Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-11-22
THE AGED.
| From the Golden Rule ]

1t is very difficult for us to appre-
ciate the fact that ic rapid flight Of
"Father me" Is constantly rUbbinS
us OF our physical powers, alter We
have passed the prime OF lite. We ale
unwilling to urally-tintihe he
vivacity, the elasticity and the ph! steal
vigor OF youth have mea>urabiy pass
ed away, even when we have reached
threescure wears. This is true, how
ever, while il is utterly impossible 10
escape ''growing DID," prematurely,
save by needing the warnings given us
by a natural disinclination to exercise
with our usual activity and vivacity.
AS we advance in lie, there is au i'll
creasing love of home, of rest and
quiet. our movements being cores
pondimgly measured and moderate.
just to the extent, therefore, that we
attempt, from habit or false ideas, to
continue our early customs, laboring
and walking ut the former speed, we
shall do so at disadvantage, uDnec-
essariy exhausting our vital forces
constantly on the wane. If the young
choose 20 outstrip us in any respect, it
is Wise to allow them the liberty, fol-
lowing our natural ihcliiiations, which
are safe guides, as general principle.
The human bod,-like machinery run
at dangerous rate of speed is rapidly
destroyed, soon getting beyond repairsi
In youth there IL u recuperative power
which will justiiy-for time, at least
far niore undue effort than can be
safely tolerated-in advanced life. This
fact is well illustrated by the many
deaths Of the aged, particularly during
the very hot or the very cold weather;
these extremes proving too much for
the reduced forces of the infirm.
The abuse OF the digestive organs Is
prominent among the active causes Of
disease among the aged, some tunes
called "nervOus prOstratiom." Far too
Inany wholly retire from business cares
before il is judicious to do So. provided
one will labor according to the then ex-
isIing strength, passing All indolcnt life,
save in the matter OF eating, continuing
I" take the same food, in kind and
quantity, that seemed necessary when
AN active life sharpened the appetite.
During the growth Of the body, partic-
uiariy when there is an unusual activi-
ty, The appetite will be corresponding
iy active, attended by similar diges-
tive power. But, in after life, when
tile powers are moderate in their activi-
ty, with far less demand for nutrition
save to sustain the heat of the body
the natural appetite is far less urgent
in its demands, true 10 the necessity of
the case aside from morbid desires,
based on habits. About one half,
therefore, of the food actually needed
by the young man, active and vigorous,
while rapidly growing, will suffice for
the aged, Of the same size, while doing
but little labor, or none requiring cx-
ertion. Ii, however those little past
the prime of life leave all active busi-
ness, leading one of comparative indo-
lence, without a corresponding change
in diet, reading political papers, eating,
drinking, smoking, etc, occup, ing
most OF their time, digestive derange-
lnents, liver difficulties, bowel weak
nesses, and u sudden death will he the
legitimate re.ults. While it is umwise
to reliuquish business and labor, who'll
ly. long before one is absolutely unable
to labor, it is safe, imperative, it The
health is regarded, to be moderate in
all our movements, our eating, our ar
tificial life, and particularly il what
should be regarded as our indulgences!