The Arizona sentinel., 1888-03-17
VALUABLE OLD AGE.
A Calm Mind and Unburdcned Conscience,
 Among Its First Essentials.

] 4 Calm Mind and Unburdened Conscience, Among Its First Essentials.
 There is much said of the value of youthful energy and mature strength,
 but very little of the unique services
 and influence which q wise and vigor-
 ous old age is capable of rendering.
 This part of life is regarded at best,
 with tolerance and sympathy. and the
 respect and deference which are some-
 times rendered, and oftener withheld,
 are based upon what has been done in the past rather than on any actual
 and present worth or efficiency. There
 IS perhaps an adequate cause for this way of looking at old age in the verita.
 ble lives led in our modern civiliza- ton, and especially in our own busy country. Whatever plans are laid or efforts put forth to render life useful,
 there are few, if any, to provide for its long continuance. Business and pleasure are crowded into the former part of life with relentless hand; men live fast and perhaps accomplish much for a few years; then they find their powers exhausted, their health impaired. and either life is cut short CT what is left of it is com paratively valueless. Thus we ire quently hear the expression: q do not wish to live to be old," by which is meant that years burdensome to one's self and useless to others, can not be regarded as boon. Vie wed in the light of soeiety's needs, this is grent mistake. Many of the early years of life are absorbed in learning. and but few remain in which decided services can be rendered. Every year well spent brings accumulated knowl- edge, power and experience to enrich those Services, and each should, there fore, be more valuable than the pre- ceding one. No one can hurry through early and middle life, filling his days E{th exciting business and much of his nights with exciting pleasures, and hope 10 enjoy 8 vigorous and valuable old go. Moderau.., temperance a calm mind and an unburd med con science are among 'he first essentials. Tie best possible care of Che physical system, winch ..lr'.s 8 better knowl- edge of the laws of our own being than most of us now possess, is requisite. The use of every faculty and the abuse of none, is need ful. The continued interest in hon. orable occupations and good causes. which will not wear out, if they are pursued with discretion and wisdom, contributes largely to the value and happiness of old age. Mo re than all, good life, where sin is resisted and virtue cultivated, where wisdom is stored up and folly banished. where benevolence and love reign and malice and hatred are driven away, is the foundation of valuable old age. Bodily strength may decline, but the purity, the wisdom, the experience will remain to benefit society in mahner and to degree that can flow from no zeal of youth nor energy of middle lie. Cicero sums up the whole when he says: Life has its fixed course, and nature one unvarying way, each age has assigned to it what best suits it so that the best fickleness of boy hood, the sanguine temper of youth, the soberness of riper years and the maturity of old age equally have some thing in harmony with nature, which ought to be made availing in it's sea- son. ."-PhtIodeIphiG Ledger.