Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-06-09
Preparing for Old Age and Death
BY Ebert Hubbard.

death Is shifting close upon his track.
Ivan has lost the power of repose. He
cannot listen, weigh and decide-he has
no thought of consideration for any man
or thing-this is his habit of life. His
bony hands are never till-the fingers
| open and shut, and pick at things etefn-
ally.
lIe fumbles the cross on his breast. adj
justs his jewels. plays the devils tattoo.
gets up nervously and looks behind the
throne, holds his breath to listen.
When people address him he damns
, them savagely If they kneel. and II they
stand upright he accuses them of lack OF
respect.
He asks that he he relieved from the
cares of state. and then trembles for fear
his people will take him at his word.
When asked to remain ruler of Russia he
! proceeds to curse his councillors. and ac-
cllses them of loading him with burdens
to bear.
He Is a victim of amor senilis.
This tottering, doddering, soldering,
shifting old man is in love-he is about
to wed a young, beautiful girl. He selects
jewels for her-he makes remarks about
what would become of her beauty. jeers
and laughs in cracked falsetto. In the
animality of youth there is something
pleasing-it is natural; but the vices of
LII ViA tlGbi MlCIi tIC iiaNO OCSOiiAC Why
mental. are most revolving.
The people about Ivan are in terror OF
him, for he is still the absolute monarch.
He has the power to promote or disgrace,
TO take their lives or let them go free.
They laugh when he laughs. cry when he
does, and watch his fleeting moods with
humping hearts.
He is intensely religious, and affects the
robe and cowl of a priest. Around his
neck hangs the cruciix. Fills fear is that
ne will die with no opportunity OF confess
sion and absolutiOn. He prays to high
heaven every moment. kisses the cross.
and his toothless old mouth interjects
prayers to God and curses on man in the
same breath.
the other way, slips down until his should
eTs occupy the throne. scratches his leg,
and keeps up a running comment OF In
|s~ult-"Aye." oh" "Of course Certain
ly." Ugh" 'I.isten to him now,' There
is a comedy side to all this which relieves
the tragedy and keeps the play from be-
coming disgusting.
Glirnpses of VANS past are given in his
jerky confessions. He is the most miser-
able and unhappy of men. and you behold
that he is reaping as he has sown.
All his life he has been preparing for
this. Each day has been a preparation
for the next. Ivan dies in a tit of wrath.
ItuiIlIS tuISeS III MS IdlfllIy anu COURT
dies in a fit of wrath into which he has
been purposely taunted by a man who
knows that the outburst is certain to kill
the weakened monarch.
Where does Ivan the Terrible go when
death closes his eyes?
know not. But this l believe: No con-
fessional can absolve him-no priest bene-
tit him--no God forgive him. He has
damned himself, and he began The work In
youth. He was getting ready all his life
for this old age. and this old age was
getting ready for the fifth act.
The playwright does not say so, but this
is the lesson: Hate is a poison-wrath is
a toxin-sensuality leads to death-clutch-
ing selfishness is a lighting OF the fires of
he'll. 1t is all a preparation-cause and
effect.
If you are ever absolved you must alb
solve yourself. for no one else can.
We often hear of the beauties of old
age. but the only old age that is beauti-
full is the one the man has long been
preparing for by living a beautiful life.