The Washington herald., 1918-04-22
DC. Woman Reaches 100
With Memory Still Good
Mrs. A. E. Marsh Says Secret Of Longevity
is: Don't Worry, Work Hard and Keep
Your Temper-Tells of Her Youth.

Declaring that hard work never hurt
anybody; that she never worries be-
cause everything always comes out
for the best; that she has always been
happy and contented with her lot and
never had a bad temper or became un-
duly excited, Mrs. Anne Elizabeth
Marsh. 100 years old, residing with her
74-year-old son at 1441 f street south
east, yesterday gave away some OF
the secrets of longevity, based on a
century's experience.
Il was born April IS. 1913. at Fred
erick, Nd" said the interesting old
woman to a representative of The
Washington Herald. My maiden
name was Anne Elizabeth Huffman,
and my father was a weaver during
my younger days. and l often Helped
him by winding 'quills' for him he
wove linen stun mostly.
Had Seven Children.
when l was about . years old
married Joel W. r. Marsh and we
moved to Beaver Creek, near Hagers-
town. Nd. where seven children were
born to us-four sons and three daugh-
ters. Two sons and one daughter are
still living.
Il have a more vivid recollection of
the civil war than of any other be-
cause we were right in the midst OF
it, and my husband and the two eldest
sons fought in the Northern army.
During that period the country
around HaGerstown was the scene OF
much warlike activity. and l recall
how the famous 'Blackhorse Cavalry
of the South was camped at Hagers-
town, and when some one told them
Mcclellan was coming over the noun
tains, they skedaddled in a hurry.
Il never had a bad temper. and
don't believe in worrying. Ever ything
always comes out for the best. sc
what's the use in borrowing trouble
Some people do. but l never worried
much. and / scarcely ever get excited
I've never had much sickness in
my life. We have always been a very
healthy family, my father living unit
he was 30 years old and my mother
IS Our family consisted of five or stI
boys and three girls, and the boys
became big strapping men and they
all lived a long time.
Il don't think work makes people
die. I used to work very hard, and in
addition to helping my father ir
"tdNlH6s nave SiCdNSo Vi -
out in the fields during harvest time
st don't think I was ever discour'
aged in my life. Have always liveC
in hopes Of the future and never was
disappointed in that respect You ash
am! I'm very much contented witt
my lot.
OF No Particular Religion.
'I went to church right smart in my
younger days, but never belonged tc
any religious denomination. Both my
father and mother were members Of
the Lutheran church. A person doesn''
always have to belong to a church t.
be good.
81 never wore glasses and my hear
ing is fine. don't think my memory
is much affected by my advanced
years, because can recall events thai
happened when was Is years old
That's some time ago, isn't It?
I've seen all the modern inventions
come into vogue. The one that mad
the most vivid impression on me wa!
when railroads were first constructed
They certainly attracted lots Of at
tention, and it seemed strange for Vi
to take things to market and go any
where so quickly. Since then the in
ventions have come so fast that Tv'
not paid SO much attention to them
Il came to Washington thirty-tiv'
years ago and have lived here evel
| since. Have never been in New Yorl
or Philadelphia, this city and Balti
ome being the largest places I wa
, ever In, and was never any furthel
west than Dixon, ILL.,, when 1 wen
there several years ago on a visit
You see that I am not very far from
where I startedw
Good humor and a happy, philo
sophical spirit was depicted all owe
the old lady's face. In short, sh,
| doesn't look her years by any means
and would pass easily for 70. Her com
plexion is clear and ruddy and he
| eyes show remarkable brightness
while she has maintained a norma
\ weight for years.
Knew Barbara Frietchie.
Mrs. Marsh said she knew Bar
bara Frietchie slightly, and repeat
ed without any hesitancy a portion
of Wbittiers poem relating to tn
character that has placed ~Frcder
ick, Nd, ON the map. That poen
WAS written during the heat of tn
civil war, and everybody arount
Frederick and other portions O
Maryland was interested ia .he epi
sode, because they knew it wa
true, declared the centenarian.
The old lady is duite jocular Il
manner, and asked The Herald ma