The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-04
HALF A CENTURY IN BED,
BUT HER SMILE REMAINS
Mollie Fancher Receives Friends and Gifts on Anniver-
saly, Marking Fifty Years of Pain and Sorrow
Merry as a Children's Birthday Frolic.

From the bed that has held her pris-
oner for fifty years, a little old lady
as frail and delicate as a bit Of antique
lace smiled a greeting yesterday after
noon and last night to the hundreds Of
friends who came with gifts and cheer
fui sympathy. And the smile she gave
them as she lay, supported by pillows,
was brighter than the brilliant sunshine
which streamed through the window
panes from snow whitened Gates ave-
nue..
There was no touch OF gloom or sor-
row in the celebration which took place
in the old, old house at the corner of
Gates avenue and Downing street,
brooklyn. yesterday to mark the nftieth
anniversary of Miss Mollie fancher's
helpless invRlidism. One would never
have fancied that the reception was
the climax of IA half century of Miss
Fancher's courage in pain and sorrow.
The party was as merry as II children's
birthday frolic. Bright ribbons and
vases OF cut flowers and Towering plants
and gay Chinese lanterns were all about.
and most cheerful OF all was Miss
Fancher's glowing smile.
Her beautiful. soft white hair was
curled like a debutante's. The skin Of
her face and OF her small and graceful
hands was so white and transparent that
every tiny vein was revealed In ita blue
tr%acings. She wore n new dress for the
occasion. a dress whose making had been
TO her a source Of eager delight. II
was as blue as the sky and lace nestled
at the neck and the wrists.
Flowers Cover He'd.
The bed from which she has never
stirred since shortly after the civil war
was Iravely decorated. Yellow ribbons
I were twined about its four posts. Roses
and yiolets were clustered In the green
cry that concealed the foot and head
boa rdS and the sides Of the bed. and
roses and violets were strewn over the
! spotless counterpane.
The guests came softly because Miss
! Mollie's relatives feared that d COM
motion in the hallway Of the house at
$50 Gates avenue might excite the little
old lady who's nerves were fairly ting
ling because OF the excitement OF the
wonderful anniversary. When they
were received by the negro man ana
maid and their cards had been IN
sp,cted they were shown straight up 10
Miss Mollie'S houdoir. where Miss Mol
lies smile Was waiting for them ana
where her White hands were ouistretched
in delighted greeting.
They merrlly exhibited their gifts
gifts that made Miss Mollie fairly
tremble with happiness-littie Tragic
things that all women adore, wand EN-
broid.red handkerchieis, bits of lingerie,
lace collars. the lovellest of ribbons, q
GORGEOUS kimono or two and some taste
full tr.nkets Of jewelry. Last nirht came
the crowning gift OF all. "A casket of gold
coins from her very old friends IN
Brooklyn.
To every Old friend Miss Molue smoke
a few words of thanks. but they dtd moi
10, her talk TOO much. They preferred
that she listen to others as they sac
things that caused the warm color &c
.bh and flow in her white face. They
told her, and Il was the simple truth
that sh. was as beautiful As a youns
girl They told her that the whole United
states Of America was Interested IN mel
celebration. They reminded her that her
lifetime Of patieru endurance and dtuut
less courage mas made a story that 70
told in every city and village surely
Nolli. t'ancher could not nave ioretold
even in the Yeats when She seemed a"l'
TO rlerce the veil that hangs h"tweei
human life and the mystery OF the ne
yord. that her anniversary patty woulc
be so Joyful.
Her pets. especially the parrots