The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-11-30
Concerning Growing Old.

Many of the most affecting thoughts which
can ever enter the mind arc concerning the
lapse OF time, and tho traces which its
lapsc leaves upon human beings. There is
something that touches us in the bare thought
Of growing old. Like distant bells upon the
breeze. some breath from childhood shows
us plainly for moment the little thing that
was oursclf. What moro can you do than
look at the picture and feel that II Is strange?
II seems to bo q difficult thing to hit the
medium between clinging ioolishly to youth
and making an affected parade ofagc. En-.
tire naturalncss upon this subject appears to
bc very hard of attainment. You know how
many people, men MS well as women, pretend
to be younger than they really nro. have
found various motives lead 10 this practice.
I have known men, distinguished at toler-
ably carly ago in some walk of intellectual
exertion, who In announcing their age(w (Which
they frequently did without any necessity
were wont to deduct three or five years from
tho actual tale, plainly with the intention Of
making their talent and skill moro remark
able, by adding the element Of their being
developed mt wonderfully carly stage OF
life. They wish TO b. recognized Ms infant
phenomena. To be nm eloquent preacher is
always an excellent thing but how much
moro wonderful if tho preacher be no moro
than twenty-five or twcnty.tllree.
In the domain Of poetry, great things shave
occasionally been done at q very early age !;
for you do not insist upon sound and judi.
cious views Of life in poetry. For plain sense
and practical guidance, you 60 elsewhere.
But in every other department Of literature,
the yalnc ol production is IN direct pro.
portion to tho amount Of experience which
II cmbodies. A man can speak with author
ity only of what he has himself felt and
known. A man cannot paint portraits un-
iii he has seen faces. When you are very
young yourself. you may read with sympathy
the writings Of very younk men but when
you have reached maturity, and learned by
experience the details and realities OF life,
YOU will be conscious Of certain indefnable
want in such writings. And do not know
that this defect can bc described moro def.
nitely than by saying that the entire thing
Is veal not beef. You have the immature
animal.
But there Is sense In which interpret
the clinging to youth, in which there II mo-
thing contemptiblc about ,.but much that Is
touching and pleasing. A man or woman
IA fool, who is indignant ut being called
the old LADY," or " tho old gentlemen"
when these phrases state the truth; but
there Is nothiug foolish or unworthy when
some such occurrence brings Il home TO us
with something Of shock, that we are no
longer reckoned among the young. and that
the innocent and impressiblc days Of child
hood, 90 we'll remembered, arc beginning TO
be Ear away. We are drawing nearer, we
know, TO certain solemn realities of which
wc speak much and feel littlo /; the undis-
covered country. humbly sought through the
pilgrimage OF life, is looming In tho distance
before Us. We feel that lie Is not long, ano
Is not commonplace when u 10 rgaroco
as the portal to eternity. And probably no
thing will bring back the season o. infancy
and carly youth upon any thoughti1l man !
mind 90 viyidly as tho sense thai no " s'0"
ing old. ..,.. that n
alvaw appears TO mo ss II there wero some
thips litc PROCLAMATION In puttiug tho ises OF
Ia attendant circumstances in iuo'eIo.'
manner. II l. not . fit thing 10 jcke sooas
A funny man might write comic - ae ~
tion of tho way In which starving sA''''' w