Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1893-09-29

enumerafed IpSUdHCeS va lohS h'S t~H
sons possessifg all their faculties unlm.
paired, and opened up subject full OF
Interest and which even the large space
occupied by his address did not allow
him fully to develop. 1t seems physio-
logical law that the functions of the
body must be kept in exercise in order
TO maintain their efficiency, and 1t Is as
true of the body as of the mill or any
other machine that it will rust out from
disuse sooner than wear out by employ
ment.
The fact is constantly observed IN per
sons engaged in commercial pursuits
who retire at the age of sixty and then
fall into rapid decay, while professional
men remaining at work preserve their
yigor often for another twenty years
It is sad thing to see the nerve centers
decay, with a corresponding weakness
of body and mind, but it is still sadder
to witness, with wrinkling OF the skin
corresponding shrinking of the brain
allowing vanity and some of the weakly
passions, which had been kept in sup
preston, to come again to the fore
How different is the spectacle when
the organ is kept in its integrity by con-
slant use, and the mental faculties pre-
served in all their pristine force. we
have only to look around and to see our
poets, bishops, judges, ministers OF state
and medical men long lived and still in
mental vigor while working at their re-
spective avocations. Very remarkable,
too, is it that, as Sir James Crichton-
Browne observed, the freedom of Ian
guage will remain as good as ever; an
example of this was observed but lately
in discussion on the London uniyer-
sity questions, when two of the most
logical and well expressed speeches were
made by octogenarians.
! OLD AGE SHOULD NOT BE UNHAPPY.
We can at the present time point to
statesmen and lawyers of great age still
before the public; as not long ago we
could see Lord Palmerston, Lord
Brougham, Lord Lyndhurst and others,
In former times we may remember
Newton living to be eighty-fve, while
Sophocles is said to have lived to be
ninety, and Plato not much short OF
this. 1t is clear that hard work does
not kill. The toll, however, must be
genial and diversified. The man OF
business often has no occupation besides
his breadwinning, whereas a medical
man has variety of subjects to interest
him.
A speaker at the international con
gress showed by experiments upon school
| IL, -,
arithmetic were given in succession
that each sum showed an inferiority t.
the previous one, both in correctness
and as regards the time in which it wa.
completed. The one faculty employed
was gradually exhausted, fresh piec,
of evidence showing the necessity fol
diversity of work. In the treatment O
persons with mental trouble or worr,
the very worst method is to rely to,
much on what is called rest, meaning
thereby leaving the patient withou
other employment than to brood owe
his sorrows. Tue rest to the mind i
only to be obtained by the occupation O
other faculties reused into action b,
new surroundings.
There is no reason why old age SHOULD
not be as happy and as enjoyable as an,
other period of life. If old persons b.
asked as to the consciousnessof age the,
will all with one consent declare tina
there exists nothing of the kind. An oil
person has knowledge of his age in tn
same way as his friends; he sees it b,
looking in the mirror, by remembrance
of past events or the loss of contempt
raries, but he is not constantly carryin,
about with him the conviction or feelin,
that he is old; he is thus still able to oc
cupy himself in the business and pleas
ures of life.
AUTHORITATIVE TESTIMONY.
Button spoke of his green old age a
, one of the happiest periods in his life, al
: though the kind of pleasures then expe
, rienced are, of course, different from
J those of youth; and even when deca,
comes, and man is becoming free from
, the remembrance of all earthly things
} then, as Sir James Paget says land n
, better example could be found of full
, mental activity by continual work.
J may be SO ordered on purpose that tn
, spirit may be invigorated and undis
= turbed in the contemplation of tn
? Frightening future. Another writer
, speaking of old age in reference to the dc
cease of an eminent barrister, also main
tanned that the highest faculties are ken
Keen by constant exercise, and the brai
vigorous by constant action and renewal
: The understanding has often been i
,. the highest perfection in quite advances
! old age, and that has been the best perio
OF human life. 1t is the time when tn
ra0a and storm of M Srio., 49,. 4