New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-08-12
The Autocrat's Thoughts on
Old Age.


/ am afraid, says Oliver WENDELL
Holmes in the January Atlantic,
that old people found life rather a
Gull 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
canvas-back, nor enjoyed a SYM
phony concert, if they had those
luxuries in his day. There were no
pleasant firesides, for there were no
chimneys. There were no daily
newspapers for the old man to read,
and he could not read if there were,
with his dim eyes, nor hear them
read, very probably, with his dulled
ears. There was no tobacco,
soothing drug, which in it's various
forms is great solace to many old
men and to some women-Carlyle
and his mother used to smoke their
pipes together, you remember
Old age is infinitely more cheerful,
for intelligent people at least, than
1t was two or three thousand years
ago. 1t is our duty, so far as we
can, to keep it SO. There,wi always
be enough about it that is solemn,
and more than enough, alas! that is
saddening. But how much there is
in our time to tighten it's burdens!
If they that look out at the windows
be darkened, the optician is glad to
supply them with eyeglasses for use
before the public, and spectacles for
their hours of privacy. If the grind
ers cease because they are few, they
can he made many again by third
dentition, which brings no tooth
ache in its train. By temperance
and good habits of life, proper cloth
ing, well-warmed, well-drained, and
well-ventilated dwellings,, and suf-
fcient, not too much exercise, the
old man of our time may keep his
muscular strength in very good con-
dition. I doubt if Mr.. Gladstone,
who is fast nearing his SOth birth
day would boast, in the style of Ca
leb, that he was as good a man with
his ak as he was when he was 40, but
l would back him-if the match were
possible-for a 100 shekels, against
the overconfdent old Israelite, to
cut down and chop up a cedar of
Lebanon. | know a most excellent
clergyman, not far from my own
time oflife, whom would pit against
any old Hebrew rabbi, or Greek
philosopher of his years and weight,
If they could return to flesh. to run
a quarter of a mile on a good, level
track.
We must not make too much of
such exceptional cases Of prolonged
activity. oftenreproached my dear
friend and classmate, James Freeman
Clarke that his ceaseless labors made
it impossible for his coevals to en-
JOY the luxury of that repose which
their years demanded. 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 responsibilities.
Those 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 together. How often has
many a tired old man envied the SUI
perannuated family cat, stretched
upon the rug before the fire letting
the genial warmth TRANQUILITY dihuse
itself through all her internal arrange
ments! No more watching for mice
in dark, damp cellars, no more
awaiting the savage gray rat at the
mouth OF his den, no more scurrying
up trees and lampposts to avoid the
neighbours cur who wishes to make
her acquaintance! 1t is very grand
to Idle in harness." but it is very
pleasant to have the tight-straps I'M
buckled and the heavy collar lifted
rom the neck and shoulde rs. -