Washington: Ruth Proskauer Smith has a crosstown bus to catch, on the corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West. She is 100 years old, she got her first lesson in public speaking from Gov Alfred E Smith in 1928, and she now teaches a class on Tuesdays about the United States Supreme Court.

Come along, but don’t be late. “The schedule says 9:20,” she warns. “If you’re not there when the bus comes, I’m getting on it anyway.”

On Tuesday morning, she stood outside the Dakota, her home since 1962. About 90 years ago, as a girl growing up a few blocks away, she regularly came eye-to-eye with the fierce, wrought-iron creatures — it is hard to say if they are serpents or sea horses — entwined along the building’s fence.

“I used to roller skate up here from 69th Street,” Smith said. “All the gargoyles on the outside fences terrified us.”

She cannot name a fear now. Four mornings a week, Smith catches the bus to the No. 1 train, then rides to Rector Street, to a downtown branch of City College that houses Quest (www.questonline. com), a group of retired men and women who teach themselves.

On days that she is not giving her Supreme Court class, she might be taking a course on the plays of Edward Albee, or international affairs, or ethics and morality.

There are no tests, no homework, no attendance requirements, yet the seats in 30 different classes are filled by people who want to stay mentally nimble. That still leaves the matter of getting downtown.

“My children are furious because I take the subway and won’t take taxis,” she said. And why won’t she? “I just get so mad when I’m stuck in traffic and the meter keeps ticking up,” Smith said.

Among her fellow students and teachers, Smith is the eldest. She is as clear-eyed about the Supreme Court’s 2008 docket as she is about New York in the early days of the 20th century.

Smith, who has two children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, lives alone.

“I eat what I want to,” she said.

“I used to take my drinks, my evening drinks, with Walter Cronkite. Two or three martinis then. I can’t do that anymore.”

As the classroom filled for the Supreme Court session, she met with Martin Halpern, a retired tax lawyer. At the stroke of 10:30, Smith stood.

“The court is now in session,” she announced.

She had no need of a gavel or even Al Smith’s big right uppercut: The room came to immediate order.

Source : DNA