The Washington herald., 1907-08-02
THE OPTIMIST.

This IS an age when youth has the call.
Less and less are we becoming, it seems,
to have faith In the wisdom OF years, and
it is getting increasingly difficult for the
man of forty-fye, who has not at that
/ age established himself firmly, TO secure
recognition. 1t I'll comes, perhaps. from
the fearful rush of the business Of life
nowadays: 9 pellmell striving for the
goal that takes a quick squirt, alert
minds, and an instinct for doing the
right thing rather than mature thought
In such a race for the goal Of success
the laggard shanks Of age seem to have
little chance.
And yet, even under these conditions
the rapidly increasing years should not
if rightly understood. bring pessimism
II there Is one who feels respondent
at seeing the rush OF life sweeping by
that rush with which he can only feebly
keep in touch. let him sound that trum-
pet call of Rabbi Ben Ezra:
Grow old alone with me!
The best is yet 20 be-
The last Of life. for which the first was made;
Our times are in His band
Who saith: "A whole I planned. 9"
Youth shows but half trust God, see all. nor b,
afraid.
A lot of fun was made some time age
about what DR.. Osler did not say about
the uselessness Of old age. 1t is not nee.
essary here 10 recapitulate what was
said so often at that time about the mer
Of middle age who have accomplished
things. These are matters of history
which he wno runs may read. But it is
well to remind ourselves that all the Op-
portunities Of life do not pass with yo IN
The melancholy Byron may lament:
Ny days are in the yellow leaf;
The flowers and fruits Of love are gone;
The Worm- the canker. and the grief.
Are mine alonf.
But after all that is only the lament OF
misspent youth. it is far better to re-
member the "Moritun SalutamUs" OF
LOngfellow:
Age Is opportunity no less
Than youth itself though in another dress
And as the evening twilight fades away
The SKY is filed with stars invisible by day.
The blessings that age brings US are
all hopeful blessings, If we look at then
in the right way. How fine 10 be abb
TO say:
Though I look old, yet am strong and lusty;
For In my youth ] never applied
Hot and rebeIIiJus liquors 10 my blood:
Nor did not with unbashful forehead WOO
The means Of weakness and debility;
Therefore my age Is a lusty Sinter
Frosty, bug kindly.
But il is also right and fine that as the
years come on We should trust less and
less in our own strength. which, If We
have lived the right sort of life. has car
ried US through many battles. As the SUI
of life sinks on the western horizon and
the dull gray clouds seem to come e
meet US out OF infinite space, then Their,
I is comfort in remembering that "Om
times are in His hand" not 10 sit in q
corner and whine:
When be : forsaken.
Withered and shaken,
What can old man do bit diei
Better far 10 clutch our staff witt
nervous grip and still fare bravely along
the road. Richter says that What makes
old age so sad is that not our joys but
our hopes then cease" Do they? Youth
is not all OF life The end no one knows
The eve Of faith looking beyond the hill
sees other hopes and other joys. Goo
said.
A whole 7 planned
Youth shows but half trust God see ali, nor b,
afraid.