San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-06
AMASA CLARK
CELEBRATES
/; BIRTHDAY
Friends and Relatives
Honor Veteran of
Mexican War.
CONTINUED From Page I, Part p

TOn age IL Il oAt ~
ner bell rings and I settle down with
out fear to one of my favorite occu.
pations-eating pie and cake or any
thing I want-it doesn't feel old at
ALL"
There's no doubt about the first
hundred years being the hardest, says
Masa-"especially the first part OF
my hundred, when there were Injuns
in these hills out here" But "be-
ing temperate" and doing for others
and taking time to look above the
hilltops, once in while-loving life,
and using it well, and lifting ones
thoughts above the soil where we
toil-these simple things make the
"hard' part of living easy, and will
make a century of life seem short
because it has been happy.
When Amasa went to the hills OF
Bandera in 1852, and sawed cypress
shingles for a living-often by moon
light, under Indian fire-it took eight
days to make the trip to San An
tonic with an OK team and COW
cred wagon. Lately he has made the
same trip in one hour and 40 min
utes, in an automobile.
SEEN WORLD CHANGE.
That's how long 'Masa has lived
how much change has happened in his
lifetime. Change enough for 'Masa,
who has no ambition to ride in an
airplane or in any other new-fangled
contraption that flies, dives or other
wise insults the laws of gravity and
upsets old-time conditions. Amasa
like automobiles, but that's as far
as he will go. Water is still pumped
from well in the yard of his his
toric home. 'Masa says that faucets
and gas ranges and other modern
things are fine for those who like
them, but for himslef he prefers the
old-style way Of living simply.
Many great and important things
have happened in Amasa's 100 years
both in his own life and in the life
of the world. New nations have been
born, and science has re-made the
order of the universe. A man who
has lived so long must surely have
tasted happiness often
JUST PLAIN AMERICAN.
"what was the happiest thing that
ever happened in your life, Mr.
CLARKE" he was asked.
At first 'Masa didn't know. Sc
many splendid things that had been
flashed through his mind. Then his
eyes lighted and he chuckled-
"You recollect that i was in Mex.
leo with General Scott? Well,
think the happiest moment Of my life
was when / helped parade our pEis'
ones-ths rascals who had been try.
ing to kill all of us. 1t was grand
and glorious feeling to march those
fellows out under guard-just about
:he grandest feeling l reckon l ever
hadw
"You must have been proud to be
an American then" someone ventured
"Why, I'm just as proud of that
now" he replied. "You see, I'm pref
ty nearly all American. don't even
know what nationality my ancestors
we're. Don't want to know. Ia
rather think Of them as just plain
Americans"
DELIVERS AN ADDRESS.
Amasa's birthday party Thursday
Mt his home four miles from Bandera
was perhaps the most unusual even
of its kind that ever Yas-for kin mel
kin for the first time, as 20 o.
'Masa's descendants gathered undel
a giant oak that was a sapling wher
he went to live beside it. The meet
ing was of united sisters and broth
crS who did not know each Others
children. Ed Clark, nearly CT years
old-Amasa's oldest living son, ant
Clifton Clark, 20 months old great
grandchild, were examples of the wild,
range in the years of those who calico
Amasa Grandpa" or Father"
While tears washed the checks o
big, broad-shouldered men who ar
his sons, Amasa made a speech to hi
children. Thoughts of his mother
who died when he was six years old
filled the memory of the old man
As he talked Amasa was once more
little boy, sobbing beside the grave o
his mothcr-who died 81 years ago.
az may not be here for anothe
birthday celebration, children" HI
said.
But his eyes, as he looked beyond
his hills to where the Great Divid
is waiting, were hopeful and unafraid
mi nIIrhINInnT 0AIIlN