Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-05-21
WHERE DOES OLD AGE RRG,N !,

g Lett to a popular vote, hardly any two
would agree as to the point of time at which
youth deserts US and old age mounts guard
That point OF time is not. an arbitrary one
but is governed by the circumstances of each
case; some men Of forty five being older
tnan others at sixty. The line of demarka-
ton, too, is oftener controlled by the mental
condition than we are apt to suppose. The
ART of growing old gracefully depends solely
upon the disposition, and of all arts is the
one which should be the most studied. Life
10 SO short, that, SO far as possible, it should
be perpetual youth, and in keeping the af-
feetions and sympathies fresh and green,
much can be done towards securing such
halcyon days here below.
BY breaking down the barriers between
youth and age, aad establishing terms ofinti-
macy such mark theiniercourse of associ-
ates there can be system of barter carried
on mutually beneficial. Age win bestow
upon youth its cheerful lessons of wisdom
and in return receive the vigor, freshness
and heartiness of the early years. Thus
one will be strengthened and the other in
vigorated. the last Atlantic, the Auto
crat of the Breakfast Table has an article
upon the point of time when old age begins
upon which the Boston Courier admirably
comments thus:
We cannot quite agree with some OF the
Autocrat's notions, however. He mskes
old age begin too soon. In our childhood
we used 10 hold such opinion ourselves. We
remember the time when forty seemed a most
venerable humber of years to have lived. But
-.
rid Of it. Caesar, in more exhausling climate
called the Roman young till fifty. Forty
fre, according to our present views, n atured
by the reflection of many years, is quite too
esriy a period for the beginning OF hoary
Age. 1t is a mistake to suppose that less
fuel is then consumed than before. On the
contrary, we have found that more Is
required to keep the machinery in motion.
The natural vigor is not yet dimin-
ished; the hair is not yet grey, except
in peculiar cases which have nothing TO dc
with years. 500 Y.Fs
At fifty, even, the appetites are as healthy
and vigorous. the imagination as lively, the
dreams of ambition as absorbing, as at thirty
No, no, friend Autocrat. The earliest pc.
riod we can allow you to begin to call Q
man old, is sixty; from SIXTY to seventy five
he oughtto enjoy hearty age; from thar tc
the close of his life, he should gently de
scend the down-hill, and so pass away
Men grow old early, because they think they
must. There is no necessity, no iuslifica.
ton for such proceeding. 1t was not sc
in old times, or rather in young times ofthe
worlds history. We do not speak of the
age Of Methusa!ah;. that was very well, bu
n little tedious. But we can call up from
our classical recolleclions an example Of
swo. lsocrates was moderate case. He
had work on his hands at the age of nine
weight, which bis friends advised him L
finish. because something might happen =
lie finished it, aud year or two afterwards
when the ssdishonest victory" of ChRronea
tried to skill by report the old man eloquent
it couldn't do it. He starved hiunseli t,
death. Gorgas, the sophist, lived to on,
hundred and twenty years, and died with al
antithesis upon his lips But there is n
need of meliiplying examples. The fac
urdoubted, tina. the natural CONNIE encemen
of old uge is not at forty FIVE, by GOO
deal. Let men bat resolve to live out thef
dsys--let them divide their lives into rcas
ouaole ana proper stations, instead OF rush
ing at tsuch railway speed over the road o
existence, and coming to the.terminus befor
their, journey is half over, and then we sha
see the condition of mortality take an en-
couraging upward tendency. Then "
should not be in such terrible hurry: W.
should have time enough TO accomplish a
our tasks deliberately and thoroughly, an
to repose on our laurels, without worryin,
susrelves with the fear that we shall los
our only chance to gain second wreath c
them 81 ia @