The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-06-22
Growing Old.
BY HORACE GREELEY.


and protracted watching, perhaps Of acci- |
dent or illness; but now the locks, once
SO luxurian: and ample, have wasted. hair
by hair, until they seem lank and strag.
CLING the brow, SO smooth and fair sill
recently, grown rigid and (urrowy and
the features have sharpness and immo.
bility we have not hitherto known. Here
casually has made its mark there q
great sorrow has set its seal there sin
has left its stain each. perhaps, scarcely
noticeable by itself, but altogether making
great change IN The expression Of the
counienance, and forcshadowing still
greater change to follow. Old we are not
yet, but il is none the less obvious that we
are steadily becoming so.
Yes, we are all growing old. The
youth. in the first flush Of his conscious
elasticity and energy the maiden in her
tenderest beauty and bloom the strong
man in the fullness aud vigor Of endu.
rance the matron. in her chastened
grace and sober loveiness--all are
ripening for decay, dissolution and the
tomb. Some will mature earlier and,
some later; many will be struck down in
their youth, or in their prime but. sooner
or later, one common tute awaits us, and
our common mother will receive the ashes
Of US all to her bosom. We know this, nj
arms length, even in childhood, but we
realize and take il 10 heart from the frst
hour wherein we perceive that we are
growing old.
Well, the admonilion wears a certain
aspect o! austerity or sharpness. but bears
within core Of sweetness as well. The
human frame is less 1.-The and vigorous,
the human face less bland and beauteous
in aye, than in youth yet age has its
graces, wherever they have not been
blasted by the mildews Of disordered
prime. Admirable in all its states is the
crown Of Gods workmanship, WREN un-
corrupted by evil, unlarnished by sin
aud perhaps never more truly so, than
when siveied locks and sunken checks
proclaim the evening repose Of the pas.
sions which had often disturbed and some.
times prevented the course OF active life
Now conscience, so often overborne and
stiaed by the fierce clamors Of appetite. or
the fell swoop Of ambition, re. asserts and
vindicates its rightful ascendency now
Heaven draws near as Earth receies now
the soul awakes. and prepares itself for
the great transformation SO visibly ap.
preaching. The Orientals are jus,er than
we, in their distinctive and universal def.
erence to age, deeniug "length Of days."
in some sense. token o! Divine appro.
baton and favor. Manifestly, the soul
which steadily nears the confines Of the
celestial mansions, ought TO catch some
thing OF tina: glory which 6l!s their at
mosphere, and radiates it, even though
dimly. through its dial plate "ihe human
face divine"
:) But age is not merely "savor Of life
unto life !" it is a revraler OF the foul de-
formity Of evil. as well as the essential
, loneliness Of good. The eagerness and in
experience Of youth, may entreat the init
igation Of sentence for deeds which even
they cannot excuse; the tempestuou'
7 whirl Of middle life may cloud or dstor
our perceptions OF the moral character oI
many acls, which a calm, scrutinizing
D world. exhibit as unworthy and culpable
, but u vicious old age-au old age Of de-
caying, but still domineering appetites-
Of silvered locks not venerable-oi oi leisur,
without rehection-of loneliness without
I, God--of serenity devoid Of dignity. of re
spest, OF eli-esteem--surely.th this is among
8 the saddest sights OF mis- guided, sin.sicl
: world Far better an early and nameles
q grave, than an old age Of punishmen
Z without repentance. and vice without
shame.
"IIow to Grow Old Gracefully" is th,
!, title Of some ones book, which have no
9 been impelled to open. The name i
i. abundantly suggestive; the book coule
ii hardly add anything which our owl
y thoughts, il we give them scope, may no
.. indicate. To grow old gracefully, should
J. say, we must begin BY living virtuousl,
!, and usefully. We need not care 70
y 20 graces. nor think Of self at all each nobl
: aspiration. each worthy act, will set il
d seal upon the visage. No one needs a
{. assurance that the old age Of Fenelon, O
10 Wadswoth, Of Hannah More, Of Mis-
IN Edgeworth was beautiful. Had Wash
= ingtOn lived hundred years. he woul
;" have been, to the last, the most digniie
- and commanding American. Franklin,
> eighty, was still young in feeling and
(" heart. Many die older than he did, VIII
have seen less than 6hy summers. WI
imagine, that Mrs Fry ever could. th'
~ Fanny Forester ever can, become an ol
r. woman ........
i. Is it we'll to desire and pray for lcngi
G. Of days? ] would say so long as ou
Y mental faculties remain essentially unds
- cayed. il is well, il is desirable 10 live.-
Ir iT The love OF life is not blind irrational il
"a "a stinct but has as its base. a Just perceI
to iion that existence is blessing. and tina
- even in this "vsle OF tears," its joys ou
70, weigh its woes. Aud besides our terre
ro trial course prepares and shapes us e
ar the life that shall succeed it, which will b
" TO great extent, a continuation or secou
~ edition OF this. with corrections and in
,ir provements. Doubtless. Infnite Mere
NJ has means provided whereby the million
ho 10 whom this lie was blank, shall neye
Of theless be prepared for bliss in the next
or aud trust even those who have misuse
mt and cuIpably squandered this stage I
o. being. will yet be ultimately fitted f
!. ~ happiness In another. But opportunitis
- - wasted can never be regained the men
es cry Of past unworthiness must ever b
L.. N - a xa,ratf,l to tha radaun ma