Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-02-09
". / N. sn. 6 m. , yr.
Cultivation Of Old Asc,

Cultivation Of Old Age.
There is too much education into old age.
We don't reccgniz, it as such, yet tho young
oil both sexes on arriving "ol age" arc virtually
taught TO become Old. The girl on leaving eff
short iro2ks is soon taught that it is unladylike
Or improper to romp. Sho must caas, the i'm
petuous run Of childhood and walk 10 digni-
fed manuer
Custom gives her every encouragement 10
bco0mo sluggish. Her droEs is q fashionable
system Of lettering the to5y. When she
marrles, the restrictions necessary for the cal.
tivation Of old age arc still more strictly en-
forced. She must then associate only with
married women. She is rcc lived 10 iutl mem
b.rshlp With tie female married clan. 1t is
undlgnlticd longer to associate with young girls
II she be so disposed. She msy do so fer few
years, tu: tho uuwrltten laws and social msp
date OF the period are more subtle and powerful
10 their workings. A hurdrel unforeseen iuful
ences torco her 10 the conventional path.
Friends and relatives reprove, advise, csnsure
or tl0Gule any habit OF an unconventional
character. She feds herself 10 lhicket whore
70 do ought save to advance 10 the narrow path
myriad Of th0rue. So SEQ il doomed to TIE
company ard association OF those who have in.
voluosrily mad, it the busincss of their lives TO
grow old, and she grows cid with them; cul;i>
YATES sluGg!shoCss, walks es lutc a. possible,
aud gets the liver conplsint.
Age IL developed in many ways. Through
weight OF domtslo chrcs and duties Through
dress, which imprisOns and fcttcrs. THROUGH
a lfe hre sixth spcrt in the house, aud when
not IN the house shorplog at the store.
Through cultlVa'ing the habit of locking on the
darkest side OF everything. Through srCwn up
dIgnty which cau never uabepd 10 run or
romp. Through constant repression Of tho play
iuIncss which was checked when she doD1ed
thc dress OF the grown up woman. People who
play rld alc net afraid 10 mako fools of them.
selves Ietaio their youth much longer than
Mr. Practical Sokcysidcs. The hsbitudss Of
tho mind itfaeuca the condition and so far to.
wards shaping the body.
The difference between the face of the man
who laushs and tho man who snar!s Proves
this. Probably corresponding difference
could bo l0uud in their lungs aud lgers we're
those orggn9 examined after death.
kuts aud grooves OF occupation promote old
age. Tie man OF fifty who has spont his Els in
travel, and has lived 10 many places and whuec
ASSOCIATIONS and societies have been constantly
changing, will, rresuuins he has taken ordiua
70 care OF himself show less sisDs OF sge than
the man chained for similar period 10 desk,
Who moves pcndulum like from house o.oti,c,
day by day, aud who has made scarcely dcz D
new acqueOtaUces
Contrast the bod carrier Of forty five with
the man OF like age Iho has exercised mod
eratcy,llVcd generously but temporarily, whose
mild is active, broad, full OF idea ard plsn.
anl who is constantly 90 the move about the
world. The ilrs shows marked sigus Of pre-
mature sgi; the sccotd is IN his primo full OF
blood, .vigor aud viisliiy, Breadth Of meu-
tali'y, iullnesS and activity Of idea, frequent
change Of place ard association, added to tcm-
pcrate habits Ct body, Gre prcsetveti7es of
nalurcd vigor. |. was said Of old: Man
shall net 1.-Two by bread alonc."' Every new
thought, every fresh idea iu bslapcei brain
brings with it certain healthy stimulus. which
imparts new liic
Philosopher, ',solcnists aud writer's are longer
lived than those Engaged in purely mechanical
OCCUPATIONS. The cause OF this goes beyond
that limited range Of deduction and COL 'usion
called rcasnu. But statistics Hil verify the
substance OF the ASSERTIONS hero made Is it
not. thcp, reasonable TO suppose that rs the
range OF human knowledge widons and minds
become more and mere quickoned with the
living fire Of thought, lha. existence up 10 the
point CT three sc2re and ten, and even later,
may become az experience, fuller Of lie, light
and happiness than cvtr?
Mr.. FANDERB!LT'S GlFI.-Wc mentioned
last week the gratifying lac; that Mr. William
II. Vanderbilt, OF NV York, had pledged the
sum Of tHtnty five thousand dollars to tho
University of Virginia fer tho erection Of an
observatory for tho splendid tc!e.copo already
promised by Mr.. Leander J. McCormick.-
Both these gifts are coudtionsl upon the en-
dowment Of an astronomical professorship,
Without which the instrument and bulllug
would of coutso be useless. The sun of fifty
thousand dollars will constitute this endowment,
fifteen thousand dollars of which is already
pledged, aud Te cannot permit ourselves to
doubt that the remainder will be forthcoming.
There are quito number of gentlemen of ior
tuoe, alumni Of the University, whose wealth
c)pntl I'm IN he millions and Uo c,n ecarcelC