Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-07-19
GROWING OLD.
Anxious and Troubled Thoughts Cause
Wrinkles and Care worn I..OkS.

w llINl'N anu hl' w VI IL - 'hS'
| have just been attcndii' IN as
sembIy where thousands Of people
were Con2regated to enjoy camping
out" and all the varied exercises,
both pleasing and instructive. which
go to make up the entertainment at
such Il place. says Jennie Walbridge
Briggs in the Ladies' World. And one
thing SO noticeable as to occasion
many remark was the number of
gray-haired women present, ~'Ylishly
dressed. wide awake and seemingly
enjoying themselves as well as the
younger portion of the assembly; and
no doubt gathering up to ca.,T home
for future use, many golden sheaf
of wisdom that had fallen all unno
ticcd by their younger and less
thoughtful sisters.
And [ hailed it as Il sign Of the
better time coming for wouru, yes.
already here
FIFTY years ago women, with per
hapS Il few remarkable exceptions,
were considered old at fifty, and laid
upon the shelf. 1t was considered UNI
becoming their age to dress in any but
the rlaincSt garb. with hair cOmbed
smoothly back under dishguring cap.
10 think Of trying to preserve their
GOOD looks or add to them by personal
adornment, would have been conSid-
cred an objectionable sin.
/ IN n Il
what her age, may conform to the pre-
vailin@ modes in dress and style of
couture without exciting unfavOrable
comment But this is only one or the
many reasons why women of middle
age do not look or appear as old as In
former times; in fact, why they do not
grow old 50 fast.
Fifty years ago very few middle
aged women thought Of takiu- up Il
course Of study of learning Il lam
Sua-e-.er of undertaking to master
any Of those lighter accomplishments
now So common. They thou ~ it too
late to engage in any new enterprise
Now all that il changed. With the
wider opportunities now afforded
women all over the laNd even in the
most secluded hamlet or upon the
farm may he found members of the
c. l.. $. c.. or of some club for
mutual Improvement.
Many woman with taste for
music painting or literature. which
she could not, for various reasons, cul-
tivatc in her youth, when her chill
drcn are grown and married finds
leisure and opportunity to fulfill her
long cherished desire. | could men
ton several Of this class among my
own personal friends who have
achieved considerable success as ar
fists musicians or writer's.
The truth that it is never too late
to improve ones self, IS beginning to
he appreciated And this is what
women need to preserve their Vt tn:
\ broadening Of idcaS-som purpose
in life beyond the mere daily routine
that will be done anyway. and the
nober the more unseltiSh the purpose
the better. They need to forget not
only the lapse of time, but their bodies
in some absorbing pursuit for the
benefit Of mankind Noble ideals and
pure thoughts will bring ont more
beautiful models. The mind builds
its own house" Anxious and tror
blcd thoughts write their autograph
in wrinkles and careworn looks: I'M
kind and unloving thoughts in sin
lister expression: even so do kind, low
ing. beautiful and noble thoughts en-
body themselves in sweetness aud no
hilty of expression \ beauty which
increases with age, and is the secret
OF that heavenly light which we some
times sec lluminiuC tho face OF the
aged man or woman \ heart
free from envy or jealousy
ana full Of calm trust in the Infin
tie Love and Goodness IS not afraid
Of anything. not even of growing old
Beautiful thoughts, they come from
above.
From the fountain OF Love and
Truth
And the heart vhare they flow will
surely prove
4 wellspring of beauty and youth.