The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-04-12

am AFRAID tnat old people found lie
rather dull business In the time OF
King David and his rich old subject
and friend. Barzillai. who. poor man.
could not have told teal from a can
vas-back. nor enjoyed symphony con-
cert. II they had had those Injuries In
his day. There were no pleasant fire
sides. for there were no chimneys.
There were no daily newspapers for
the old man 10 read and he could not
read them if there were, with his dim
eyes, nor hear them read. very proba-
bly,, with his dulled ears. There was
no tobacco. soothing drug. which in
its various forms Is a great solace 10
many old men and 10 some old women
Carlyle and his mother used TO
smoke their pipes together. you remem-
Der.
Old age is infinitely more cheerful
for intelligent people. at least. than il
was two or three thousand years ago.
IL is our duty, so far as we can, TO keep
il so. There will always be enough
about II that is solemn. aud more than
enough, alasl that is saddening. But
how much there is in our times to
Tighten its burdensl If they that look
out at the windows be darkened. the
optician is happy to supply them with
Eyeglasses for use before the public.
and spectacles for their hours of priya-
cy. II the grinders cease because they
are few. they can be made again by
third dentition. which brings no tooth
ache in its train. BY temperance and
good habits of life, proper clothing.
well-warmed, well.drained and we'll
ventilated dwellings. and sufficient
(not too much) exercise, the old man
of our time may keep his muscular
strength in very good condition.
doubt If Mr.. Gladstone, who is fast
nearing his eightieth birthday, would
boast. in the style of Caleb. that he was
as good man with his ax as he was
when he was 40, but | would back him
-if the match were possible-for 100
shekels against that oyer-coniident old
lsraelite TO cut down and chop up
cedar of Lebanon. | know most ex-
cellent clergyman, not far from my
own time Of life, whom would pit
against any old Hebrew rabbi or Greek
philosopher of his years and weight liz
they could return to the flesh. TO run
quarter of mile on good. level
track.
We must not make too much of such
exceptional cases of prolonged activity.
/ often reproached my dear friend and
classmatc, James Freeman Clarke, that
his ceascless labors made it impossible
for his cocvals 10 enjoy the luxury OF
that repose which their years demand
ed. A wise old man, the late DR..
James Walker president of Harvard
university. said that the great privilege
of old age was the getting rid Of re-
SponsibiiitieS. These Woodworking
veterans will not let one get rid of
them until he drops in his harness, and
so gets rid of them and his life togcth-
en- How often has many tired old
man envied the superannuated family
cat. stretched upon the rug before the
fire, letting the genial warmth tram
gully difluse itself through all her in
ternal arrangements! No more watch
ing for mice in dark. damp cellars; no
more awaiting the savage gray rat at
mouth OF his den; no more scurrying
up trees and lamp-posts TO avoid the
neighbours cur who wishes 10 make her
acquaintance II is very grand TO die
in harness. but il is very pleasant TO
have the tight straps unbuckled and the
heavy collar lifted from the neck and
shoulders.
The feeling must of necessity come
10 many aged persons that they have
outliyed their usefulness; that they are
no longer wanted. but rather in the
way. drags on the wheels rather than
helping them forward. But let them
remember the oft-quoted line Of Milton:
They also serve who only stand aud wait"
This Is peculiarly true TO them. They
are helping others without always be-
ing aware Of il. They are the shields.
the break waters of those who come
after them. Every decade is defense
OF the one next behind IL. At 80 the
youth has sobcred into manhood. but
the strong men Of 40 rise In almost un-
broken rank between him aud the app
proaches of old age as they show in
the men OF so. At 40 he looks with
sense Of security az the strong men OF
80, and sees behind them the row OF
sturdy sexagenarians. When 80 is
reached. somehow 90 does not look so
old rs il once used TO, and 20 Is still
afar of. At GO the stern sentence of
the burial service seems TO have a
meaning that one did not notice In
former years. There begins 10 be
something personal about IT, But IL
one lives 10 20 he soon gets used to the
text with the threescore years and ten
in IL. aud begins TO count himself
among those who by reason Of strength
arc destined TO reach fourscore. OF
whom he can see number still In
reasonably good condition. The
octogenarian loves TO read about peo-
pie of 80 and over. lie peers among