The Washington herald., 1907-07-17
WOMAPS
POINT OF VIEW

once knew a man who had passed his
eightieth birthday. yet who kept to his
business OF selling pianos. tuning them
when he felt like it. and playing upon
them with all the skill Of his younger
days. He had the complexion Of a girl
in her teens ard the step Of ar alert
boy, and his wife. who was his junior
by many years declared that he owed it
all TO his habit OF vigorously using a
flesh brush teach morning when he left
his bed.
One thing was sure-his blood coursed
through his veins as If he We're young
man, TO suspicion Of the sluggishness Of
Old age and no hint Of his years save in
the whitencss of his hair and beard He
died in FIN strength. after a short i'll
ness. and was spared all the ailments Of
accumulated years. I am afraid his medi-
cine was too simple to make a general
appeal. but il seems as if we all would
be glad 10 hold al bay a period Of life we
dread.
a few weeks ago a woman retired from
the business life which she took I'D in
her youth. Presumably her resignation
was a matter of regret because the occa-
sion took the form of a celebration in
which her employers had a part. II is
a matter Of note that her years of use
fulness were spent in one business house,
in whose tremendous growth she as
sisted. This woman is going 10 change
her whole life at a period when il will
affect her most. She will find herself
growing old very rapidly unless she has
an absorbing interest, for that is the his
tory Of men who have retired from busi-
ness after they had amassed fortunes.
As years go by there is born a tendency
10 take life easily, TO abandon stays saNe
on dress parade, to wear easy slippers
and loose gowns, and neglect the many
little details of good grooming. So the
figure loses its lines. the feet spread, and
good looks vanish, as the condition is
accepted. If not liked Overmuch. These
are the infallible sigIs Of age, my friends.
and those who read them begin to believe
that such women are not worth consider
alton.
[ was examining the Photographic dis
play Of a fashionable studio. recently, and
came across an extremely fascinating
likeness of a woman who is said by those
who claim TO know 10 be nearing the
seventies. I reckon that rUmOr is pretty
nearly right, in this case, for I heard the
woman confess TO a long business life,
one that would carry her far into old age
She is one Of the best formed women
have ever seen. with a neck and arms she
dHres to display with the prettiest Of
deputantes.
She dresses exquisitely, and takes up
fads as they come out. keeping in touch
with the world by yearly travel. attend
ance at plays and concerts, and partici-
patton in social events. It seems absurd
to connect the idea of age with such a
splendid creature, and I do not believe
she will give in TO anything less urgent
than the last call. I Heard her say that
after forty every woman needed massage
at the hands Of an expert, and took IL
as an indication OF the methods she pur-
sues. At all events, she comes pretty
near discovering the fountain OF perpet-
ual youth. The average woman OF sixty
odd years talks and acts as If she was
ready TO renounce all the frivolities Of
life. and that is such mistake Men
frivOl much more than we ever dare 10
do. and keep their youth by t. \ few
mothers with large families keep young
in the companionship OF sons and daugh-
ters and their friends. The rest grow old
because they think they must
BETTY BRADEEN.