The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1859-08-19
age and Isiterar, Pursuits.


We have heard it argued that the in
telIect becomes dull and hfsless with
the increase gfgears, loses is pristine
vigor, dwindlesland decays. Now tits
beyond the shadows ola doubt that the
mind does not necessarily retrograde
with old age. The following incidents
show this: Socrates in his old age
learned toplay on musical iastrurnents i
Platarch almost as late in life, Latin !;
Theopassns began his admiral work on
the character Of men al niaety Peter
Ronsard one Of the fathers pf French
Poetry, applied himself late ito study;
Boccaio was thirty.fye years Of age
when he commenced bis study inpolite
literature !: Arnold translated JoSephus
at eighty years Of age /; henry Spell
man cultivated the science at fifty
years ofage and produced good fruit /:
Colbert at sixty returned "a his Latin
and Law studies; Teller LEANED Log
&c at an old age merely 70 dispute with
his children /; Dr.. johnson applied
himself to the study Of Detob at an ad-
vanced age Saint Anlaire At the age
Of seventy begant TO court the muses. !;
Chanccf's Canterbury tales wers the
composition Of his latest years: they
were began in his ffy-fourtA year and
finished in his sixty-frst !; sLodoyico
Monaldesco at The age Of one hundred
and fifteen wrote the memories Of his
times. The most deliglitfal Iof antobi-
ographers Beuvenuto Callini.I wrote a
work ofgreat originality which was
not begun till Tie clock Of his age
struck fifty-eight; Koonhert learnt the
Latin and Greek languages at forty
Ogilby The translator Of Homer and
Virgil, knew little of Latin and Greel
till he was past fifty Rankin began
his philosophical pursuits at hbout the
age 81 fty. DrSden's. mos pleasing
productions were written ii his old
age; Sir Christopher Wren at eighty
six devoted himself to Literary, astron
omical and religious engagements
Issac Walton IN his nineteenth yea
enriched the poetical world with til,
first publication Of romantic tale b
Chalkhill, ethe friend Of spencer :
Bodmer at eighty was occupied on lilo
mer. The resolution Of lnodera chem
istry kinaled the curiiosieei Il Dr. Riet
TO his latest days Hobls at eighty
seven published bis sersa1n of the Dd
dyssey. One II the most beaasifu
sonnets in the English language wa
composed by Mason on he attainmen
of his seyenty secohd birlh day. 81
feble frame OF the Earl Of Catham q
the age Of seventy sank urdei the eaol
TO express the convictions oflhis migf
I'll * D.
~ mind after a speech 50 SINGULAR
eloquent, bold ardent and animated a
to rival if not oulvie the most brilliar
outpourings Of his youth or early MAJ
hood. E,orso a great lawyer bsin
asked why he began The study Of ia
50 late, answered that indeed be bega
ii late bat should therefore lniastes
sooner. Julius seaEagsr al seyeAt
dedicated to his son twohanared sc
ses Of poem which be sonpbsed IL
day before and retained 10 his mem,
~. The celebrated Neeker offers
beautiful instance Of the influence
late studies 10 liie, fer he balls that ael
Of the three score and ten is sn agree
bic age for waitlngin yonf mind b
lost its vigor, and envy leaves YOU
peace. Sach pf,ofs rs tkos9 are "a
culated to encourage the duties OF life
allure though il advanced lifeg Still
nurse tha Ere 81 genius, and Eoil on
vocation while thosa who have waste
tho ours Of yoaih I'll aaleness and me-
leeted earlf insFfaveptsntp will end j
many Of these \ stinulouh to12seek =
ter knowledge, asen when the frost |
time have silvefed DER their locks. (.