The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-04-22
Man Who Retires With Ample For.
tune and Allows Himself to
Rust Out
enters A LIFE OF MISERY.
Loses His Hold Upon the Social and
Business World and Rapidly
Goes Down HILL

Ine average young man makes up
ais mind that at so or 60 years of age
ne will retire and take things easy for
the rest of his days, says a writer in
the Dundee Courier. The average
young man makes great mistake. 1t
Is far better to wear out than to rust
out To the young man work is a
drudge. necessity to keep him alive.
In middle age work is an accepted
thing, and we are used to it, and feel
rather the better for having occupa-
ton. In old age work is a necessity
to keep the mind and body young.
There is scarcely a more miserable
spectacle than the man of so or go
who has retirede with ample fortune.
He loafs around the house. Goes from
one club to another. Gets lonely.
Feels blue. He tries to kill time in
the day looking forward to the meet
Ing of his cronies in the evening. The
cronies are busy in the daytime and
they have engagements and pleasures
in the evening, so that our retired
friend seems to be in the way. He
finds that the anticipation of retire
ment was pleasure, and that the
realizations is keen disappointment.
There is nothing" says Carnegie,
absolutely nothing in money beyond
q competence" When one has enough
money to buy things for the home,
for his family comfort and enjoyment,
when he has sufficient income to take
care of himself and family, surplus
dollars do not mean much.
The business man should prepare
for his future so that If i'll health
overtakes him he may have the where
with to surround himself with COM
forts, travel and the best of care. The
man who enjoys pleasures of the home
and friends, who trains up young
blood to take hold of the business.
who travels and enjoys himself as he
goes along has the right idea. We
must learn to enjoy life now instead
of waiting for tomorrow, for to-mor-
row may never come. The man who
cashes in. puts his money in bonds
and retires from all work goes down
hill quickly and feels he is of no use
in the world.
The farmer who moves in town ia
live on his income is sorry individ.
ual unless he has a garden and chick.
ems, or buys and sells farms, or occu
pies his time with work of some kind
The retired, non-working farmer who
has moved to town gets up in the
morning, goes to see the train come
in, whites a stick, loafs at the hotel
or store, goes to the next train. talks
Of his rheumatism, goes to bed at 8
o'clock, and the next day goes through
the same rigmarole. Occupation is
the plan of nature to keep man happy,
so when you have all the money you
need have some occupation or hobby
to occupy your time. The man who
retires from any active work is mere
ly counting the days until he dies.
When old age comes, and your body
or brain won't let you do or care for
as much as you could in your younger
days, then get lighter work or lighter
cares.
Keep busy, if 1t is only raising
chickens or gardening; or studying
astronomy or botany. Keep at it as
long as you can. Die in the harness
instead of fading slowly away. Gull
tivate the reading habit in your
younger days that it may be pleas
ant occupation when your legs and
hands grow feeble with age. When
you quit work or occupation of some
sort then life has no beauty for you.