The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-03-23
FANNY CROSBY
HYMN-WR|TER.
81 YEARS YOUNG
Bright, Active, CHEEKY, She
Never Felt Better In All
Her Long Career
Keeps In Touch With the
Times-Is Opposed to
Woman Suffrage, and
Prays for Pastor Richeson

Ninety-two years ago in the little
hamlet of South East, Putnam county,
New York, a baby girl was born to
John and Mercy Crosby, a prosperous
farmer and his wife. Tomorrow, in
the city of Bridgeport, that girl, now
in the last golden glow of life, will
attain. her 92d birthday, an occasion
for widespread rejoicing among a
chain Of her devoted friends, extending
the width and breadth of the nation
and from coast to coast.
1t is Fanny Crosby whose anniver-
sary will be thus widely remembered,
and she Is entering upon this fine old
lect, more cheerful and happier than
at any other time in her life.
Though burdened from her earliest
childhood with an affliction that would
crush and ruin the lives Of many peo-
pie, she has attained her 92d year in
the consciousness of an unbroken rec
ord of happiness-derived from devot-
ing herself to others and forgetting
and ignoring her own tribulations.
Famed as the author of some of the
most beautiful hymns in the English
language and the writer of thousands
of poems, she has made her loss Of
sight a means for extending her inner
vision.
At the home of her devoted niece,
Mrs. H. D. Booth, of 226 Wells street,
Miss Crosby was seen yesterday af-
ternOOn by a Farmer reporter and ask
ed for a few thoughts upon the ap-
proach of her cpd birthday. Unim-
paired in body or spirit by her great
age, and with a face ill1mined by the
unselfish thoughts which seemed to
come easiest to her utterance, Miss
Crosby conversed with all the anima-
ton and spirit of a girl of 16. and
with the added wisdom and insight
which maturity brings.
II am younger than ever,' was her
first laughing expression when re-
minded of the approach Of her next
birthday, and she looked and acted the
part
Life with me is different" said
Miss Crosby. IT never fret, never
worry, ne -c- think disagreeab BILE
thoughts. nor find fault with anyone
or anything. Life glideS on like a
little boat ON a, waveless stream, with
beautiful flowers ON each SIDE. !
have had sorrows-I have lost dear
friends and felt depressed, but 1t is
my firm belief that the Lord never
afflicts his children-that is the work
of the Evil One.
IF in the whole world you can find
a happier mortal than an1-bring him
ito me. I want ito shake his hand
Devoted as Miss Crosby is to the
most uplifting thoughts and ideals, it
Is the pride of her very wide-awake
intellect to keep abreast of the times
in all matters and she has always
taken an interest in every achieve
ment of the human mind, scientific,
political or in the world of letters. She
follows the newspapers and can con-
verse upon the news topics of the day,
both in a national sense, and i'm the
smaller matters of local news. 1t
would be hard to find anyone who
keeps better informed.
Miss Crosby has a mind Of her own
and is not afraid to express her con-
victions. She is opposed to woman
suffrage and says SO very firmly, Civ
ing her reasons. At the same time she
thinks that women should know some
thing about politics, and the world in
general.
So kindly is she in heart that she
declared that she never passes a night
without uttering a prayer for Vergll
Continued on Page 81