Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-12-16
Gclcttco 3tlistrIlonp.
NEVER roo OLD TO LEARN.


Socrates, at an extreme age, learned
TO play on musical instruments. This
would look ridiculous for some of the
rich old men in our city, especially if
they should take it into their heads to
thrum Guitar under a lady's window,
which Socrates did not do, but only
learned 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 a language, the knowledge of which
was necessary to enter college, and which
was made daily exercise through col
lege. A fine comment upon their love
Of letters truly.
Plutareh. when between seventy aid
eighty, commenced the study of Latin
Many of our young lawyers not thirty
years of ago think that nisi prius, scirc
acies, &c, are English expressions and
if you tell them that a knowledge Of
Latin would make them appear little
more respectable in their profession, they
will reply that they are too old to think
Of learning Latin.
Boccaccio was thirty-fve 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 Petrareh being the other two
There are many among us ten years
younger than Baccaccio, who are dying
Of ennm and regret that they were moi
educated to q taste of literature but nov
they are too old.
Sir Henry Spelman neglected The
sciences in his youth, but commenced Tho
study of them when he was between fifty
and sixty years Of age. After this timt
he became most learned antiqurar
lawyer. Our young men begin to thinl
Of laying their seniors on the shelf wheI
they have reached sixty years Of age
How different the present estimate pu
upon experience from that which char
acterized certain period of the Grecial
Republic, when man was not Above,
to open his mouth in causes or politica
meetings, who was under forty years 0
age.
Colbert, the famous French minister
at sixty years of age returned to hi
Latin and law studies. How many c
our college-learnt men have ever locke
into their classics since their graduation
Ludoyico, at the great age of one hun
dred and fifteen, wrote the memoirs Q
bis own times. A singular cxertiou, no
tioed by yoltaire, who was himself on
Of the most remarkable instances of tn
age in new studies.
Ogilby, the translator of Homer an,
Virgil, was unacquainted with Latin am
Greek till he was past City.
Franklin did not fully commence hi
philosophical pursuits till he had reache,
his fftieth year. How many among u
Of thirty, forty and fifty, who read moth
ing but newspapers, for the want Of
taste for natural philosophy. But they
are too old 10 learn.
Accorso. great lawyer, being asket
why he began the study Of law SO late
answered, that indeed he began it late
but he should, therefore, master il til,
sooner. This agrees with our theory
that healthy old age gives man tn,
power Of accomplishing difficult stud,
in much less time than would be neces
sary to one Of half his years.
Dryden, in his sixty eighth year, com
menced the translation Of the 1liad an,
his most pleasing productions were writ
ten in his old age.
We could 90 on and cite thousands 0
examples Of men who commenced new
study and struck out into an entirely
new pursuit, either for livelihood o.
amusement, at an advanced age. Blu
every one familiar with the biography O
distinguished men will recollect individ
ual cases enough to convince him tba
none but the sick and indolent will eve
say. 7 am too old 10 studyp
Eay-There is man up town 80 SLOW
] that he can't catch HE breath