Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-01-20
THE MIDDLE-AGED.
PEOPLE WHO ARE STRONG FROM ex-
PERieNce AND LONG HABIT.
Into the First Thirty Yesn-Lovs
snd Happiness IN Later
Life.
fPhiladelphiA Press I

lPhtadelphta Press
Joking aside. b It not time that the
middle aged people were setting up their
banners and blowing their bugles little
In the world They have the solid work
OF fighting to do. while the young folks
make all the tantara, and 60 glittering
about the held IL life really an empty
work after 3Or Are the best prizes the
keenest Jest Of en- njoyment the finest relish
Of art, nature. books all the good things
which God has given us-ali Of these
crowded into those first thirty yesrsy
Does the man whose hair is grizzled work
less efiectually. love less passionately or
hate less fercely than the youth whose
lip is barely furred with DOWN
ROMANCE AND REALITY.
n Ioung people. In the literature Of
sVss. country. are credited with all the
ro..s.nce and most Of the power Of life
tias II not been good deal the fault Of
middle aged poets and romancers that
this is the case, A man finds the years
slipping out of his grasp. fast and faster.
just when the possibilities of life open
out before him. vast and unconquered
He fsncies that he needs nothing but
more time to conquer them. 20. that
were young again" he cries in poem
Or novel. -. happy, omnipotent youth
Whereat. the young people. hearing this
dinned into their ears from age to age.
fancy that they really are happy and
Omnipotent They forgot to count up
what they have done. They measure
their power by what they dream they
can do standing with cropping. out
stretched hands towards the hazy stretches
Of life
At ~ . man has tramped over these
stretched They are no longer hazy to
him. lie has sunk deep into the quag.
mires; he knows where the best paths lie
he has climbed the peaks and breathed the
pure heavenly airs there He has lost the
elan and the blind daring with the i'm.
pregnsble self-confidence Of youth But
he knows himself he has nov. II ever.
found out his work: he holds 1t well in
hand. lie has the strength which comes
from tried skill. experience and long
habit Granted there Is less romance In
his view Of life than in that Of his son.
the undergraduate. But there is reality
II Is the difference between the fantastic
lights of q picture and the sun which
warns the blood and makes the corn ripe
and red: between the tin sword in the
actors hand and the keen dagger which
cuts to the heart
IN LATER LlFEs
As for love. all novels end with mar.
riage The fervor, the delight. the real.
ity Of the passion We are told. belongs to
youth: middle e sinks into dull. gray
monOtOny of common place habit Itfact.
It is the young whose love finds utterance
in signs. in poems. In at best Q selfish
monopoly Of the beloved one it is the
middle aged man and woman who quietly
sacrifce day by day every hope and am
bition. every talent and taste which gives
them identity among men: who become
drudges. who give health, strength, life
itself. drop by drop. for love.
As for happiness, We suspect . much
larger share comes into . mans life In
middle age than ever before In the first
place. clever young Americans with edu.
cation. - rule. are melancholy. They
are not content with their capital In life,
unless it includes misery which they can
nurse and coddle The middleaged man
Is past this weakness He is satisfied to
take the cup of life which each day
bringa without stirring it up to find the
drega To the Young man every grief Is
immortal The older one knows II will
end in month or year; the junior takes
pleasure In art. In books. In music, even
In friendship in . scrsppy. inconsistent.
feverish way. The elder knows whers to
find his enjoyment. and drinks 1t In pro
longed deep leisurely draughts.
In short II youth and old age have won
oil the praise Of the poets heretofore.
much Il left to be said BY common sense
OF the golden mean Of life