Mrs Methuselah

As part of a publicity campaign, the little town is feting its oldest inhabitant, Grandma Partington, a centenarian. Grandma is a terror to her daughter Amy, and her spinster granddaughters Goosie and Sukie. She is thoroughly enjoying the fuss, and looks forward to a cheque for a hundred guineas, a swagger lunch and her speech, which is to follow it - a speech which, we gather, will rake up some shocking bits of forgotten scandal. But at the last moment, a rival claimant appears - a Mrs Ladslove, aged 101. After insulting the Mayoress, who brings this tidings, Grandma asks to see Mrs Ladlove, who turns out to be a flighty little creature with four husbands dead and a fifth in view; she is so amiable and so garrulous that it is impossible to quarrel with her. Grandma, shorn of her glory, decides to take no part in the celebrations. But the Mayoress returns in great haste with the news that, as Mrs Ladslove's district, was only incorporated in the town seventy-five years ago, she was note, technically speaking, born in the town. So Grandma is the oldest inhabitant, after all - and she is soon looking forward to making her scandalous speech!