The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-04-29
MRS. MARTHA BABBIDGE, 90.
Honored by Children at Conclusion of her
Winters Visit IN Brockton, Mass.

The many friends of Mrs. Martha
Washington Babbdge of Islesboro will
read with interest the following account
which appeared recently in the Brockton
Times describing reception rendered
her at the home of her daughter, Mrs.
R. C. Wood, with whom she has been
spending the winter:
Downy, day-old chicks made ''comfy"
in a big nest of crepe paper and sur
rounded by Easter eggs were a decora-
tive novelty used at reception rendered
Friday afternoon and evening at the
home of Mrs. ]. W. Totman, 9 Waverly
street, to Mrs. Martha Washington Bah
bidge, go, of Islesboro, Dark Harbor,
Maine.
Mrs. Babbidge has been passing the
winter with her daughter. Mrs. John w.
Totman, 9 Waverly street, and as she
leaves April Is for her home in Maine,
the reception by her Brockton friends
was in the form of farewell party. The
reception was from until 5 in the after
noon and from to 9 in the evening. with
Miss Marjory H. Totman and Miss Pearl
r. Massison acting as ushers.
At 80 Mrs. Babbidge looks upon life
with the zest of young girl. She is an
ticipating the return to lslesboro, where
she "keeps house," does:her own wash
ing and ironing, seWs and cares for her
fowl. She was born, married and has
brought up family of eight children in
Islesboro.
"You may have your pianos, victrolas
and operas up here. Says the little lady,
''but for real music I'd rather hear my
old rooster crow on my own back door
STEP" Another saying is in response to
the question how she happened to live so
long. because l took good care Of my
self and minded my own business, is her
favorite answer. Mrs. Babbidge has
been in Brockton several winters.
Mrs. Babbidge, as guest of honor, was
seated beneath an archway of white,
formed of Easter lilies with potted ferns
as background. White bells were sus-
pended from the archway and the color
scheme of green and white was further
developed with green and white stream
ers. Seated beneath the archway with
Mrs. Babbidge were two other special
guests, Mrs. Josephine Bake, 81, Turner
street, this city, and Mrs. Sarah J.
Hackett, 70, of Rockland.
A feature of the program was post
card shower, arranged by Mrs. Wood
for her go years old guest. A total of
$50 congratulatory cards and letters had
been sent and, when Mrs. Babbidge
pulled streamer attached to one of the
bells, the tokens, each tied with yell
low ribbon, fell one by one about her.
She was remembered with other gifts,
including basket of red roses from Mr..
and Mrs. Wood, and bouquet of violets
from another friend.
-Four generations were represented at
the party, with Mrs. Babbidge, the
greatgrandmother, Mrs. ]. w. Totman,
the grandmother, and Mrs. Thaddeus
Totman, the mother of another guest of
honor, little Gladys Natalie Totman, on
and half
Mrs. Babbidge has remarkable mem
ory, and entertained her guests by re-
citing her earliest arithmetic, geography
and grammar lessons, which she learne d
as little girl. She recited also the
seven verse poem, 'The Rich Man and
the Poor Man," and sang all the verses
of Rock of Ages and Nearer, My God, to
Thee.
Besides the joy she derives from car
ing for her own house, Mrs. Babbidge
gains pleasure in reading, sewing and
mending. She is troubled with slight
lameness, but is able to go about more
actively than many women years her
junior. Her eyesight is remarkably
good. For 70 years Mrs. Babbidge has
been member of the Baptist church at
1slesboro. She was left widow at 40,
with family of five boys and three
girls.