Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-22
PLAN FOR OLD AGE
By H. Addington Bruce

|
Stanley Hall, formerly president OF Clark
university and still eminent among American
psychologists, has in his own declining years
| been making a survey Of the problems and
| phenomena of old age. The results of his sur
vey are embodied in bulky volume-"Senes-
| cence, or the Last Half of Life"-of signifi-
canoe to all who are themselves approaching
the period Of which he writes.
Especially should his book be read and
pondered by them since DR.. Hall makes very
clear the fact that old age to many is an I'M
happy period for no other reason than their
failure to prepare properly for it. Also, to
many and for the same reason, 1t is the use
less instead of useful period it ought to be.
Unhesitatingly Dr. Hall affirms, and with
evidence for the affirmation, that there are
special services which the aged can and should
render to the world. Most of all should it be
the business Of the aged-as not a few have
successfully made it their business-to pro-
mote among men generally a keener percep-
ton of the meaning and purposes of life, a
more discriminating sense of values.
This is what the author of "Senescence" has
in mind when he observes:
"Our function is to finish a structure that
still lacks an upper story, and give it an out
look or coming tower from which man can
see more clearly the far horizon and take
his bearings now and then by the eternal
stars.
1u0 1u0dl O1u uldu Will De CHIEFLY con-
cerned for what is yet to be- If he thinks of
his childhood and forbears, he thinks still
more of posterity. His chief desire is to see
the young better born and better provided for,
so as to come to fuller maturity
Old age, in other words, should be made
the time, not of feeble dependence, but of
greatest social helpfulness.
It can be- made this only If, in the first
place, all dread of it is conquered; and if,
secondly, as middle life advances, increased
attention is paid to the outstanding of psychic
and bodily energy that it may be the longer
available for beneficent ends.
Also, in order to make old age really sue
cessful, there is needed with advancing years
an increased externalizing of the thoughts.
objective interests as years come upon them,
turn their gaze more and mere inward, let
ting their chief solicitude be for petty per-
sonal satisfactions and comforts.
Thus to behave is actually to invite that
which is dreaded most of all-senility. 1t is to
wlther instead of ripen upon the tree Of life.
1t is to become "a spent projectle, relic YES
tige, or ruin that time has CHANGED to spare"
And though 1t Is quite true that in spe-
cial cases the accident of disease compels an
old age that>is most miserable, the miseries
of old age far oftener than not are, as DR.. Hall
contends, the result of imperfect planning
Some-perhaps a majority-so far fail to
plan that the refuse to admit to themselves
that they are growing old; or, if they admit
it, are merely spurred to more feverish activi-
ties Of a self-gratfying sort.
Hence the real urgency of the warning:
eff all the psychic energy now directed to
concealm INT, pretense, and the maintenance
of illusions were put to better uses, then
health, prolongation of life, and efficiency in
later decades, to say nothing of happiness,
would be greatly increased.
Copyright, 1920