The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1888-03-08
VALUABLE OLD AGE.
A Calm Mind and Unburdened Conscience,
Among Ita First Essentials.

Calm Mind and Unburdoned 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 n wise and vigor-
Gus old age is capable of rendering.
This part of life is regarded at best
with tolerance and sympathy. and the
respect and Difference 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-
BILE lives led in our modern civiliza-
iion. 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 or what is left of 1t is COM
paratively valueless. Thus we fire.
quently hear the expression: II do
not wish to live to be DID," by which
is meant that years burdensome to
ones self and useless to others. can
not be regarded as a boon. Vie wed in
the light of society's needs, this is
great 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
with exciting business and much of
his nights with exciting pleasures, and
hope to enjoy a vigorous and valuable
old age. Moderation, temperance,
calm mind and an unburdened con-
science are among the first essentials.
The best possible care of the physical
system, which implies 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
full 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 a valuable old age.
Bodily strength may decline. but the
purity. the wisdom, the experience will
remain to benefit society in manner
and to degree that can flow from no
zeal of youth nor energy of middle
life. Cicero sums up the whole when
he says: Life has it's 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 ripper years and the
maturity of old age equally have some
thing in harmony with nature, which
ought to be made availng in its sea-
son. ~ -Phi{adelDhta Ledger