Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-04-04
Never too Old to learn.

The following we'll authenticated facts vel
illustrate the principle that man is nerer 10 OLD
to learn
Socrates, at an extreme old age, learnt to play
| on musical instruments. This would look RI
diculous for some of the rich old men in our
city, especially if they should take II into ,hei,
heads to thrum guitar under ladv's window
which Socrates did not do, but only learnt to play
upon some instrument of his time, not a guitar,
for the purpose of resisting the wear and tear OF
old age.
Cato, at eighty years OF age thought proper to
learn the Greek language. Many of our Young
men at thirty and forty, have forgotten even the
alphabet of language, the knowledge of which
was necessary TO enter college, and which was
made daily exercise through college. A fine
comment upon love of letters, truly.
Plu'arch, when between seventy and eighty
commenced the study of the Latin. MANY Of
our young lawyers, not thirty years of age.
think that nisi prius, scire f1cias, &c, are
English expressions and if you tell that n
knowledge of the Latin would make them appear
little more respectable in their professions, they
will reply that they are too old to think of learn
ing Latin.
BOccacio was thirty-five years of age when
he commenced his studies in polite literature
Yet he became one of the three great masters
of The Tuscan dialect, Dante and Petyarch he
ing the other two. There are many among us
ten years younger than Boccacio, who are dy-
ing of ennui, and roget that they were not ed
ucaed to a taste for literature, but now they are
too old.
Sir Henry Spelman neglected the sciences in
his youth, but commenced the study of them
when he was between 80 or 60 years of age. At
ter this time he became the most learned anti
quarian and lawyer. Our young men begin to
think of laying their seniors on the shelf when
they have reached sixty years ofage. How diff
ferent the present estimate put upon experience
from that which characterised a certain period of
the Grecan republic, when man was not allow
ed to open his mouth in caucuses or political
meetings, who was under forty years
Colbert, the famous French Minister. at sixty
years of age, returned to his Latin and law stud
les. How many of our college-learnt men have
ever looked into their classics since their gradu-
alton
DR.. Johnson applied himself to the Dutch Ian
guage but few years before his death. Most
of our merchants and lawyers of twenty-five,
thirty and forty years of age, are obliged to APP
ply TO 4 teacher TO translate a business letter
written in the French language, which might be
learnt in the tenth part of the time required for
the study of the Dutch and all because thew are
too old 10 learn
LudoricO MonaldeSco, at the great age of one
hundred and fifteen, wrote the memoirs of his
own timos-a singular exertion noticed by Vol
tare, who was himself one of the most remark
able instances of the progress Of age in new
studies.
Ogibly, the translator of Homer and Virgil,
was unacquainted with Latin and Greek till he
was past fifty.
Franklin did not fully commence his phisoso-
phcal pursuits till he had reached his fftieth
year. How many among us of thirty, forty, and
fifty, who read nothing but newspapers for the
want of a taste for natural philosophy But they
are too old to learn.
AccorSo, great lawyer, being asked why he
began the study of law so late, answered that
indeed he began it late, but he should therefore
master it the sooner. This agrees with our the
DRY, that healthy old age gives a man the power
of accomplished difficult study in much less
time than would be necessary TO one of half his
years.
Dryden, in his sixty-cightth year commenced
the translation of the Had and his most pleas
ing predictions were written in his old age.
We could 60 on and cite thousands of exam
pies of men who commenced a new study and
struck out into an entirely new pursuit, either
tor livelihood or amusement, at an advanced age
But every one familiar with the biography of
distinguished men, will recolect individual
cases enough to convince him that none but the
sick and indolent will ever say, am 10 old 10
study.