Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-04

to be his pace. The great malady Of the
soul is cold; 1t must be combated by activity
and exeftion. by contact with ones fellows
and the business of the world. In these
already learned, we must learn more, and
instead of sleeping away our acquired ideas
we must seek for fresh ones and make the
new opinions fight with the old, and those
Of youth with those Of an altered state Of
thought and society,"" 30, cheerfully ac-
! knowledging that our steps may falter. the
rests upon the pilgrimage be more fire.
Quently needed, the sight be dimmed, the
hearing less keen. the recollection fallible;
|slet Us, nevertheless, endeavor to do
thoroughly all that our willing hands and
brains find to be their daily tasks. with our
whole hearts In the work, whether It ul-
timately benefit ourselves or posterity.
For age is opportunity no less
Than youth itself, though in another dress;
And as the evening twilight fades away.
The sky is filled with stars invisible by day."
The extraordinary achievements of Eng
lish men and women of three score and ten
prove the truth Of the adage that "a man
is only old as he feels and a woman as
she looks" Sir Henry Holland, physician
to the queen, was active in his profession
when eighty years Of age, and he took sew
eral long trips to America, to Asia, to Ice
land, and to Asia Minor after he was sew
enty-iive visiting this country seven times
in all. On his return his carriage invariably
met him at the station In London, and he
made "a round of medical visits before
pairing to his home. Hannah More, Mary
Russell Milford, Caroline Herschel, Harriet
Martineau and Mary Somerville were ex
tremely old women before they ceased to
perform a marvellous amount and quality OF
mental labor.
Sir Moses Montefori did not hesitate at
the age of ninety-fve, to travel to St
Petersburg to lntercede with the car on
tehalf Of his oppressed race. Our country
man, George Bancroft, was a shining ex-
ample of what an active old man may ac-
complish; while by flowing to learn and
knowing how to reflect" he laid by a per-
petual feast for his last days.
Many more instances might be cited to
prove that II is the truest wisdom to live as
il we might die tomorrow, but to plan and
execute as II we were sure Of a round GEN.
tury.
Time flies SO much more rapidly as we ad-
vance In life 1t is highly desirable to Guilt
vate habits of industry and punctuality. 50
as to make the most Of each day. We have
said cultivate habits" though the same
wise Billings borrowed from above assures
us that, since 1t is so difficult for a middle
aged man to acquire new habits, he must
make a great effort to steer those he has
already formed In the right direction. Cic-
ero, more than 1900 years ago. delivered an
Grafton upon age, In which occurs the fol-
lowing: Those who have no internal re-
sources of happiness will find themselves
uneasy in every stage of life. but to him who
is accustomed to derive happiness from
within himself no state will appear as real
evil into which he is conducted by the COM
mon and regular course of nature, and this
is peculiarly the case with regard to old
age" That fascinating old bear, Dr. John
son, said: IF a man does not make new
acquaintance as he advances in life he will
soon find himself left alone. A man, sir.
should keep his friendships in constant re-
pair"
benjamin Franklin, as Poor Richard"
admonished "Dost thou value life? Then do
not squander time, for that is the stuff life
is made Of" and a verse from Whittier
must have place here:
81 mourn no more my vanished days
Beneath tender rain
An April rain Of smiles and tears
My heart grows young again"
Charles Dickens. In describing a happy.
busy middle-aged man, wrote: Father
Time Is not always a hard parent, and,
though he tarries for none. he often lays
his hand lightly on those who have used
him well. making them old men and women
inexorably enough. but leaving their hearts
and spirits young and In full vigor. With
such the gray head is but the impression of
the old fellows hand in giving them bless
Ing, and every wrinkle but a notch in the
quiet calendar of a well-spent life" Oliver
Wendell Holmes. perhaps the most vigorous
man OF his years i'm Boston, and assuredly
one of the most versatile and delightful
authors America has produced, is authority
for the statement. that a man over ninety
is great comfort to all his elderly neigh
bors; he lis a picket guard at the extreme
outpost, and the young fellows of sixty or
seventy feel that the enemy must get by
MN before he can come near the camp"
Thackeray in one OF his ripping verses
sings sadly and yet bravely-
80 each shall mourn. in life's advance
Dear hopes, dear friends. untimely killed,
snail erieve for many a forfeit chance
And longing passion unfulfiled
Amen. whatever fate be sent.
fray God the heart may kindly glow.
hn1 Al
And whitened with the winter snow"
Youth of Old Age.
Bulwer gave us this sentiment: "a fresh
mind keeps the body fresh. Take in the
Ideas of today, drain off those of Yesterday.
AS to the morrow, time enough to consider
1t when 1t becomes today" and in the
writings of Thoreau may be found the idea
expressed that none are really old but those
who have outlived enthusiasm Gail Hamil-
tons ready pen wrote upon the subject:"You
are getting into years, it is true; but the
years are getting into you: the ripe, mellow
years! one by one the crudities of youth
are failing off from you, the vari ETY., the
egovsm, the uncertainty. Every wrong
road into which you have wandered has
brought you by the knowledge of that mis-
take nearer to the truth" Victor Hugo. in
congTatulating friend upon the occasion
or his fortieth birthday, said: BE not down.
hearted at having reached the old age of
old age"
From Sarah Tyler we Gull the following:
There is no greater mistake than to sup
pose that youth is necessarily the choice
period the green spot of life; it is not often
the cycle of peace. Do rot dread growing
gTaver, nor even growing stouter With
ripe maturity and the still, mellow decline
OF life, are won, and often only then won.
rest, peace. wisdom. content. There may be
a great garner in store for your future:
there Will be an abundant harvest if YOU
Cniy sow in grace. 1t is a half-pagan and
wholly-untrue notion to associate all bless
ednesS of existence with rash, heady crude
youth. Fight the fight and run the
race; the older you grow the more royalty
you Will prove the conqueror; the grander
viii prove your prize"
Last. but not least, an anonymous news
paper clipping is offered:
AT Forty.
Just in life'S fair meridian height
Tween Youths sweet morn and Ages night
/ stand, and thank God for the light
l know the sun and storm of past;
l now that shine and shade will last
But fear not how fate be cast.
For have that which conquers fate
Hope. high as heaven it's shining mate,
Pure Love- and Faith to work and wait.
And though face the shadows far,
/ see DER Lifes horizon bar - ~.r...- o.,
That land where blessed heavens are"
Whether we have converted any readers
Of The Star to the belief that old age is
pleasant respectBble.and desirable we shall
hut ma oy- 1aac .l,l