The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-02-19
PASSES SWIFTLY.
In the Days of Ehy z outh.

If it were possible for men to be Of
fered the privilege of returning to
their childhood aud living their life
over again, how many would care to
accept it? We fancy that the number
would not be very great since few have
such exceptionally happy lives that
they would desire to repeat them. BY
the time we reach old age 30 much
bloom has been rubbed from life that
Il has lost It's fascination for US. We
arc conscious Of the many mistakes
we have made,- and we remember the
sorrows and disappointments we have
had, and, although they may have lost
much Of their kcsnness, yet we recall
with a pang Of pity the pain they
gave at the time to that younger self
that almost seems someone else new
so greatly have we changed. It is
true there were many joys intermin-
gled with these, but as we recall them
we probably conclude that it would
not be worth while to 60 back and
live life over again simply FOR the
sake of the few pleasures we have en-
joyed.
It is amazing how the velocity Of
time increases as we advance in years.
In youth the months that intervened
between such marked periods as one
Christmas and the next, or one birth
day and the next, seemed almost in
terminable; but in age they fly past 80
swiftly that we think year bit half
gone when the anniversary comes
again. We realize that more fully
when we think 9f come past event and
try to fix the time at which it occurred
without having any positive date to
go by. Invariably we find it was many
more years ago than we believe posi-
BILE. We older people think and speak
Of the war between the States as an
event Of comparatively recent occur
renee. To the young people Of to-
day it is much on par with the wars
of Napoleon or the American Revolu-
ton. They all happened in the far-off
misty days before they we're born, and
they are equally an old, old story to
them.
Speaking of Cioero's discourse upon
old age, a recent writer remarks: "Re
evidently sat down to indite as many
fine things about old age as he could
remember or invent, and the result
could hardly have carried con-
viotion even to his own heart. The
Roman orator, we may be sure, loved
youth and strength and hope as all the
world loves them, and his cold enco-
miums upon the final stage are almost
enough to make one shudder." Argue
about it as we may, and extol the wis
dom and beauty of serene old age,
there is after ell nothing which COM
pares with youth. Experience and
knowledge are doubtless very fine, but
they hardly compare with the fresh
ness Of youth and the delight Of an.
tioipation as we stand upon the
threshold Of everything.
1t is not in the comic opera alone
that when love is young all the
world seems gay We have all pass
ed through that season when we were
easily amused by everything, and
when the laugh was never
far from our lips. But nothing is
rarer than really hearty, merry laugh
one in which there is neither pre-
tense nor bitterness-from a man or
woman who has passed the meridian
Of life. The old are often inpatient
with the merriment Of the young be-
cause they have long since learned
that there is but little to laugh at in
life. Il has ceased to afford them
amusement, and they can thaSdly be-
lieye that any one can find gaiety in
it. They forget it is as natural for the
young to laugh as for birds 60 sing, or
lambs TO frisk or kittens TO play, and
that they require as little excuse for
it. It is simply the efervescence Of
youth. health and high spirits anding
expression that way. Bat youth has
its tragic side as well, asits gay side,
for it takes. everything so much to
heart. Sorrow is rnbenrable in youth
lit darkens heaven nEa earth and it
seems impossible that life can ever be
the same again. Any disappointment
espeoiallyin affairs Of the heart, falls
With crushing force upon the young,
because their Imagination pictures a
long life Of wretchedness and vain