The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-09-10
DR.. MARDENs UPLIFT TALKS.
he Old Man Coming I.to His Own

Ane S1o wan (0mluk kxto MS UNI
Copyright 1911. BY the Mcclure Newspaper
syndicatel
Since Dr. osler sounded. without
meaning to. his discouraging note
about men who had reached the max
imun Of their productive years, tens
OF thousands of them who had reached
that period without succeeding to any
considerable extent. without a COM
petence, without q home, without
prospects. became greatly disheart-
ened.
There was sort Of feeling all over
this country that there was no plac,
for the old man. Everywhere we
heard these notices: This is the
young mans age. the young mans
country" There we're many articles
written about the young man taking
the lead in nearly all Of the grear
activities of this country. The old
men were being sidetracked.
Z Many OF our great business concerns
began to limit the age of their en-
ployes. and gradually TO cut down
their former limits. Some of them an
nounced that they would not employ
any more men over Is. Some of the
railroads limited IL to 40, many to IS.
until there seemed to be almost no
hope for the man who reached his 5oth
milestone.
Gray hairs, STOPPING shoulders were
signs OF uselessness. Employers did
not want TO employ them, and the re-
SUIT was that gray hairs were seeking
yoos Tor many years and had a hard
time OF H. But now with this immense
can OF our young blood to the trenches
tnese age limits are being changed or
ehtirely removed. The old man Is
once more coming into his own. This
opportunity Will give all men who
nave reached middle life or later. and
VINO are In unfortunate conditions. a
tremendous stimulus. Those who have
my iaiu up competency will receive
great encouragement.
hecently the Pennsylvania Railroad
suspended Its rule against employing
ifSw men more than forty-five. It
VIII no" employ them even up to
seventy Ihls road alone will employ
seNeral thousands of these men within
the next few years.
The old men are ALREADY vslkirg
win more hope, with more expectancy,
more elastic step; they are more
buoyant in their appearance ,,orc
confident in their manner. thew show
more reserve, more unused power
They have faith in themselves ana
this Is half the battle. The loss Of
confidence has been a great stumbling
block TO the man who shows his years.
An employer does not want to hire
man who is all in," who does not
show that he has a lot of work IN
nm still. lot OF red blood in his
veins. He wants service, he wants
Vlgor and strength, he wants en-
thusiasm, zest, and when the man
seeking employment does not exhibit
any OF these qualities he Is naturally
turned down as useless or undesirable.
have often seen gray-haired men
with stopped shoulders, with several
days growth OF beard on their faces.
long, unkempt hair. clothing covered
with grease spots. slouching about
streets. looking for Jobs. They never
get them, not because they can no
longer work, but because they give
those who see them that impression.
Their appearance is dead against
them A good barber, a good tailor.
and mental brush-up would cut OF
many years OF their apparent age.
To go about from place to place.
with a long sad face. looking for
work, bemoaning the fact that mo-
body wants a man with gray hairs"
that everybody is looking for the
young and vigorous" and there is
no more chance for a man who begins
to show signs of age" is suicidal This
sort OF pessimistic policy would kill
any mans chances, no matter how
great his ability.
I know men in their sixties who, II
necessary. could get good positions
without difficulty. because they still
believe in themselves. because they
radiate energy, life, because they are
interesting. youthful in spirit. They
are trim, buoyant, enthusiastic, fresh.
responsive TO life and all its interests
They have not allowed their hope or
vivacity to die.
II you want to get a Job YOU must
show that you are still soldier In
Iife's battle: that the fires Of ambi-
ton are still at their height; that YOU
are resourccful. progressive, original,
individual, equal to any man In your
line.