The Detroit times., 1909-04-23
WOMAN WHO SAW
NAPOLEON DIES
Rosie Aaronwald, 108, As Child Kiss
ed Hand of Noted Emperor
Strew Flowers in His Path.

NEW YORK. April IA woman
whose han" was clasped by that oil
Napoleon the Great when he and hi'
troops occupied Warsaw In 1907 has
been laid To rest by the Daughters ol
Jacob. She was Rosie Aaronwaid'
second oldest inmate of the Home for
the Aged al No. 302 East Broadway
who died after having exceeded by
more than generation the allotted
measure OF threescore and ten.
Mrs. Aaronwald was easily the most
interesting OF the many inmates cf
the home. though she was not quite
the oldest. Mother Davis, as they call
her. boasts OF her superior age. ana
celebrated not long ago her one hun
dred and fifteenth birthday. she and
Rosie were firm friends. and with
young Yetta Schmidt, who Is barely
over 20. they formed trio OF insep-
arables. Yetta devoting her time to
caring for the little wants OF the Other
two. But though they had losl their
dear old friend. neither Yetta nor Mrs.
Davis Is inconsolable. Strictly or
thodox. they looked placidly on Rosie
taking away Besides. had not Rosie
always said she was ready TO go when
ever Il should please Him To call?
No. not always. II was only In the
last two years that Mrs. Aaronwald
had been 81 resigned. Then an event
occurred which made her SO happy
that she announced her readiness TO
90. That was when her blind son,
David. suddenly regained his sight.
Rosie Aaronwald was born In Po-
land los years ago. She could recall
distinctly tae French occupation OF
Warsaw. and In her loquacious moods
would gather the old men and worn
en- OF the home around her and recount
how the Jewish community OF War.
saw had welcomed Napoleon. Flow
ers were strcwn in the path OF the en-
peror by band OF little girls. and
she was ono of those little girls.
The emperor" she would say, Il
remember him we'll though | was so
little, only i've or six years old And
how proud was when he took us each
by the hand and IL kissed his hand.
Yes. l. Rosie Aaronwald, | kissed the
hand of the great French emperor"
And the chorus OF Obs" and
"Ahs," that would fiutter round the
circle would only be broken by Supt.
kruger's favorite question.
Rosie he would ask which did
you like best. Napoleon or the Car
Nicolai?"
ugh, that Nicolai. ugh" she
would respond. He would whip little
children as Re went along the street;
q cruel man with whip. But Ma
poleon. he was grand gentleman"
Rosie married and became a
widow. For a while she kept a store
In Warsaw, but her children emigrat-
ed to America. and 20 years ago. when
she was already 70 years old, she
crossed the ocean to join them Mat
tiers went along well enough for al.
most quarter OF century. David
supporting her from his earnings as
cigarmakef Then one day he went
blind. and the old woman. helpless TO
aid herself, would have starved had
not Miss Lillian ID. Valid. the settle
ment worker. interested herself In the
case and obtained admittance for
Rosie to the Home OF the Daughters
OF Jacob. That was five years ago,
and for three years David came to
visit her at the home, led by little
child, and feeling his way with a stick.
But one day David came alone and
without stick His eyes had re.
sponded TO medical treatment and he
could see once more His mothers
Joy at what seemed to her a miracul-
GUS event was boundless and she
waited thenceforth with serene calm
for the end