, 1880-05-17
Cultivation Of Old Age.

| CultlvdllUu vi OIU AkOs
There is too much education into old
age. We don't recognize it as such, yet
the young of both sexes on arriving
"of age" are virtually taught to be-
come old. The girl on leaving off short
frocks is soon taught that it is unlady-
like or improper to romp. She must
cease the impetuous run of childhood
and walk in dignified manner.
Custom gives her every encourage
ment to become sluggish. Her dress
is fashionable system of lettering the
tody. When she marries, the restric-
tions necessary for the cultivation of
old age are still more strictly enforced.
She must then associate only with mar
ried women. She is received in full
membership by the married clan. 1t is
undignifed longer to associate with
young girls if she be SO disposed. She
may do so fer few years, but the uA-
written laws and social mandates of the
period are more subtle and powerful
in their workings. A hundred unfore-
seen influences force her in the conven-
tional path. Friends and relatives re-
prove, advise, censure or ridicule any
habit of an unconventional character.
She finds herself in thicket, where, to
do aught save advance in the narrow
path trodden by conventionality is to
encounter q myriad of thorns. So she
is doomed to the company and assecla-
tion of those who have invsluntarily
made it the business of their lives to
grow old, and she grows old with them;
cultivates sluggishness, walks as little
|
plant. Age is developed in many
ways. Through weight of domestic
cares and duties. Through dress,
which imprisons and fetters. Through
life tive-sixths spent in the house and
when net in the house shopping at the
store. Through cultivating the habit
of looking on the darkest side of every
thing. Through grown-up dignity
which can never unbend into a run or
a romp. Through constant repression
of the playfulness which was checked
when she donned the dress of the
g1own-up woman. People who play
and are not afraid to make fools of
themselves retain their youth much
longer than Mr.. Practical Sobersides.
The habitudes of the mind influence
the condition, and go far towards shap-
ing the body.
! The difference between the face of
the man who laughs and the man who
smiles proves this. Probably CORE
spending difference could be found in
their lungs and livers were those Or
gans examined after death.
Ruts and grooves of occupation pro-
mots old age. The man of fifty who
has spent his life in travel, and has
lived in many places, and whose asso-
Citations and societies have been con-
stantly changing, will, presuming he
has taken ordinary care of himself,
show less signs of age than the man
chained for similar period to desk,
who moves pendulum-like from house
to Office, day by day, and who has made
scarcely dozen new acquaintances.
Contrast the hod-carrier of forty five
with the man of like age who has exer-
cised moderately, lived generously but
temperately, whose mind is active,
broad, full of ideas and plans, and who
is constantly on the move about the
world. The grst shows marked signs
OF premature age; the second is in his
prime, full of blood. vigor and vitality.
Breadth of mentality, fullness and ac-
tivity OF idea, frequent change of place
and association, added to temperate
habits of body, are preservatives of
matured vigor. 1t was said Of old:
"Man shall not live by bread alone.
Every new thought, every fresh idea in
a balanced brain brings with it GER
tain healthy stimulus, which imparts
new life. Philosophers, scientists and
writers are longer-lived than those en-
gagged in purely mechanical eccupa-
tions. The cause of this goes beyond
that limited range of deduction and
| conclusion called reason. But statis-
tics will verify the substance of the as
sertions here made. Is it not, then.
reasonable to suppose that as the range
of human knowledge widens, and
minds become more and more quick
ened with the living fire of thought,
that existence up to the point OF three
score and ten, and even later, may be-
come an experience fuller of life, light
and happiness than ever?--N. 7. Graphic.
GA CHARGE TO KEEP" - Judge
Bockes, of the New York Supreme
Court, is an able jurist and first-rate
singer. The Trey Press tells the fol-
lowing anecdste of the Judges fond
ness for sacred music, as indicated by
a recent solo while On the cars:
| A lady was on the train, unattended.
save by fretful. crying baby. The
poor woman's strength was nearly ex-
hausted from the long-continued strain,
and she cast An appealing look around.
It was too much for the soft heart of
the chivalric judge.
| He arose, asked permission to take
charge of the squaller, (which was
gratefully accorded, and then resumed