The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-03-31

1.-THE WEIGHT of five-score years dld
not hang heavily on Garrett L. Con-
- over, the oldest and happleSt man IN
Salt Lake yesterday, when he celebrated
his one hundredth birthday at ms modest,
but comfortable little home at l54 West
Fourth South street.
The venerable man, who has seen a
hundred years roll round, stood erect
and with a smile of satisfaction and nos
pitality welcomed many friends and ac-
quaintances who called to congratulate
him.
Neighbors called and brought prese rs
to the centenarian. Half dozen pretty
little children, who live close by and EnO
learned to love the old man, brought
flowers and were all attention as he re-
lated nursery rhymes and stores TO them-
In tn hand of each of the children was
an orange which MIR. COnOYer had given
them. The juxa position OF May and De
cember was indeed a character study
worth while. There were the pretty little
girls, with their bright eyes and the glow
of tender youth and beauty on their faces
affectionately playing about the grizzled
old veteran nearly century their senior.
His visitors and those who called to con-
gratula tie him on attaining the century
mark were not confined entirely to nelgn-
bors. Strangers, among whom were sew
eral clergymen, called to pay their re
spects to the man so fun OF years ana
whose life history is replete with righteous
ness and good deeds.
Il have so many reasons to be happy
said Mr.. Conover; why, even nature
smiles on me today. See how bright the
sun is, and how balmy the air Look
at my flowers in the windOw-they never
glowed so green. See my geranium, It
has bloOmed for me today. And there is
my lily of the valley; see how she smiles
on me. And then please notice my old
apple tree in the yard. See, it's begin
ming to bud. What fine time and my
little playmates will have in the hammock
49, Ia
is their summer resort isn't it, girls?'
The old man affectiOnately patted each
of the little fair-haired girls, and in re-
Spouse to his question came chorus OF
answers, yes, grandpa.
OF course, everybody who called 70 con-
graduate him remarked that they hoped
to congratulate him on his one hundred
and first birthday a year hence.
In this he seemed to have mlsgiYlngs,
and ne even went so far as to select from
among the number Of friends his pail
bearers. He seemed to think that he was
standing in the shadow
Tennyson is Mr.. Conover's favOrite poe ;
and his favorite verse is Crossing the
Bar" From his meager library he took
down a copy of Tennyson, Ind after ad-
justing his glasses, read:
Sunset and the evening star,
And one clear call for mel
And may there be no moaning Of the
bar,
When 1 put out to sea"
what is there in the English language
that is more beautiful ana carries more
thought than that?" asked the old gen.
tleman, as he carefully filed the book
away.
The interior of the adobe house in which
Mr.. Conover lives is in striking contrast
from the exterior. 1t is Immediately
clean and well-kept.
He received many presents from his
neighbors and friends. His bal er, from
whom he buys loaf of bread each day,
presented him with a fine cake. Miss
Jennie Rigby. who lives nearby. also gave
him century cake. embellished with a
scroll on the frosting which read, One
| Hundred Years" He receivtd many deli.