The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-10
n JOYOUS LIFE.
One Woman who Lived and Was HAPPY
For 81 Years.

For u tehfss
.Jt isn't that dread being old!' de-
clared a young girl to frleno' It's
that dread not being young; and
shouldn't mind not being young II II only
,,aaant growing less good-looking. and hav-
10 40 take care of my health httle
more and avoiding east winds ana that
kind OF thing" quotes the YOUTHS COM
panion. l.. -. m
"What I am really afraid OF Is not en-
loving things, There are so many thlhes
i enjoy now. But when / think or enjoy
ing the same when am for'y vi nA'S'
IL seems ridiculous.
"a woman of fifty who is eager for
nartfes and picnics and light novels and
French candy and pretty slippers Is not
at all the kind of middle-aged person
want 10 be. Now don't tell me that at
fifty shall be occupied with the serious
responsibilities Of life, and shall care less
about it's pIeasuresl / dare say that is
true: but shall want some pleasures II
live TO be a hundred. and yet-what VIII
they be? 1t is not a cheerful prospect
she spoke only half in earnest; yet she
meant what she said. IL is perfectly true,
moreover, that pleasure and recreation are
needed at all ages, and the girl who can
comprehend only the evanescent joys
which belong TO youth, shrinks naturally
from an old age that must be unillumined
and duh.
The pleasures which pass with girl-hood
may be good in their way, and in their
day. but happy indeed is the woman who
has a hobby, a fancy, study, passion
for beauty of either nature or art, such as
she can carry with her from youth to age
10 refresh and cheer her at all stages OF
her career.
Perhaps the happiest example OF a
woman who enjoyed, and enjoyed Intense
ly, a rich variety OF pleasures from child
hood TO old age was Mary Somerville, the
great mathematician.
AS a child she was a tomboy, delighting
in the wild, free life of her sea-coast
home among shells and birds and flowers,
and her loving interest in pets and BIOS
SONS she retained always. After she was
ninety her pet bird used to peck at her
papers, sing upon her shoulder and sleep
on her arm while she was writing
AS young girl she was though very
shy, so pretty, winning and popular that
she was known as the rose of Jedwood,
and had her full share OF parties, plays,
picnicg, admiration and social gayety
And q social person and eminentiy maker
OF frineds, she always continued: but II
cost her nothing TO yield the little priv
ieges OF a belle when II came time to do
so. She had too many other Joys, as we'll
as duties, TO miss them.
Best OF all, the work which has made
her famous was her delight and was done
In the intervals Of her duties as wife
mother and housekeeper, which she never
neglected.
She pursued her difficult studies for
pure ICY in them and. one task completed
was not happy until she had begun an
other Reaching beyond even the great
science which was her speciality, her at
tentive mind revelled in each new discov-
cry In kindred or different directions. until
the daily spectacle Of the universe and the
progress of man became to her a glorious
drama OF which she could never tire.
With a noble love OF the world she
lived In and tranquil hope of that to
come, she wrote at ninety-four touching
testimony 10 her gratitude for the joys
OF life and for the unimpaired mind with
which she could still trife with abstruse
mathematics for amusement as in her
prime. The final words of her written
recollections are these:
II am perfectly y."-Exchange.