Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-30
WHEN MANS FIFTY SEVEN.


the shadows that gather in the valley
| at the bottom of the slope. He is at
the other end of the field glass thru
which he viewed life as youth,
Things that looked infinitely far Off
have moved up close since he turned
the spyglass around. Things that looked
small then have become vast. Time,
| once the cheapest thing has taken on a
very different value, The horizon OF
life has ceased to move on ahead as
he goes He looks forward a decade or
SO and sees where the horizon stops
abruptly He finds a new and clearer
statement in the biblical limitation Of
| mans days to three score and the con-
ditional attachment of ten additional
years.
That's common sense and courage on
the part OF the man OF 81. He should
face the future and consider his term
as he would keep his bank balance and
calculate its purchasing power
The years ahead is his life balance.
OF course the bank may break any
time and the balance be wiped out;
but that is no reason why he should
not look on and make his investments
of business and pleasure and service
on the strength OF books showing Of
funds and securities on hand.
There is a lot OF satisfaction, OF
happiness and usefulness to be checked
out of life after a mans 81 Some men
count years, subtract from the stand
of years remaining fall back with
whats the USE and find their finish
there. Others stay young despite few
added years. Some men stay young to
four score One of the finest things
an old man ever did was when old Mr..
Tuffree in his asth year renewed the
lease of the rooms where he had an
office for ten years Cicero found
vast comfort and satisfaction in his
aging years and left the relation TO
other aging men thru the centuries.
Cato the Censor ran his own business
and tried to run the business of every
one else, succeeding fairly well al that
when he had passed the four score
dead line However, neither Cicero nor
Cato had much on the modern iliustra-
ton as regards courage and retentire
interest in life.
The fact is that a.man when he's 81
may, II he chooses, look forward with
pleasure and not with dread If he be
coura seous ard normal instead of cow
ardly. He shall, If ne SO desires, find
himself at his most useful period. able
to accomplish and valuable in counsel.
Most men grow old early because they
fear They quit Like the cold blooded
horse in the bruising race when his
competitor moves up and hangs at his
throat latch they chuck il up in the
stretch" when the years challenge them
and so they are beaten.
The man of any age who quits fails
physically and mentally. If he is con-
tent to eat and sleep he may attain
a certain negative happiness; but real
happiness and true content come only
thru the use of the faculties in service.
| That is the real test of man whether
| he be 81 or 81. Don't quit Work fairly.
play well, keep interest in other men
| in the progress Of friends and their
| families and the city and the state and
the whole world. Stay in the human
| brotherhood All that you have left
| isn't all yours any more than what you
| had coming when you were 81. Stick.
Stay while you stay; and when finally
| the days work is over and the night
falls. say good night pleasantly and
as the popular song has it:
Leave the Sunshine to the flowers
Leave the springtime to the trees
And to the old folks leave the mem
cries
| OF a baby upon their knees:
/ Leave the night time to the drsameTs
| And the songbirds to-the blind
| And the moon above to those in love
/ When you leave the world behind