The courier-index., 1921-06-03
FORGOT THE YEARS
Worlds Big Men Have Laughed
 at Father Time.
History Records Many Who Dshed the calendsr-Teo Busy to Take
 Note of Crows Feet.

Sir James Camille fiatly challenges current misconception in his state ment: "Old age is Just a pose. A man usually grows old because he thinks 1t is dignified. He sits back and lets the years do what they like with him." It is not so with the sep tuagenarian, who rises at 4:3O and dances Highland filings. He shares the spirit of Tennyson's "Ulysses,' who could not bear to sit idle amid his island crags, or of Barrie's Peter Pan," who refused to grow up, or of him who, according to another poet kept the immortal child tarrying all his lifetime in his heart.
 We do not have to look long for monumental examples of great men who like Oliver Wendell Holmes in his poem, "The Boys" and In his per sonaI example, defied the calendar. To one such perennially young gen. tleman, namely, Dr. W. W. Keen, the community that ffectionately reveres him is even now preparing to do hon. or. The will to keep youthful in the spirit seems to be the biggest part of insenescence. We have lately had Oc- casion to consult the record of gen tleman named Hepburn, who sradu- ated from Princeto ton in 1892, and did not pass away until 1911, 70 years later. when he had attained the ripe age of ninety-six. Unlike many of the Old Testament patrlarchs, of whom nothing is recorded but their exceed ing longevity, Doctor Hepburn was usefully and fruitfully busy through several generations. The empire Of Japan, country that never forgets anything or anybody, will forever hold his name in honor among the benefac- tors. Not merely did he train some of the foremost of her diplomats. but he compiled the famous dictionary that resolved the barriers betwixt the tortuous tongue of Nippon and our own.
 The thought of growing old is chief Iy oppressive to those who never grow anything else. Most of those who pro duce, create achieve, are too busy to study crows feet in the mirror or cal culate percentages of lime in the bones or acid in the blood They are not forever in lonely observatory on the outlook for new symptoms. They are up and doing. with a whetted appe- tite for fresh adventure. There is Labrador" Cabot of Boston. who Is forever starting out on a one-man ex' petition among the Indians of the barrens not very far from the deso- late spot where the balloon came down with Lieutenant Hinton and his com rades. It is useless to tell him that he is too old. You might as well try to persuade "Ooom John" Burroughs to quit exploring swamps and forests and playing with squirrels. Nature, they tell us. has no fayorites, but she has way of granting to the natural fists a special grace in growing old" The life of Fabre, which began in 1S25 and did not end until 1915, might Da cited or that of Chevreul. 17S6-1SS9. Many artists. moreover. are like St. Gaudens. and do not count the nor tai years 1t takes to mold memorial forms" If | live to be 100" said the modest HOkudaI, perhaps l snail be able to draw a line" Such a man knows what 1t means to live for many years and to remain forever young De- cause forever acquisitive. induisItiva asofrfDg Ledger.