Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-14
YOU'RE
HEALTH
FORWARD
Copyright 1871. by Newspsps Features. Ina.
BY ROYAL S. COPELAND
Commissioner OF Health. New York CITY

Nobody wants to grow old. It il
a common thing to hear somebody say
II wish l were 10 years younger"
Three score years and ten is the
frequently repeated reminder of the
expected span of human life. ] object
to this limitation, but that is another
story.
Think over the list of persons you
know who have reached the age of 20.
Isn't it remarkable how they differ in
physical appearance. in mental alert
ness and in sweetness Of spirit? Some
are old and broken down. On the con
trary, some are as young and cheerful
and az active Is they were at 80. Why
the difference?
This is not an easy question to an
swer, and it must be admitted at once
that there are many factors involved.
But there is one very definite reason.
The mental attitude has much to do
with ones ages, teo.
In a sense, the brain IL like a search
light and the intelligence directing the
light. It's operations depend on the d.
rection of the path Of light. The mind
dwells on the things and events illumin-
ated by the lamp of memory.
But memory of the past isn't the
only function Of the mind. There are
also Imagination, vision, calculation. in
terest in human affairs, devotion to
country-all these indicate forward
looking.
A Recipe for Youth
You may die from physical disability,
but you will never grow old so long as
the searchlight of your mind is turned
ahead. Forward-looking is the secret
of youthfulness.
1t is a blessed thing that memory is
not marred by the recollection Of I'M
pleasant experiences. Fortunately, the
pictures of those periods when we suf-
fered are smeared over or completely
effaced. Memory travels along pleas
ant paths. To change the figure again,
memory is like a placid stream flowing
along with imperceptible current.
Their is no power in such a stream.
1t must meet with obstacles, it must
be confined within narrow banks. it
must be damned and retarded in its
course-then it develops strength.
A sheltered life, free from perplex-
tiles, protected from every disturbance,
big and little, tends to softness of
character and ~somnolence of mental
vigor. The mind, unoccupied by for
ward looking thoughts. dwells in the
pleasant fields of memory. 1t idles
away its time and usefulness by lazy
indulgence in the atmosphere of the
lotus dreamer.
If you wish to keep young. you will
keep your searchlight directed ahead.
Turn it around now and then for the
sake of knowing just where you are,
and how much you have progressed.
But let its main use be for illuninat-
ing the future.
If you wonder enough about how the
school in your neighborbood is being
conducted you win walk over to it oc-
ca sionally and take a look for your
self.
Stop Looking Backward
What kind of an alderman have you!
Go down to the meetings Of the alder
men and find out. If he doesn't suit
you,- run for alderman yourself OF help
Some other good man to get the job.
settle down to the blissful
thoughts of the excellence of the
aldermen of 40 years ago. If they are
not better now than they were then,
you. in part. are to blame.
Stop looking backward. To keep
Young you must look ahead. You can.
not settle down to the dullness and