Omaha daily bee., 1913-12-19

VI Iuo -iohs room H. 4sS$e
while she lifted her SG
black satin slip a-
pered feet daintily
from the waxed floor That eighty-nine
OF their descendants filled the big hall
seemed to add no weight to the lightly
carried burden of their ages.
The other was read in different mood
for II recorded the passing of a sweet
faced silver crowned portrait painter
who was killed by a speeding automo-
bile that dashed within eight feet of a
street car that waited at crossing
despite an ordinance forbidding IT, Her
prayer book fell from the gray gloved
hand as the vehicle struck her down
She was returning from church in Sun
day morning. going back to the studio
near the park to rest on the seventh day
from her pleasant labors Of six. Her
face was composed as they bore her
away. Content with life as she saw It,
was written upon the softly outlined,
gentle features.
1T was a tragic passing" said one Of
the friends who looked a last farewell
at the neatly ordered studio where the
north light fell upon walls crowded with
the pictures painted by the patient hands
that had forever laid down their busy
brush.
'But IL was swift" said another. "T
grant you she would rather have fallen
asleep here among her work and with
her memorines. but she needed no time
for preparation. She was always ready
for death, as the good housekeeper is
always ready for a guest a" 81 3 tA =
ut is strange that none Of her family
remained. she was quite alone" =
But she had many friends said the
comforter. 'and her life was filled with
thoughts of them and of her work. She
was always interested"
That last word gathered the truth
about the dancing forbears Of SO years.
and about the aged solitary who carried
a CULVER full of the sweetness OF life TO
her grave. and flung 1t into our mem
ories. there to lodge They remained
young OF spirit because they we're in
terested and It always follows that
those who are interested are interesting.
BE interested in others and they will be
interested in you. The reason that age
is sometimes a sad spectacle Is that II
allows It's interests to narrow. II draws
the walls OF its house Of life closer and
closer around II, shutting out more love
OF those persons more concern for that
object until It lives in a great loneli-
ness, and the closing walls draw closer
and closer until they all but suffocate 1t.
Age is full OF twilight joys. time
for more reflection than action It can
shed a rich radiance a long way II there
by, radiance within. and that radiance
from within has been described by many
names, but its true name is interest.
Keen. kindly helpful interest In the
persons and affairs about them. flavor
the hours Of age with sweetness. The
cancing pair knew the lives and loves OF
all the eighty-nine branches OF which
they were the root and stem, They re-
joieed in their son Johns growing for
tune and were proud that II was self
made. The fact that their granddaughter
Jennie had become a successful singer
was as great Joy to them as to her
That Grace. their great-granddaughter
was the day before betrothed to likely
young chap OF good character and
family" filled them with memories OF
their own boy and girl eOurtship. so
foolish, so tender. so sweet. George
their nephew was an alderman and that
he was so far an honest one was a source
OF pride That Mollie was the best house
keeper in her block caused pa" TO praise
ma" for her bringing up and ma TO
tell "pa" Mollys husband. like her own
is a good provider and that helps In
housekeeping.
"Pa" beside being a good husband and
father and business man had sideline
OF interest which everybody needs, to
become a we'll rounded Individual We
must not be too much this nor great
deal that. but satisfyingly most things TO
be harmonious Individual. and com
Portable person with whom TO live side
by side for sixty years. Politics inter
ested him. he liked to talk IL and
moderately to practice IL. He followed
every municipal campaign with the lively
interest some men give to pinochle or
chess. And ma" belonged to two clubs
and was too busy talking about extended
housekeeping and how the streets Of
their city should be kept clean and Its
morals meuded. to think unhealthily
often Of herself or OF the fact that so
far as years go. she was growing old
Pa had forgotten. too. and when other
old fellows reminded him OF II he laughed
at them.
The gentle old artist had her work
and her friends ''She worked 70 the
last because she wanted to- said the
friend who closed the door Of the studio
and softly turned the key in the lock.
There need be nothing pitable In old
age Pitiable old age is a state OF mind.
II is narrowness. the lack Of interest
ana interest can be freshly pumped up
as We pump water from the well, not
once a month or week, or day. but many
times . eAy.