The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-12
lasting toys,
Dear Father. take care OF Thy children,
the boys!"

Dear rather, take care OIL my cnlluTell,
the boys!"t
With most Of US there is n turning
point in life like the watershed on
railway journey. For so many years we
are climbing up, for q little we run on
a level. and now82we are beginning to
go down. only beginning, but going down.
Say at fifty yeargEif an exact and pedan-
tic reader must have a dates Our body
changes about that time; we give UP
every game except golf. we puff slightly
I when we hurry to catch Il train we do
not care o stand for O long time If We
can get a seat our walk grows more
impressive.
Callousness or Wisdom.
We are not old now. but we are not
! young, we are half and between. we are
middle aged, and our mood corresponds.
For one thing we have grown insensI-
bic, Or very largely so. to praise and
| blame. Twenty years ago and less my
friend Forsey, who Is a writing man and
| has done quite as well as he deserved
used to be very much concerned about
reviews II the Times" spoke favor
ably Of his last story, he was almost
uncomfortable, and carried the extract In
: his pocket for public reading, and II the
/ Saturday "Scarifier' had one of Its
l3had the appearance OF n broken man,
and believed that fellow travellers on
| the railway We're regarding him with
| compassion. To-day when a candid
Friend shews him a notice, In which he
| Is faithfully dealt with for his faults.
! his manner affords no reward, and the
| chances are he will answer, DO you
! Know I think that man is quite right,
have always felt was rather weak In
dialogue. Recently his wife handed
him the Spectator" With column and
of his books, and he read 1t languidly.
4 even ten years ago it ~ ould have lifted
him to the skies. If any one finds fault
Z with q man at thirty he Is convinced that
!; the writer has q personal grudge against
him. and Will watch for his revenge,
and IL the reviewer happens to praise
! him tho author will have difficulty in
Distinguishing himself from Shakespeare.
4 His skin is very tender in Gallo" youth,
/ but 1t groWs4 thicker with tho years, ana
I! at middle age he Is neither much lifted
/ I'm nor cast down. Ills susceptibility TO
pain and pleasure has lessened, and II
/, he cannot taste the sweetness Of sue
/ cess as once he did. neither does he feel
1.-the bitterness Of failure. IT one desires
Ito take tho worst view OF this MOOD ne
would call It callopsness, but moro
hopeful Judgment would be that IT IS
4 wisdom.
The Death OF Illusion
The man has come to know himself.
| and that Is the first great Necessary OF
/ SUCCESS full living. He knows what ne can
/ do, and what lie can't do. ana therefore
/ he is not intoxicated when he is PRAISED,
4 because this was his strong point, ana
! every man surely has some strong point
10 ~, RI w
sured, If a neghbor blames him the
chances are he is quite right, for that
| was his weak point, and every man ls
| weak somewhere If he were to praise
| him why that would be too friendly
Tho fact Is tho man has no Illusions
| They have been dispeHed 1as morning
dreams He has weighed himselfs and
understands where he stands. and
where he is, and so there comes over
! middle age certain mood OF calmness,
4 which has not Of course in 1T the force
i of youth, but has Its own conlpen satlon
! In contentment, Instead of ! he tlusil Of
spring there Is the mellowness o Of az
! umn. 5f6a E}s
nanimity. When one&is young no is OF
1 necessity fighting for his own hand 20
Win a prize, to obtainttfis degree. TO
establish a business, to- acquire pTac-
/ tIce 10 make himself secure Every man
i is his rival, If. not his enemy, and he IS
i not Inclined to rejoice In other peoples
SUCCESS for 1t may be at his expense,
/. or al leastit may beia reflection on ms
4 failure. Nor has he leisure to concern
q himself about other mems :everses or to t,
,lye hem pity, He WAS. down himself
Yesterday, and Il he does not take care a.
4 hc may be down again to-morrow IN the
4 dust Of defeat. When his battle mas been
4 fought. land the strugele is over Is,
nocally when he has won and REACHED
the crest of the hill. then he has time
to rest and to observe, and 10 take an
IL ,,nsa)f,s Oh interest i'n&bs con9radas
When man IS running his race IT Is
not nossible for him to consider the