Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-05-14
THE MERRY MONTH OF NAY

It's an epidemic. No escape. Here we have a perfectly
dignifed and worthwhile Woman's Page, recording the
splendid activities of the women and the girls of our commu-
nifty, including our near ~neighbors, and along comes the month
of May and the romance epidemicl Even we staid, practical,
Woodworking club-women can't resist. The month of May,
when it really lives up to its reputation, as it has been doing
this year, suggests blonde curls and emerald engagement rings
and lovers neverything. You wouldn't think it, you fluffy
youngsters, but we staid, old, practical, Woodworking clubwom-
en- get the same thrill out of it that we did when WE were
( fluffy youngsters. In fact, the only way we can be thoroughly
awakened, to the cruel truth is by looking into the mirror,
and NOT seeing fluffy youngsters looking back at us.
But never mind, May comes around each year just the
same, and carries us along on to its spirit wings, so that we
get the enchanting Whit of romance in spite of our jealous
work for Day Nurseries and Community Houses and Borough
Improvement Leagues and all the other solaces that middle
age have to offer for a lost youth.
But we wouldn't turn back, even to catch our youth
lagain. Dreams have their place, and so has achievement. So
, has progress, and growth and the living in a world full Of
interests.
Not long ago, I saw the meeting of a delightfully."- live old
J lady, with an old couple she had not seen for thirty years.
The greeting was pathetic on the part of the couple, but the
little old lady was brisk and cheerful.
@Wel,' quavered the old couple, "we're living in the
past" "We're not living in the present" replied the L. G. L.
F'Our children are scattered over the globe, each living a
life full of accomplishment and interest, and We are living
their lives with them. 1t is so fine to have all their interests
added to our own. We can hardly wait for their letters"
perhaps, > faltered the other woman, IF WE had child
rem, we might have felt different"
"Im sure you would" answered the mother, as she
stepped along, probably to get her supper herself for her
4od husband.
bors, the members of the human race, and in the events that
are going on in the world is ever callous to the thrill" OF
living, No centenarian who thrills to the month Of May is
old. That thrill betokens youth, eternal youth, which is to
say, life eternal.
wish this thrill TOWARD youth were a little more
general. 1t always hurts me to see old people curling their
lips at the "goings on'' of the modern young people. They
look so unlovely when they curl their lips IN sneers: old
peoples lips ought to curl into the sweetest and kindliest of
smiles, smiles of sympathy and tenderness and perhaps a little
! yearning over the difficulties, and sometimes the disllusion-
Anent, that come along with years.
The old should be tender, not finty; charitable, not sus-
picious and evil-minded. And from the evil-minded old, good
Lord, deliver u.s. They are the kind of old people that Osler
would have chloroformed-was it?-at the age OF sixty.
Once / made out a list of the flinty, evll-minded old
fiends that | knew, and called it ttThose whom | wish that
God would take.'' When some one was so hateful and SO
'cussed' that l wanted to murder him, 1 put him on my Lst.s
It was a great relief to me. But l have abandoned that list.
| am sure God doesn't want them any more than l do.
But who can waste time of such a black list, when the
great round apple trees are a mass Of sweet white blossoms
against a bright blue sky2 It's Heaven, that's what May is.