The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-04-09
Never too old to learn.
A. X. McCLuaE. Esq.

never TOO ola To learn.
The ioilo.Ing we'll authenticated facts will
illustrate tho principle that ran is ntrer too
old TO learn:
Socrdtes at an extreme old age, learnt 10
ps, on musical INSTRUMENTS. THIS would lock
ridiculous for some Of the rich old men IN our
CITY, especially il they should take il into their
heads to ihfum guitar under lady's WIN
dow. which Socrates did not do, but only learnt
TO play upon some INSTRUMENT OF hls tune, not
guitar. for he purpose of resisting the wear
and tear of old age.
Cato, al eighty years # age, thought pro
per 10 learn the Greek language. Many IT
our young nen at thirty and forty, have for.
gotten even the alphabet Of a language, the
knoa ee Of which was necessary to enter
college, and which was made daily exercise
through college. A fine comment upon love
OF lr'iers, truly.
Piutdrch, when between seventy and eieh-
", commenced the study of the Latin. Ma
ny OF our young lawyers, not thirty wears Of
age. think that nisi prius, scire fdcids, Gc.,
are Eoghsh expressions and If you tell ihenl
'ha, a knowledge of the Latin would mak4
then appear little more respectable IN lhelr
professions, they will reply that they are too
old TO think Of learning Latin.
Roccdcio was thirty five W rs Of age when
he commenced his studies in polite literature.
feI he became one of The three great masters
OF the Tuscan dialect. Dante and Petiarch be
me the other two. There are many amcng
Us len years Younger than Boccacio who are
dying OF ensui, and regret that they were no,
educated to taste for literature, but now thew
are too old.
Str Henry Speiman neglected the sci.n.
ces IN bis YOUTH but commenced the study ct
hem when he vas between fifty and sixty
veats of age. After this time he became tho
mest learned an.lquar,an and lawyer. Our
Young men begin TO think Of laying their Sc
n'ors on the shelf when they have reached
sixty years of age. How different the preser,
estimate put upon experience from that which
Characterised a certain period of he G,eclan
republic, when man was not allowed to
open his mouth in caucuses or political meet
ings, who was under forty years
Colbert, the famous French Minister, al
SKI, Years of age, returned TO his Latin and
aw'sudles How many of our college learn,
men have ever locked into their classics
since their graduation
Or. johnson applied himself to the Dutch
language but few years hls death, Mes, OF
our merchants and lawyers of twenty five,
'blrIy, and forty yeats Of age, are obliged TO
apply 10 teacher 10 tIansate a business let.
ter written in the French language ~hich
,ntu h. hn
required for the study of the Dutch; and al!
because they are too old to learn.
Ogilby, the translator OF Homer and Vlr.
g,l, was unaequanted with Lain and Greek
until he WAS pas, fifty.
Franklin did no, fully commence his pho-
sophlcal pursuits till he had reached his htii
eth year. How many among us OF ,hr,y,
forty and fifty, who read nothing but news,
papers for the want Of a taste for natural phi
losophS But they are too old to learn.
Accorso, . great lawyer, beng asked Why
he began the study Of law so late, answered
'hs, indeed he began It late, but he should
therefore master i. the sooner. This agrees
With our theory, that healthy old age gives e
man the power Of accomplishing a dfficuls
study in much less time than would be peces
satv TO one OF half his years.
Dryden in his sixty eighth year commesc.
ed The translation of the Iad and his mos.
pleasing productions were written 10 he old
age.
We could 60 on and cite thousands Of ex-
ampes Of men who commenced a new study,
and struck out into an entirely new pursuit
either for livelihood or amusement, at an ad-
vanced age. But every one familiar with the
biography of distinguished msn, will recoIlect
individual cases enough TO convince him tina,
none bu, the SICK and indolent will ever say,
an old toe study.