The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-14
lI3 Years Have Passed Since
Mrs. Urdang Had One
Wonderful Experience
CARRIES PRAYER BOOK
Aged Woman Tells of the One
Super-Man Whose Like
She Has Never Met Again
BY ALEXANDER HERMAN.
NEA Service Staff Writer.

rendezvous with death-a living
death.
But instead ! found youth--eternai
youth that has kept a ll3-year-olo
woman sparkling with life
Yet, now that it is over, won
der whether they aren't both the
same!
For Mrs. Pescha Make Urdang,
Oldest inmate of the Home for the
Daughters Of Isreal, and one OF the
Oldest persons living, has forgotten
how to remember.
Memories of the past are gone
all but one. But that is the memory
of her romance, her one romance,
her very life itself.
She has grown gaunt, drawn and
wrinkled in the many years that have
lapsed since her husband died. Six
ty years they say at the home, but
no one knows for certain.
Her childrens Children have be-
come grandparents. Her progeny
have been scattered all over the
earth.
But for her there remains only the
one memory-and the eternal wait.
She was sitting on her bed in
corner Of the home when we came
to see her. She was busy praying,
hurrying to stave off the spectre OF
death, always at her elbow.
Around her were other old women,
some of them Well past lUU.
UncommunIcatlve at first, she be-
gan speaking only when the chatter
Of the others disturbed her.
These children" she said. Glow
: they tire me! They haven't yet
learned what living is"
: 1t was hard making her tear her.
self away from her prayer book. She
pores over it all day long. Yet she
doesn't need the book. She knows il
by heart.
: Its my life now" she said after
a long wait. my whole life. But j
: was different when he was alive"
Tears ran down her face. Ther'
: were no lashes to stay them.
SHence.
ne WIS so handsome"
= here must have been dull thud
dug n The inner recesses OF he
mind Time had probably made
part Of her subconscious thought.
There have ben none like hir
since. And kind-what knows tn
wor OF such kindness now?"
Another lapse.
II guess l was still young thel
= when we married. And what wee
ding!
But it is so hard to remember
So hard"
ow he loved mel" she broke il
What knows the world of such 10,
today? How can it. He is gone"
Another pause. More tears.
There were suitors galore-rit
men, powerful, good-looking, Gu
tured, esteemed by all. But l wou
est was as nothing compared to hi
Besides, what righteous wom
would ever marry again?
There can be only one love, al
that never dies if it is real.
Tits been keeping me alive i.
these years-alive in body, but
mind forget. I can't remember
Instinctively she turned back
her prayer book, tattered with yea
of thumbing. Some Of it's pages a
torn; most Of its passages are blu
red. But the old woman reads {
Several Of her children are st
alive.
But they are so old and have
much trouble" said the old WON,
II couldn't trouble them any long
So l came here to wait--just
wait"
Some of the other inmates beg
fidgeting. One Of them star
whispering.
Mrs. Urdang fared up.
+. IThere they go again. The no
children-always noisy"
At her outburst they withdrew.
II want to be left alone. h;
SO much to do and may not h,
the time!" -