Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-04-08
Where does Old Age Begin.

Left to the popular vote, hardly any
two would agree as to the point OF time
at which youth deserts US and old age
mounts guard. That point of time is not
an arbitrary one, but is governed by the
circumstances Of each ease-some men at
10 being older than others at 60. The
line of demarkation, too, IS oftner con-
trolled by the mutual condition than we
are apt to suppose. The art of growing
old gracefully, depends solely upon the
disposition, and of all arts is the one
which should be the most studied. Life
is so short, that so far as possible, it should
be perpetual youth, and in keeping the
affections and sympathies fresh and green,
much can be done toward securing sueh
halcyon days here below.
By breaking down the barriers between
youth and age, and establishing terms Of
intimacy such as mark the intercourse OF
associates, there can be a system of barter
carried Ca mutually beneficial. Age will
bestow upon youth cheerful lessons Of wis
DOM. and in return receive the vigor,
freshness and heartiHess of the early years.
Thus, one will be strengthened and the
other invigorated.
In late Atlantic" the Autocrat of
the Breakfast Table has an article upon
the point of time when old age begins,
upon which the Boston Courier admirably
coments thus:
1--WE cannot quite agree with some of
the Autocrat's notions however. He
makes old age begin too soon. In our
childhood We used to hold such upinion
ourselves. We remember the time when
40 seemed a most venerable number of
years to have lived. But it was q childs
notion, and we have long got rid of it
Cesar, in more exhausting climate call
ed the Roman y0a1lg till 50. Forty-fve,
according to our present views, maturCd
by the reflection of many years is quite
too early period for the beginning of
hoary Age II is a mistake to suppose
that less fuel is then consumed than be-
fore On the contrary, we have found
that more is required to keep the machin-
cry in motion. The natural vigor is not
yet disminished the hair is not grey, ex-
cept IN peculiar cases, which have moth
ing to do with years.
At so, even, the appetites are as healthy
and vigorous, the Imagination as lively,
the dreams of ambition as absorbing, as
at 80. No, no, friend Autocrat-the ear
lest period we can allow you to begin to
call man old, is 60; from 60 to IS he
ought to enjoy hearty old age; from
that to the close of life, he should gently
descend the down hill, and so pass away.
Men grow old early because they think
they must. There is no necessity-no
justification for such a proceeding. 1t
was not so in old times, or rather in young
times of the worlds history. We do not
speak of the age of Methuselah-thatw was
very well, but little tedious-but we call
up from our classical recolleetions an ex-
ample or two:
''Isocrates was moderate case he had /
a work on his hands at the age of '93, |
which his friends advised him to finish,
because something might happen. He
finished it, and year or two afterward, |
when the dishonest victory of Cheronea
tried to kill, by report, the old man elo-
luent,' it couldn't do it. He starved |
himself to death. Gorgias, the sophist,
lived to l20 years, and died with an an /
-ithesis upon his lips.
"But there Is no need of multiplying
examples. The fact is undoubted that /
he natural commencement of old age is
not at IS, by good deal. Let men but
'esolve to live out their days-let them
IIvlde their minds INTO reasonable and I
proper stations, instead of rushing at such
ailway speed over the road OF existence,
md coming to the terminus before their
is half over, and then we shall
zee the condition of mortality taking an
upward tendency. Then we
hould not be in such terrible hurry
We should have time enough to accom-
1lish all our tasks deliberately and
thoroughly, and 10 repose on our laurels,
without worrying ourselves with the fear
hat we shall lose our only chance to gain
! second wreath of them"