, and I'm going to try to hang
up a new long-dstance record"
Unlike most little girls who are going
to have birthday parties. Mrs. Davis
doesn't get unduly excited over such
affairs She slept until 8 o'clock yes
terday morning. and then incarcerated
three straight front biscuits and cup
Of milk She disposed of her mail and
read the morning papers.
At noon she ratified everything in
the cooks platform which consisted Of
solp. vegetables roast beef and boiled
rice. The fact that she has but one
tooth did not prevent her from polish
ing off an ear of corn until it glisten-
ed. In lieu of cigar or cigarette, she
topped off with five fingers of snui1
ard took several encoreS during the
afternoon.
For the reception she donned her best
linen skirt, which was cut rather
short, but hung without any intermis-
sions all the way round. RoOmy Con-
gress CATERS did not show too much OF
her white stockings. A knitted red
shawl draped over her shoulders and a
lace cap set on her still shapely head
completed the cheerful picture that
greeted her visitors. She accepted hon.
age from the depths of deep-sea
rocking chair. First to greet her were
the other guests of the home.
At this point it might be interesting
TO state that the kindergarten class at
the home averages about % years. No
one is admitted until he or she has
passed the Goth milestone OF life's jour
rev. There are 122 guests in the house
at present and more than half CT them
have been sidestepping the grim reap
er and giving Father Time run for
his money for more than 80 years. II
was only proper that the guests should
be introduced to the sweet faced old
lady in the order Of their seniority
Mrs. Rosie Aravald, who has used uI
1O7 calendars, dressed up for the occa-
sion and enjoyed the first shale-hand
Mrs Davis patted Rosie on the head
and gave her some excellent advice
Mendil Dimond, a callow youth of 10z
was next introduced to the original
merry widow" and bowling low. he