The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1891-07-18
TIMELY TOPICS
ThoughtfuIly Discussed For Careful
Readers.


reason than that they seemed sc
young. 1t may have been, too, be
cause they were apparently fond Of
each other. remember we mention
ed that as an indication OF recent
marriage, but / am rather ashamed
of it now that am not called upon
to prove anything.
1t seems to insinuate that after ex-
tended association in matrimony
people are not expected to be fond
of each other.
Well, after a few days. we formed
the usual table acquaintance with
that interesting couple, and some one
mentioned attending a wedding an
niversary reception shortly before,
when the pretty bride rather electri-
fed us by saying:
Il had always intended celebrating
my fifth anniversary, but it was in
convenient
"Have you really been married five
years? l impolitely interrupted, and
she smiled at me as she continued.
And then l postponed it until my
tenth, and something again interfer
ed, and"-here she smiled at me
again-"now l am awaiting my fif-
teenth."
will you please tell us how long
you have been married"f / asked in
very humble voice indeed.
Just fourteen years, so you see ]
have not long to wait"
saw that and great many other
things within short space of time
One was that all the people who wear
new, well-fitting clothes are not nee
essarily wearing out wedding gar.
ments. Another thing was that some
of the affectionate people in the world
have not lost their ability to show
affection even after extended matri
monial experience.
1t flashed across my mind that
half the amusing stories of railway
devotion, that half the travellers tales
of the 'loverlike bride and groom
who sat just in 'front.' of him would
lose their delicate flavor, and should
henceforth suspect them of being
very ordinary morsels. or course il
is alway an interesting matter wher
newly married man takes the ten
derest sort of care Of his very new
wife, but after he has been married
ten years, and continues in the self
same way-that is very different
matter, and cannot be expected to b
received on the highly interesting
plane of the other.
80
The thing that wondered at mos
however, was the amazing youthful
ness Of both husband and wife. Per
haps the latter revealed the secrel
when after saying, Il have been con
sidered bride for such time
shall take it as an indication of ag'
when | no longer make that impress
sion" she went on to say that the,
had not worried much, that they hat
lived an active life, and had takel
their full measure of recreation al
well as hard work, had Toasted thei
eyes on beauty and their souls Oh
music, and felt that perhaps the on,
thing that contributed most to thei
preservation of youth was that the,
had never allowed existence to be
come a monotony.
She used almost the words of al
old lady of sixty-four, whom ! knew
who had the smooth soft skin of
young girl, whose cheeks wore th,
daintiest flush of pink, whose eye
had in them a softened light which
could not be called dim. whose hear
was full of sympathy for all tn
hopes, the pleasures and the needs 0
the young, and who, if she lives t,
count her hundred years will no
then be old, for she drinks daily from
the fountain of immortal youth.
That was fruitless search of th
wrinkled old Spanish cavalier 70
the tabled fountain in the Land O
Flowers, for it is not hidden away il
the shade of the cypress trees 1t i
within the reach of those whose live
are healthful, not merely in physi
cal way, but who appreciate the re
quirements of the triune nature, ant
sink neither the body, the mind no
the soul in the stagnant pool of me
notony.
When the old philosophers expend
ed their gold, their strength, every
thing they held most precious, tina
they might obtain but drop of th
Elixir of Life, it was never for an in
slant expected to prolong the life O
old men. 1t was to renew youth a
we'll 1t would not have been stuff
GENTLY alluring otherwise to max
them forgetful of their physical ne
cessities, or to drown the voice of ma
Iura) affection. When men say the,
hope for length of days, it is neve
with the picture of helpless old ag
before them, "When they shall b
afraid Of that which is high, an,
fears shall he in the way, and tn
almond tree shall flourish, and tn
grasshopper shall be burden, an,
desire shall fall
1t is always without anticipation
of failing eyes, deafened ears an,
tottering steps. 1t is with the ex
pectation--if indeed they think be
yond merely the goodly gift of lif
itself-that the strength of yout
will endure, that neither body no
mind will tremble under the weigh
Of years.
One does not hope for a long oil
age-it is for long life ere old ag
comes. and so beautiful is youth t
us, and so doubly beautiful when
dwells in body and spirit togethe
that it is not strange that we hinge
long with those thus richly blessed
and think much ON the lives crowne
with such blessings.
**#
| watched an old man once, who's
form was vigorous, his muscles ye
firm and his step elastic, lose day b
day his mental strength; saw hi
memory fail for recent things, hi
mind revert to his middle life, to til
time when his grown sons were Chi
dren, then to his own boyhood, an
his own wife and family were strar
gers to him, and he talked OF thing