Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1896-08-07
GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY.
Ono of Natures Compsnsatisns IL
PhIIoSOphtc Mind.

PnllOSOpnlC Nllnus
Il Is one of the many kindly proyi-
sions of nature that "age brings the
philosophic mind" Looked at in the
right way there is good deal Of salts
faction to be found in growing old. a
peacefulness in being hors dll COM
bar, which Is not unpleasant, says the
New York Tribune. The years, II they
have somewhat destroyed the keener
and moro ecstatic sense Of enjoyment,
have also dulled the capacity for suf-
fering and have given the patience
which makes it possible to bear those
inevitable disappointments Of life
which, to the young heart hot and
restless" seem absolutely uncomfortable.
Among the minor Affections Of youth
which are apt to disappear with ad-
vancing years is self-consciousness. AS
people grow older and see more OF the
world they lose this characteristic
to others, and in consequence improve
in both manners and character. Look
at Jones' for instance-what an insult
ferablc little creature he used to be!
What an Adonis he thought himself,
and how he bored people with his at
tcntions! His time is over now, he
says; he has left off trying to capti-
vate since his hair has become gray,
and he has turned into kind, plain,
middle-aged little gentleman, who is
always ready to oblige and whom every
one likes. Then there is Robinson,
poor fellow; how bashful and awkward
and miserable he was! Now he has Civ
en- himself up as bad job he tells
people. and laughs at his own blunders,
while his good-natured simplicity
makes him popular with everyone. For
these two the years certainly have
done much. But when it does not bring
the philosophic mind it must be ac-
knowlcdged that age is by no means
attractive There is Mrs. Gray, who
takes her advancing years very much
to heart and clings like grim death to
her youthful frivolities. How foolish it
all is! How can she imagine that she is
deceiving her world when she puts the
roses in the window which she herself
has ordered from the florist, and hints,
giggling, at the names of the donors to
her inquiring friends, who laugh at her
behind her back? And why does Mrs.
Sere enamel over her wrinkles and
smile at you with those terrible white
teeth? Women such as these make a
| travesty of youth and destroy the beau
| ty of age. But these are not the only
| ones to whom age brings neither dig
nifty nor honor. What hypocrites
these women are" cries Mrs. Stout,
who prides herself upon making no
pretense, and to whom it is true the
world and the devil are no temptation.
But the flesh, oh, the flesh, it gains
| upon her daily. She tells you at one
time she has lost one pound and at an
| other she has gained two; and she dis
cusses what she can eat and what she
cannot eat, and her cook and her avoir-
! dupois, and her avoirdupois and her
cook ad nauseam. Even the elderly CO.
| quetries of Mrs. Gray and the vanities
Of Mrs. Sere are better than such stag
nation What contrast to such as
these is that dear little saint who,
wholesome, natural, autumnal and Sc
rene, shows by her sweet old face that
Time, while furrowing her forehead
with wrinkles, has ironed out all the
| creases in her heart.