Marion Curtis Darst, Nonagenarian
Nonagenarian Celebrates Birthday
Miss Marion Darst, of 363 N. Main st., Doylestown, observed her 92nd birthday at home last Saturday.
_____________________________________
Miss Marion Darst, Artist,
Celebrates 92nd Birthday
Miss Marion Darst, who has lived at 363 North Main street here since 1904, celebrated her 92nd birthday on Saturday and with a remarkably keen sense of humor much in evidence. She told friends yesterday that she never realized she might be old until recently. She stays up until twelve or one o'clock at night and then sleeps late in the morning. Like so many people, she said, "I always tell myself that I will go to bed early and then something always happens." When asked what she did until so late, she replied that she read and wrote. Right now she is reading a huge volume of the life of Christ. "I had gotten it out to give to a young man who was preparing for the ministry and then decided to read it for the second time, just in case," she explained.
People have often asked her why she never married and she has two reasons, One is, and this she said with a twinkle in her eye. "I never wanted to keep house again." She had to keep house for eight of her brothers and sisters in Circleville, Ohio, when she was 16. The other reason she didn't marry was that she was devoted to art and didn't think that a person should have a split interest.
Although Miss Darst did many portraits of members of her family, like her grandfather's portrait in the living room and her Uncle Davis Darst's portrait, she was more interested in religious art. She and her brother, C. Brower Darst collaborated on large projects in New York where they shared the Darst Studio at 78 Barrow st. She exhibited a preliminary water color for a venetian mosaic work "The Beatific Vision" which is a mosaic behind the altar of the Church of the Epiphany in west Chicago. The mosaic consists of imported stones laid in cement at the front of the church.
As we were talking, Miss Darst opened the door for some women who were interested in antiques. When they were finished looking, she took them into the living room to show them a high chest she plans to send her nephew. She bent over and pulled out heavy drawers which none of us could budge.
Humility is evident in Miss Darst. She will talk about herself but prefers to talk about her friends who have done mush for humanity. Her sister, Lilly, was the first woman to own and edit a newspaper. After Miss Darst graduated from an art school in Columbus, Ohio, she taught art in a private school in Georgia. Here she met Martha Berry and told about the reception President McKinley give for Martha because she was the first woman to do welfare work in the south.
"I have had a wonderful life and so many wonderful friends. I can hardly keep up with all the new inventions and wonder what will happen next," she said. With subtle humor she said she supposed people would next be walking on air.
Tuesday, 14 OCT 1952 - The Doylestown Intelligencer, Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Miss Marion Darst, of 363 N. Main st., Doylestown, observed her 92nd birthday at home last Saturday.
_____________________________________
Miss Marion Darst, Artist,
Celebrates 92nd Birthday
Miss Marion Darst, who has lived at 363 North Main street here since 1904, celebrated her 92nd birthday on Saturday and with a remarkably keen sense of humor much in evidence. She told friends yesterday that she never realized she might be old until recently. She stays up until twelve or one o'clock at night and then sleeps late in the morning. Like so many people, she said, "I always tell myself that I will go to bed early and then something always happens." When asked what she did until so late, she replied that she read and wrote. Right now she is reading a huge volume of the life of Christ. "I had gotten it out to give to a young man who was preparing for the ministry and then decided to read it for the second time, just in case," she explained.
People have often asked her why she never married and she has two reasons, One is, and this she said with a twinkle in her eye. "I never wanted to keep house again." She had to keep house for eight of her brothers and sisters in Circleville, Ohio, when she was 16. The other reason she didn't marry was that she was devoted to art and didn't think that a person should have a split interest.
Although Miss Darst did many portraits of members of her family, like her grandfather's portrait in the living room and her Uncle Davis Darst's portrait, she was more interested in religious art. She and her brother, C. Brower Darst collaborated on large projects in New York where they shared the Darst Studio at 78 Barrow st. She exhibited a preliminary water color for a venetian mosaic work "The Beatific Vision" which is a mosaic behind the altar of the Church of the Epiphany in west Chicago. The mosaic consists of imported stones laid in cement at the front of the church.
As we were talking, Miss Darst opened the door for some women who were interested in antiques. When they were finished looking, she took them into the living room to show them a high chest she plans to send her nephew. She bent over and pulled out heavy drawers which none of us could budge.
Humility is evident in Miss Darst. She will talk about herself but prefers to talk about her friends who have done mush for humanity. Her sister, Lilly, was the first woman to own and edit a newspaper. After Miss Darst graduated from an art school in Columbus, Ohio, she taught art in a private school in Georgia. Here she met Martha Berry and told about the reception President McKinley give for Martha because she was the first woman to do welfare work in the south.
"I have had a wonderful life and so many wonderful friends. I can hardly keep up with all the new inventions and wonder what will happen next," she said. With subtle humor she said she supposed people would next be walking on air.
Tuesday, 14 OCT 1952 - The Doylestown Intelligencer, Doylestown, Pennsylvania
posted by Robert V Darst at 2:20 PM
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