The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-05-09
GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY.

L GROWING OLD GRAC EFCLLI.
We are a witness daily of the effort that
is made to conceal by artificial means the
advance OF age and the marks it leaves on
the BODY. But why should we conceal it, or,
rather, try to conceal it? Men and women
alike manifest in this way their foolish worry
about growing DID, If such effort deceived
anv one it might be worth while, but for the
most part it only serves to make more mani
test what is sought to be concealed. Is 1t not
better to grow old naturally, giving thought
to growing old gracefully, striving to pre-
serve youth from within rather than to pre-
vent its counterfeit without? OF all the vani-
ties none is so vain as that which prompts
men and women fearing to be old to mas
querade in the likeness of youth.
Growing old is something that is inevita-
bic. Therefore, we should not allow the
thought OF it to become oppressive. The
thing to do is to make the best OF it, and
especially to stop worrying about it. That
is the way to peace and contentment and
also to youth perennial.
THE thought OF growing old" it has been
said, is chiefly oppressive to those who new
striving to create or achieve have little time
to borrow trouble about growing old or to
study crows feet in the mirror. Worrying
about growing old is among the most foolish
OF worries The way not to become old is
among the most foolish of worries. The way
not to become old is to refrain from worry
ing about it. That is not to say some thought
should not be given to the problem Of grow
ing old, for it is problem. Growing old is
one of the most certain things in life; there
fore it is important that we should grow old
in the right way. There is a way to grow
old gracefully a way to grow old without
seeming to be DID, way to grow old and
still be useful in spirit and purpose; a way
to grow old and retain gladness in living.
Likewise, there is a wrong way to grow old;
a way to make the increasing years burden
some and the sunset of life wretched and
clouded way to be old and crabid in mind
as we'll as in body Physical old age is in
accordance with an Interchangeable law of ma
ture but to be old in spirit is no more than
a state of mind, a mental attitude Physical
old age cannot be stayed, but the preservation
OF mental and spiritual youth is wholly
matter of the will. 1t all depends upon how it
occupies the mind, what use one makes of
ones energies, time and opportunities 1t all
depends upon the appetite one has for life,
upon the interest that one retains in life. If
life be ever regarded as an adventure one
will have no time to think of growing old.
Old age never becomes oppressive to one
who is able to feel at the dawning of each
new day the thrill of life and living. The
truth is that life is a wonderful adventure.
Death has been described as the great adj
venture, but no less is life a great adventure.
The possibilities of life are infinite. One may
experience many things in long life, and
still there will remain many things yet to
be experienced-mo than anyone can hope
to accomplish in life time. No two days
are alike. One cannot judge what is to be
by what has been. The future is ever mysteri-
Gus and alluring; the present never ceases
to be fascinating. No one can foreten upon
waking in the morning what the day shall I'M
fold, what new interests it shall reveal, what
new adventures it shall contain, what new
opportunities it shall present. To be eager for
life always, to be absorbed in what the world
is doing, to be pushing forward, keeping step
with militant humanity is to have no time
for anxiety about growing old.