Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-05-30

have our feminine readers suppose that we
arc giving them any impertinent advice
on this subject But as a manly accom-
plishmcnt the knowing how to grow old
Is of great value, and, if we mistake not,
somewhat rare The beautiful old age
that Cicero wrote of in his De Senectute Is
not beheld every day. The hoary head
crown of glory, is what we read ofoftener
than we see. There is an engraved por-
trait of Thorwaldsen which might well
hang on every household wall, TO show
the royal type of beautiful old age.
The mellow Indian summer ripeness,
sweetness and brightness of that serene
and noble face is benediction
There was an old Hampden County
man, who died in Oberlin, not long ago,
who knew how to grow old. AT four.
score he was the youngest man in any
company; so bright, genial, cheerful,
hopeful, even radical, was he. He never
croaked nor lamented. He enjoyed the
present hour and expected good times
coming His eye lit up every other eye,
and his speech rang with lofty cheer. His
eyes were always set in front, and he never
walked backward to see the past. The
world was happier every day for John
Keep. There is an old manufacturer,
whom one may often meet on some train
or other, hereabouts, who keeps moving
and is always smiling, and walks off in
springy way as if the world used him well
and he had nothing to complain of. There
is an old divine, who, having resigned his
pulpit gracefully and in timely season, re-
tains his rightful leadership in society,
and strikes out with steely ring live
thoughts on living subjects; and another
who, though past the allotted period Of
man, camps out for his health in Canada
woods in frost time, instead of hugging
the chimney-corner. There is an old poet
with white locks, who walks down Broad
way to his daily post, translating Homer
| for his recreation, with sturdy step that
puts to shame many languid youth with
waxed moustache There is an old tinan-
cier. whose port is noble as a RoInan cen
turion's, and whose head is level, who
also understands the art of growing old
And there used to be old family doctors
who ratified about in sulkies, and carried
leathern pOrtmanteaus with medicine
enough to kill twenty horses, who, up to
the final bourne, were so bluff and hearty,
and hilarious, that their merry souls did
good despite their medicines.
We suppose that it is good deal in the
blood, and well oxygenated blood. There
was fine old specimen of an Italian
General, who kept his blood aglow and
his old age hale, by keeping in the saddle.
The better constitution, the better Chris
tian. Muscular Christianity has a great
advantage over that which isn't muscular.
Chronic invalidism is apt to engender
chronic peevisbness, selfishness and glum-
ness The temptations of sickness may
be greater than those of health. If, then,
we suspect we are growing old, let us, by
all means keep a good digestion. 1t is
the next thing TO a good conscience, and
greatly conducive to it. Keep moving.
Don't live in slippers, as you would keep
sut of the clean and slippered pantaloon;"
Don't retire from business. Have chair
in the office if YOU can't stand behind the
counter. Greet the old customers and also
the new. Let the places which have known
YOU, know YOU still Don't hide from the
present age, nor curse it as out of joint
nor burrow like an ancient woodchuck
into the former times, nor tremble
before the future. Thaw out toward the
young. Don't sicken them by examining
down their throats too much unpalatable
advice. They have got to learn something
, by their own mistakes Just as you did by
yours. Prove Shakespeare sonnet false
Grabbed age and youth
Cannot live together
The antagonism he describes
Youth like summer morn
Age like winter weather,
is too often real, but it ought not so to be,
and if one knows how to grow old, it will
not be. Rather like the golden radiance
of the long, still, rustling, quivering Octo
Der days, when out of the brown husR
bursts the yellow corn, should be the ripe
experience of our life's harvest. Let Us
bring in our sheaves rejoicing, and let u'
die before the winter of our discomfort
sets in.-Springtield (Hdss.) Republican,.