The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-02-27
The Way to Keep Young.

Mr.. Gladstone, though seventy five years
of age, is still at the head of the English
government, and is regarded by many
eminent thinkers as the foremost man of
the world. lie certainly has no living
equal in the possession of rare combina-
ton of varied accomplishments, and in
the ceaseless activity of his mind. He is
a mighty and admirable force rather than
a person. Around him gather the best
intellects, the grandest ideas, the finest
scholarship, the most far-reaching plans
of the British empire to-day. Now, how
does it happen that he is such force at
this advanced age-at an age when most
persons consider their life-work as en-
tirely done, and are looked upon by others
as already in harmless but hopeless
senility, demanding the offices of tender
care and soothing love? In answering
this question, it must be admitted that
Mr.. Gladstone had originally robust
physique and the endowment of excep-
tional genius. But these great advan-
tages do not by any means account for
the astonishing prolongation of his bodily
had as great advantages, and become pre-
maturely old at sixty or even younger.
The Emperor Charles ", for example,
inherited an iron constitution and was
hardy through all his earlier years almost
beyond comparison; yet, owing to glut-
tony, to over-labors at one time and lack
of proper exercise at others, he broke
down at fitty-fve, and felt constrained to
abdicate his splendid throne, in order to
rid himself of the burdens and irritations
of his official position. What contrast
between these two men and rulers Glad
stone has studied sanitary laws, and reso-
lutely conformed his ideas and habits to
them. He knows the value of the ruddy
glow induced by strong circulation, and
so he grasps his favorite axe and Yields
the blows of giant among the trees of
his forests. His diet is carefully regu-
lated, his sleeping chamber wisely venti.
lated, and above all, his intellectual facul-
ties kept busily engaged. If he had fallen
under the allucination-which kills 80
maDy-that he was, say at the age of
sixty, an old man, and had retired from
the stimulating requirements of public
life to the ease and stupidity of nursing
an old age, he would doubtless have lost
much, if not the whole, of his tremend-
Gus energy, and become rapidly senile.
1t is his willingness to work, his determin-
alton to wear out rather than rust out,
that has redeemed him from :" the lean
and slippered pantaloon," and preserved
to him his elasticity of spirit, his peren.
NAL freshness and strength. Moral-Old
folks, do not fall under the enfeebling no
ton that you are old enough to be laid on
the shelf. Do not allow your relatives to
speak of you and to treat you as if you
were superannuated. Do not surrender
your hold at the helm to some one else
and go below to lounge away the rest OF
the voyage of life in lazy dreams and un
fruitful idleness. Brace up with regular
exercise-plenty of it, with good solid
food, with animated company, with keer
and vivid interest in the latest discoverie;
and great events, with an unfagging in
terest in everything that is going on
The way to retain your faculties is to use
them. The more Jealous and pushing
you are in regard to new meanings o.
Gods Word, in conversing with souls
about personal salvation, in thinking anc
working for Christ, the stronger will bt
your assurances of salvation and the clearer
your intellectual powers. Work is tn,
only panacea for the ills to which old age
is heir.-ProtessOr T. S. Dooliale, DID,.
IN Christian at Work.