Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-14

squares. and a bright red floral design.
cut from cloth. was sewed upon the
cover. The grandmother who MADE
and took such pride in this was CEN
Harrison Johnston. a near" CEN
tenarian, being ninety-nine and half
years old. wrote Dr. Bells secretary
long and most interesting letter. His
views are decided and expressed with
vigor and enthusiasm. He tells about
the unusual ages attained by numer-
Gus relatives, and then modestly pro-
ceeds to give a brief account of his
own life. He touches lightly on his
boyhood. which was normal and happy.
quite like any boys boyhood. He took
part in an Indian war in the early
DAYS of the west. and experienced there
a very lively time.
Subsequent years brought him hard
work and plenty of it. and with 1t came
fortune. He was married while still
young man, and had nine children. He
had passed his seventy eighth birthday
when he undertook the erection OF a
factory. and he built it successfully.
q He loves young company and spends
many happy hours with the boys
Mr.. Johnston is particular about his
name being spelled with a st" He
takes the first dip in the surf every
wear at Atlantic City. He is fine and
a very wonderful old gentleman, &C
tive and happy at ninety-nine years of
age, and with mind keener than
many minds years his junior: even
among Dr. Bells unique records he is
remarkable. He attributes his age.
health and spirits to the hard work
which was always congenial to him and
his mainstay.
A letter was received from Mrs. Ann
E. Phipps Hastings Of Massachusetts,.
Mrs. Phipps was 102 years old when
she wrote 1t, and with it she Enclosed
certificate OF the date of her birth.
clearing up all doubt as to her exact
age. The letter was concise and most
courteous in expression. and the script
for a woman 102 years old was quite as
wonderful as one might judge 1t to be
upon first hearing the letter. Mrs.
Phipps is now 1913, having had a birth
day in March.
One case Investigated proved quite
extraordinary because of the earning
capacity of the man when 100 years of
age. His family were in humble cir
cumstances. they had neither a palatial
home nor a single servant.
Nevertheless it was a happy, con-
tented household, and the head of the
house at 100 was making boxes out OF
wood and did his work SO thoroughly
and SO we'll that he paid for his board
and lodging. This man was 102 years
of age when he died. His little family
sold his unfinished work to pay his fu-
neral expenses. He left no fewer than
fourteen great-great- grandchildren.
The "Munsey twins" won considerable
fame because they were remarkable
both as to their attainments and their
great years. They were in the nineties
when their deaths occurred, one was
ninety-one, the other ninety-four.
The ripe old age of 101 was reached
before death overlook one old Virginia
woman. She left to posterity a record
that was unique in many respects. She
was the mother of no less than f1fteer
) pairs of twins. This instance of thu
; correlation between fecundity ant
longevity cannot be refuted. WheI
this marvellous old lady was 100 year
r and 6 months old she travelled a goot
1 many hours in a sleeper and stood tn
fatigue and tedium of her trip eXcep
tionally well and ate a hearty break
3 fast the next morning. Her health wa!
| splendid: she was not only active O.
body, but even vigorous. All her fac
ulties were quite normal.
Letters from all real old people arr
intensely interesting for a variety o
' reasons. One, written by a.woman o
e ninety-three years of age. abound