The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-26
PRESENT DAY THOUGHTS.
BY G. Grosvenor Dave.

| Length of Life.-Several years ago
when on a long tramp from Philadel-
! phia to Virginia, / spent one day in a
/ town where an old lady lived. who had
seen hundred years roll around. AS
my object on the tramp was to see all
of interest that l could, a call was made
upon her, as her relatives were always
| glad to exhibit her. as it We're to WISH
tors. Her appearance bore out all that
was claimed for her as to age, for she
was terribly wrinkled and almost al
ways in sort of waking stupor. When
it came to asking what she had seen
or done during a century that will al
ways stand pre- eminent as one of ex
ltraordinary progress, her daughter had
| only this to say and said it with pride.
Mother never was more than fifteen
miles away from where she lives now,
and she never took much interest in
What was going on anyway, and besides
she never had ridden yet on a. steam
car"
Again on trip through the State of
Connecticut I heard of another lady
who had also passed the century mark.
called there. The experience was as
unsatisfying as the other had been. The
good woman reminded one in every way
of an infant-she was peevish toward
those who waited on her, she had no
more control over herself than is usual
with child, and her only way of walk
ins around was by pushing a chair be-
fore her, just as child would do who
was beginning to walk The visit was
not a very extended one
These two instances of the very dis
tressing. aspects of extreme old age.
which can be added to in almost every
nelghborhood, are mentioned as prelm
mary to a few thoughts in relation to
the present formation in various places
of what are called Hundred Year Clubs
The real object of these clubs is not so
much perhaps to enable all the mem
bers to live for full hundred years as
It is for the study of longevity. That
is good in itself, for a hale and hearty
and effective old age is a beautiful and
delightful thing, and it could undoubt-
edly be enjoyed by a great many more
than do now enjoy it, were a good deal
more thought given to the VISIONS and
the proprieties of life Any effect of
the Hundred Year Club in this direc-
ton will be good and good only.
+
tut suppose man may be per-
mltted to question the value of mere
extension of life for itself alone. What
is the JOY of looking back over a long
life? Nothing, unless there Isl stretched
along the way the evidences of useful
ness and of high character; unless here
the grave Of some buried weakness and
there the monument erected to COM
memorate triumph over self: unless
here a kindness done and there a good
ness displayed, not to the world, but
only to the object on whom it was done
That is life. But it is surely nothing to
contemplate. with calmness that there
is coming day when one will be only
a nuisance to oneself and a burden to
others; or that the backward glance
will show nothing but waste and heed
lessness of all the precious things that
a life well lived can contain.
Length of days is important of
course, but it is NOT all important.
There is something much more to be
sought after than that. Lengthen out
your life, if YOU will, but broaden out
t,( q, L t,Er