The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-05-15
Where Does Old Age Begin ?

Where docs Old age Beg1nY
Loft to the popular vote, hardly any two
would agree as to the point OF time whero
youth deserts us, and old age mounts the
guard. That point Of time il not an arbi-
trary one, bat is governed BY the oircum-
stances OF each case--somo mon at as be.
Ing older than others ct co. The line oe
domarkation, too, is of,ener controlled bv
tho mental condition than We are even an,
to suppose. Tho art Of growing old graco-
fully, depends solely upon tho disposition,
and Of all arts is the ono which should be
most studied. Life Is 90 short, that go far
as possible, II should be perpetual youth;--
and in keeping tho affections fresh &c green,
much can be done towards securing such
halcyon days here below.
By breaking down tbe barriers botweeh
youth and age, and establishing terms Of in
timacy such as marx the intercourse Of az.
socia.es, there can bo o system Of barter
carried on mutually beneficial, Ago will
bestow upon youth cheerful lessons Of wis
dom, and in return receive the vigor, fresh.
ness and heartiness of the early yearG In
this manner ono will be strengthened. and
the othor invigorated.
In q late Atlantic the Autoorst OF the
Breakfast Table has an article upou the
point of time when old age begins, oD which
tho Boston Courier admirably comments
thus:
We cannot quito agree with some Of the
Autocrat's notions, however. He makes old
ago begin too soon. In our childhood We
used to hold such opinion ourselves. We
:. remember tho time when 40 seemed most
venerable number Of years to have lived
{ But it was childish notion, and We have
!, long got rid Of il. Cesar, 10 q more ex-
hausting climate, called the Roman young
q till so. Forty.fve, according to our pres
t ent views, is quito too early period for the
|. beginning of hoary Age. IL Is o mistake to
}. suppose that less fuel is then consumed
/. Than before. On the contrary, we have
of found that more is required to keep the
10 machine in motion. The natural vigor ID
is not yet diminshedi the hair Is not grey,
except in peculiar cases, which have nothing
O. to do with years.
,e At Sc, even, the appetites are as healthy
Or and vigorous, the imagiIation as lively, the
" dreams of ambition as absorbing. as at 80
n No, no, friend Autocrat, the earliest period
% we can allow you to call man old, is 60
g. from 60 to rs, be ought to enjoy heart.
~ old age; from that TO the close Of life, hG
4. should gently descend the dowu-hill, and 81
3 pass away. Men grow old early becAus
or they think they must. There is no neoes
IS sity, no justification for such proceeding
Nv It was not so in old times, or rather Il
Of young times OF the worlds history. We d,
10 not speak of the age of Methuselah--tha
1t was very we'll, but little tedous---but W,
K call up from our recoilections an exampl'
IA or two:
III "Isocrates was O moderate case he hat
N a work on his hands at the age of %, whicl
- his friends advised him to finish, becaus
ir something might happen. lie flushed Il
,a and, a year or two afterward, when th
nd dishonest victory of Cheronea tried to xii
IN. by report, the old man eloquent it eouldn
rs do it. He starved himself to death. Go
i'd gias the sophist, lived to l2o years. and dlt
,re with an antithesis upon his lips.
ia "But there is no need of multiplying o
ha amples. The fact is undoubted that Il
ye natural commencement of old age ia not
ad 45. by good DEAL Let men but resolve
Is live out their dsys-let them divide the
minds into reasonable and proper station
instead of rushing at such railroad spec
q. over the road Of existence, and coming |
a the terminus before their journey is ha
6. over. and then we shall see the condition
be mortality taking an encouraging upwar
tendency. Then We should not be in sue
~ l'n terrible hurry we should have tin
~ -. enough to accomplish all our tasks deli
~ y. erately and thoroughly, and to repose I
IN. our laurels. ~ithou: worrying ourselves wi
n,s the fear thatAWe shall lose our chance
in gain second wreath of them"