LEARNED TO SWIM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 244, 15 October 1935, Page 12

LEARNED TO SWIM.

LADY AGED 98 YEARS. RELATIVE OF LIVINGSTONE. RESIDES IN SAN FRANCISCO. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SAN FRANCISCO, September 9. Undesirous of the sudden notoriety that has befallen her, Mrs. Jean Lawrie Hodgson, the 08-year-okl relative of the British explorer, David Livingstone, has been besieged with American offers for exploiting lier relationship with the famous African explorer, but she has turned a deaf ear to all entreaties, preferring to live her life quietly in San Francisco, although she continues taking swimming lessons from her instructress, Mrs. L. S. Mawby, another staunch member of the British colony in San Francisco. Notified of the interest displayed in Britain by members of the Livingstone family, according to information received in San Francisco, Mrs. Hodgson willingly consented to unfold some of her history to the "Auckland Star" correspondent, who found the closelyapproaching centenarian residing with her married daughter, Mrs. Jean Lawrie Hodgson Doesburg, in an exclusive residential part of San Francisco, overlooking a picturesque city park reminiscent of England. The sturdy patriarchal lady, who displayed exceptional spriglitliness, despite her advanced age, stated that she was born in Bradford, near Barrio, in Ontario, Canada, on September 11, 1537, "the year of the McKenzie Rebellion." Her maiden name was Jean Lawrie, the daughter of William Lawrie, a first cousin of David Livingstone, the explorer. Her father's mother was Miss Mary Livingstone, who married John Lawrie, who was a stutterer, amusingly proclaimed Mrs. Hodgson. Father Also Nonagenarian. Mrs. Hodgson resided in Canada through its meteoric history, until eleven years ago, when she left Alberta and came to San Francisco to live after the death of her husband, Rolph Hodgson, whose father was William Hodgson, of Wigton, Cumberland, England. The wife of William Hodgson was a Miss Rolph. Mrs. Hodgson, who stated that she had six children, four of whom are still living, said that her father, William Lawrie, lived to the ago of 91, and passed away on July 3, 1900, at Wroxeter, Ontario. Two of Mrs. Hodgson's surviving sons arc residing in Toronto, as is also her youngest- sister, Miss Elizabeth Lawrie Carey. "I was one of ten children," said Mrs. Hodgson. "I was the oldest member of the family, and Elizabeth is the youngest. We are the only two surviving of the family of ten." A most interesting sidelight was revealed in connection with the life of Mrs. Hodgson's father, William Lawrie, who was ono of the early pioneers of Western Canada. He was born on June C. 1809, and retained his physical anil mental faculties almost unimpaired in a remarka-blo degree until his death at the ago of 91 years, performing h!s work until a few days before his end. Came From Blantyre. William Lawrio was a native of Blantyre, Scotland, and was a son of John Lawrio and Mary Livingstone, his wife, the latter being an aunt of John Livingstone. He remembered clearly his boyhood days with the Livingstone lads, one of whom afterwards became the celebrated traveller, Dr. Livingstone. John Lawrie went to Canada with his family in 1821 and settled in the township of Dalliousie, Lanark County. The boy William, who was then 12 years of age, had received the rudiments of a sound education in the Scottish

schools, and this he supplemented by his own reading and by night schools in Canada. As a young man he was largely instrumental in establishing a public library in that township, and it is still said to be one of the best-equipped libraries in the Dominion As secretary of the library, he wrote to the Earl of Dalhousie and received from him a large contribution of books. He also wrote to Sir Walter Scott, who was equally liberal in responding, sending a full set of Waverley novels, and continued sending him other publications as they were issued from the Press. Other Livingstone Members. Mrs. Hodgson spoke of the town of Listowel, in Ontario, where was the home of Neil and Sarah Livingstone, the children of John Livingstone, and said there were four members of the family, Neil and Sarah, who lived in Listowel, Charles, who resided in New York, and John, whose home she was cognisant of. "They were nephews and niece of David Livingstone," she said. Mrs. Hodgson, who possessed a remarkably clear memory of incidents 90 years ago, is an omnivorous reader, is fully abreast of the times, has a wide vocabulary, and regularly attends church. She believes in toleration, is a staunch adherent of the Church of England tenets, but says every religious denomination is entitled to its own views and beliefs. Strenuous efforts were made by photographers and others to exploit Mrs. Hodgson during her swimming evolutions, but she rigorously refused to go through any acrobatics desired by commercially inclined individuals. "I like to swim, but exploitation at my time of life is very distasteful. I enjoy life to the utmost and am looking forward eagerly to entering my ninety-ninth year on September 11," she concluded. Illustrious Family "Tree." Regarding the family "tree," sent from England and disclosing many illustrious forbears, Mrs. Hodgson promised to consult her youngest sister in Toronto, as most of the family records arc stored there. Directly she has obtained these details, she expects to forward them to relatives of the Livingstone family living in England, and who are desirous of incorporating her records in the official history which has been compiled by Mr. Gerald T. Hodgson, who married Miss Kate A. Livingstone, a granddaughter of David Livingstone. Mrs. L. S. Mawby, the swimming instructress of Mrs. Hodgson, had Welsh parentage, the family i.ainc being Price, and her husband, a San Francisco banking official, was formerly a singer in a London Church of England choir. His father was an organist in London, so the Hodgson-Livingstone revival in San Francisco has a distinct British Empire flavour. "Mrs. Hodgson is making splendid progress with her swimming lessons," explained Mrs. Mawby. "She prefers to float on her back in the water and kicks out vigorously, helping to maintain buoyancy. Yes, it is a remarkable thing that a lady at the great age of 98 should start learning to swim, and become proficient at the exercise." Mrs. Hodpson's only drawback is that she is slightly deaf, and this is why she finds it easier to swim in a floating position in order to prevent water entering lier deaf ear.