The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-27
THE PROFIT OF LONGEVITY.
Actual Advantages Which Time
Brings to Older Men.

Harpers Weekly.
Finally, he had the great advantage OF
living long," Thus does Mr.. Bryce, in his
recent volume of biographical studies. con-
clude his analysis of the career OF one Of
the leading British statesmen OF the nine
teenth century.
To enumerate longevity among the causes
of success in public life is scarcely in har-
mony with the prevailing sentiment. The
doors of opportunity popularity sup
posed TO be closed to every one who can
not show a certificate of being less than
fifty years of age, and there are even those
who seem to believe that the fortieth birth
day is the high-water mark or influence.
1t is admitted, of course, that there
certain compensauons for gray hairs. but
these are mainly of a private and social
| nature. The mighty men of this common
wealth--of any commonwealth--must be
sought, il is declared, among those who
have not yet passed their meridian. Such
is the theory. How far it corresponds with
facts may be estimated by any one who will
take a list of United States Senators--cer-
tainly the most powerful group OF public
men in America-and count the number OF
Septuagenarians.
What then. are the actual advantages
which the older man possesses over the
younger, given equal ability? In the first
place. the mere passing OF the years brings
certain automatic increment of reputa-
tion TO strong man. Take, for instance,
the case of Grover Cleveland. IL is now
nearly twenty years since he was first
elected President. That is TO say. when
our present-day men of thirty-five were
at school, Mr.. Cleveland held the highest
may be held respecting his craftsmanship
ii means a great deal, affecting his in
fuence, that he has occupied a foremost
place in the public eye during the whole
of the political experience of the majority
of the electorate. To a voter of forty a
politician of forty may be acceptable on
account of his platform or his speeches or
what not. but the coeval can never carry
quite the same weight OF authority as the
senior who started in the competition with
prestige already accumulated III Is nat
| ural for us to imagine the older man as
| OF heroic stature for he has been so pre-
scented to us from the first: whereas, IL is
hard to realize that any one can be really
| great who was boy when We were.
In some instances the authority OF an
| old statesman Is heightened by the fulfil
ment OF his predictions and tho confrma-
| ton of his policies. This accession OF
credit is especially deserving of notice
when IL involves the reversal of a popular
| misjudgment. There Is no man who gains
| such a firm hold upon public confidence
| as he who has had strength OF character
| TO Withstand a wave Of excited feeling, and
whose wisdom has been INDICATED by the
on large scale the relation OF cause and
effect takes a long while 10 work Itself
out-that such justification comes within
the limits of single life-time. but when
| is fortunate enough to survive not only the
/ taunts of his opponents. but the popularity
| OF their schemes, he receives an admira-
| ton proportionate to their former denuncla-
| ton. One of the most conspicuous IN
| stances OF this advantage OF longevity was
seen in the carer of John Bright. who.
for opposing the Crimean war. not only
/ lost his seat I'm Parliament. but was re-
viled in the newspapers and spat upon In
the streets, but he lived TO hear that war
generally condemned and 10 receive la
| consequence such esteem ana trust as
| would never have been his IL he had let
| himself be carried along with the stream.
IL must be understood In all this that tie
| statesman OF experience whose case We are
considering is no fossil. To the old man
who has lost his vigor or who Is out OF
touch with young life-its ideals. its point
of view. it's manner of spescb-thers IL no
salvation in the mere lengthening out of
years. A collection OF diaries H. not In IL
self equivalent to treasury CT wisdom.
and I'm changing world familiarity with
| precedents may sometimes be dangerous
| lore. But IN every country there l.. and
| always will be. a career for the man 90
whom the years have brought maturity and
| knowledge without taking from him fresh
| ness OF spiri. and qulckncss of adaptation