Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-04-05
OBSERVES TOOTH BIRTHDAY
Mrs. Julia Martin Pretty Sturdy
Even at That Age.
Has Three Children, Eight GrandchiI-
dren and Four Observation-Disclosures,
All Living Here-.Clever Carpet
Weaver-Oddities.

Mrs. Julia Courtmanche Martin observed
March % the Tooth anniversary of
her birth. Mrs. Martin is the widow Of
Oliver Martin, ST., who died in November,
1913. at the age of rs. For some years
she has been living with her son and
daughter-in-law, Mr.. and Mrs. oliver
Martin, of SO Drew street.
Mrs. Martin was about IS years old
whet she came here from her birth place
at st. Rosalie. =. Q. She was the second
wife OF Mr.. Martin, and Olive Martin
Jr, then IA years old, accompanied them.
Delphas Martin. another son, came, too,
but he died % years ago: and a daughter.
Julia. now Mrs. John Benoit of this city,
completed the family.
For q years the aged couple lived in
the house at So Drew street, which thcy
had built for themselves.
Mrs. Martin was 80 years Old at her
second marriage. and the last OF their
four children was born when she was 30
years old. Tho child died at four months
Of diphtheria. There are eight grand
children living: Leo. Clement and Fred
Martin and John. Ida. Elbina, Ella and
Eva Benoit. There are four great-grand-
children.
For many years tho old woman was
known all over the neighborhood where
she lived as an expert weaver Of rag
carpets. She also wove bed spreads. She
was so fond OF this work and 80 dis
liked housework that. when she came to
live with her son, she asked to be allowed
to work her loom and be excused from
other work. She has woven carpets, ETC.,
most of her life from her youth UP. She
has been a tremendous worker all her
life.
Mrs. Martin has been able to keep her
health largely because of her good APP
petite and ability to rest. She spends
hours asleep by day as we'll as night.
Up to few years ago she ate little
meat except salt pork, but now eats var
ions kinds, although It has to be cut up
for her. She likes hest. however. her
soup. potatoes, tea-three times a day,
never any coffec-bread or toast with
never any butter. and. occasionally,
candy. She is as fond as a child of candy.
Unless she has been eating it her APP
petite even allows her to take a bite of
something between meals sometimes.
Pcppermints are her favorite.
Mrs. Martin never learned to read or
write. but she was clever at counting,
and only lately she counted correctly 200
or 200 marbles which some Of her grand
children brought her. 1t is not SO long
ago. either, that she was in the habit of
telling them fairy stories. largely OF her
own invention.
Mrs. Martin has several peculiarities,
or eccentricities, like most old folks She
hasn't had her picture taken since she
was married, and refuses to allow an en-
!argement to be made of the old tintype.
She also refuses medicine Of all kinds.
although she likes to steep two or three
herbs of her own ard make tea. At table
she doesn't like to begin until she sees
everybody in his or her place, and when
a face is missing she at once asks about
the absentee.
On the same principle she has always
refused to wear glasses. Now she Is dim
sighted, slightly deaf and doesn't walk
quite so easily as she used to do. But
her memory Is excellent. and her hair
even now is not vet white. She looks
after herself pretty we'll. also. and up to
last summer even went out into the house
yard.