The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-08-15
A Plea for the Afternoon.

In the Atlantic Monthly for April is an excel
lent article on old age and how to enjoy it, from
which We make n few extracts
Levity is a sin in young or old but happiness
is an exalted Christian privilege, and recreation
an imperative Christian duty, especially when
one detects himself failing in the vigor and tone
of any Of his best powers. Age has the highest
right TO live in perpetual enjoyment.
We make festivals and birthday parties for our
children, that they may be benefited by cheerful
associations. This Is pleasant and well, though
il is only n rather superiuous free-wiU tithing of
the mint and anise. Youth can be happy under
almost any circumstances. Let US rather multi
ply festivities, pageants, reunions, and good-fel-
iowship generally, for the benefit of agc,-May-
days amid the flowers in spring, picnics in cool
arbors for summer, leaf-gatherings in brilliant
autumn, and Christmas merriment IN midwlnter,
all carefully arranged for the highest enjoyment
Of the dear old friend OF relative who has remem-
bered others hitherto. Let us all ugage together
in the merriest games. Guesses, f%orteits, hunt
the-slipper. and blind-man's-buff will bring
laughter into all our hearts especially If the very
decorous people indulge under the benevolent
pretext of : amusing the children
Concerts and operas To aged music-lovers. espe-
cially if echoing the beloved old music, would fall
like the sound of spring rain upon withered hearts.
Give the amateur, with his fading sight. the best
possible glasses. suited to his needs, and the best
light in the art gallery let youth stand aside and
be patient, ii need be, while he monOpolizes the
best picture. \ whole hour spent by some half
blind old grandmother in looking at one painting
will make her heart younger for all her remaining
years. We shall be old some day. and then will
come our turn for these noblest courtesies of life.
If anybody should go to the theatre, it is the
superannuated,-no every night or every week,
doubtless, but half a dozen times a year, more or
less, as circumstances incline. All work and no
play is not worse for seven than it is for seventy.
Social stimulus is always n great quickener;
but if nature desires to recreate itself in genuine
freedom, it must be in the society of its equals.
If you could bring a dozen very old people together
to play and be merry, and could make them all
cordially believe in this as right and proper, as
eminently to be desired, and as the only whole
some tonic for dignifed and respectable men and
women of three-score and ten, you would inaugu-
rate n new era. Christmas plays, with all the
young folks present, can never have n 1.-THE of the
relish which these old peoples carnivals, freely
dedicated to health and merriment, might easily
command n whiting club for the dear old
Yankee octogenarians would be no bad idea.
They could hardly play at cricket or baseball I;
but ii would do my soul good to see an old peo-
pies gymnasium established, nobody admitted
under seventy-ive. / can see how quickened
pride would straighten crooked backs, how good
Fellowship would lubricate dry joints, and how
joyial laughter would fatten thin ribs. Generous
emulation would make the old people swing on
their parallel bars, climb dizzying ladders, dance
Virginia reels, and almost stand on their heads
and turn somersets. as they used to seventy years
ago. In these days when : muscle is looking
up" the gyinnast should certainly turn his atten-
ton to the aches and rheumatisms of the suffering
grandparents. He can do them more good than
all the doctors, if he will but prescribe wisely and
in moderation. His cures would be little short of
miraculous; but before some dear old conserya-
t;yes of our acquaintance follow his advice. | sup
pose We shall all be in the millennium. Exercise
is all very well for growing boys and sturdy men
but it is absolutely indispensable TO the health
and happiness of all old people and invalids.
Iruduof "a. ~ rrsfh fhn nfcoct al o~I l..,~at., d.
but, in the name of humanity, do insist that every
old person shall keep the free use of his muscles,
and be able to war successfully against govt and
palsy.
Don't know about it, / am getting to be
very stiff already saws a stout gentleman of fifty.
To be sure you are, my dear sir but if you
will wear soft flannel next your heart, and fall in
love anew with vigorous measures, | warrant you
u renewed youth, to return with all the supple
ness of fve~-and-twenty. Exercise will exercise
Stiffness, and leave YOU n scrviceablc backbone
still, morally and physically. You are ageing
already hut many a circus-rider at your years,
despite his reckless dissipation, can rival NJ. BlOn-
din in agility and many an Indian brave, ten
years your senior, can run ten miles without rest
ing. No wonder he has been practising for
threescore years. Western hunters and English
squires enjoy the chase at seventy. Lord Broug-
ham Mt cighty-three delighted in a horseback ride
off dozen miles before breakfast. His mind, too,
which of course sympathized, was as young as his
body he was active III the great British Ship of
State as the youngest man of them all
If we lay down our weapons we shall forget
how to use them. Run, my dear sir.-run, jump,
ride, skate, and be active. If you viii keep your
self in practice. you can do the same thing ut
seventy. The young gymnast is gaining new
power daily the aged one should cling to what
he already has, as pcrtinaciously as he clings to
life. Exercise is as Indispensable to him as food,
if he would retain his vigOr and elasticity but lit
tie impaired.