Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-06
YOUTH VERSUS AGE
WEIGHT OF FACTS AGAINST
THEORY OF DIR. oSLER.
Great Work Done by Men After Pass
ing Their Fortieth Year-Deeds
of the Young.


From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Coming from any one else than man of
his exceptionally high professional attain
ments and established reputation in the
world of medical science, the recent declara-
ton of DR.. Osler of Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity to the effect that no man is of much
use after forty, and that at sixty the world
would be benefited if every one who reaches
that age could be put out OF the way, would
be received with nothing less than der1sion.
Dr. Osler however, carries such weight
that his statement challenges consideration.
He maps out mans life into three PERIODS.
The time up to twenty-five years of age is
to be wholly taken up In preparation fof
what is to come; then fifteen years are as
signed to really useful, original. active, nrst-
class work. with his faculties at their best,
and it Is stated that all that has been done
later in life than that would be OF very III
tie loss to the world had 1t never been done.
From forty to sixty seems according 10 inc
doctor, to be time when, although not OF
much use man may be still tolerated
among the workers of the world, but at
sixty there should be summary process that
would compel him to cease all activity.
We cannot but believe that disagreement
with DR. Osler's conclusions will be we'll
nigh universal and that it is one of those
cases where the average common sense,
the innate consciousness and the judgment
made up from experience and observation
of the average man are worth much more
than any professional or so-called expert
opinion, which is not infrequently found to
have a very narrow basis
Vigor of Mature Manhood.
Let every man who has passed forty
years. who is engaged in any sort of brain
work. appeal to his own experience, and in
a large majority of cases he will say that
before forty he had not found himself had
not fully developed his own capacities, or
learned how to make himself most effective
in his work. Look about in the community
where you are, and see If on the whole the
best and hardest work is not being done
by men between forty and sixty, and in a
good many instances by men over sixty.
1t has always been claimed that the hot
blood and fiery energy and powers of en-
durance of young men were essential to
great military succesSss and 1t may be con-
ceded that some very young men have been
great commanders, This was true of Alex
ander of Hannibal and of Napoleon, and
tine marvellous career5 of Charles XII of
Sweden was terminated by death when he
trary to DIR. Oslers theory, most of the
notable things in war have been accom-
plished by men past forty Caesar was in
active campaigning till he was fifty. Marl-
borough was fffty-fpar at the battle of
Blenheim WellinEtonh forty-six at Water
loo; Frederick the Great was in constant
war till he was fifty, and Moltke conducted
one of the greatest and most successful
wars in history when he was seventy
Coming to our own country, Washington
was forty-nine when CORVALLIS surren-
dered, Gen. Scott sixty when he fought his
brilliant Mexican campaign, and Lee fifty
four when the civil war began Farragut,
than whom there was never a more agrees
sive fighter was sixty at che opening Of the
war. Grant thirty nine and Stonewall Jack
son forty-six. Sherman was forty lone,
Thomas forty-fve and Longstreet forty.
Sheridan goes into the column with the
young men, as he was only thirty.
But it is by no means from the stand
point of military achievement alone that
the matter is to be determined. Let us look
hastily at some things which have been ac-
complished by men of advanced years in
other walks of life. admitting that some of
the greatest things in literature, art and
craftsmanship have been done by young
men.
Achievements Of Youth.