Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1924-12-20
PROBLEMS COME IN
WITH ADDED YEARS
Provision Must Be Made for
Lies Extension.

That the average man" is now in
possession Of a considerable span of
life in excess Of that enjoyed by his
average grandfather Is emphasized
anew by Sir George Newman, chief
medical officer of the ministry Of
health, in his annual report for 1923,
published recently. The facts and fig
ures, moreover, which he submits,
Justify the conclusion that this great
er expectation of life is likely to be
permanent, a writer In the London
Times comments. II may even be ex-
tended as the years pass. The bounty
has come suddenly, within the space
Of b generation; so suddenly, indeed,
that few of the recipients appear to
know what TO do with the unexpected
gift. The majority go aimlessly to
this new country Of old age like so
many "trippers." They are Ill at
eaae; almost, It would seem, apollo
getic Of their presence.
That perhaps is always the attitude
Of the new rich" whether their
riches be measured in sterling or in
days and years Yet the world Is
agreed in regarding 1t as an attitude
Of transition, clumsiness-of behavior
and mind to be overcome as speedily
as possible Thus there is within
sight a revision Of the outlook upon
old age. Not much longer will this
period be regarded as a gambler con-
templates his unexpected winnings !;
the time has arrived when the feel
ing Of luck" old folk are supposed to
cherish must be exchanged for a
sense of right Old age will be count
ed on, like youth and middle age 1t
may even be pledged in advance to
definite aims and purposes.
This sense of a new inheritance in
years, and all that 1t implies, has
nothing in common with the old idea
Of growing old gracefully Indeed, it
is rejection Of that doctrine of pas
slye resistance to the inevitable To
have planned the later years as the
earlier are planned is to have filled
them beforehand with the spirit of en-
terprise which Is the spirit of youth.
II is to refuse to grow old at ALL Such
an attitude was impossible a genera
ton ago; II is inevitable in these days.
Indeed the whole scheme of living is
now in process of transformation.
For the added years exert an influ-
ence which extends back almost to
the schoolroom. They make youth and
the thoughts of youth longer and they
amplify and deepen the significance
of maturity.
Thus men and women are able to
take wider views and to build their
hopes higher. The footballs Of pursu-
Ing Time have lost something of their
menace. There are signs, In the pres
ent world, Of the march Of this process
of evolution Specifically the pace
may appear to be quicker: actually
there Is less hurrying towards achieve
ment. And resentment is keener
against the charge of growing old"
Youth and age, indeed, seem to be dis
covering fresh bonds of sympathy in
the general quickening of enthusiasm
which is the accompaniment of an as
surance of longer life. Age has so
very much to give to youth and is so
much more capable now of giving it
effectively. The complaint is often
made that each year of added exist
ence tends TO create an colder out
look" In the general mind by altering
the proportions of recruits and vet
Grams. But that complaint becomes
groundless when the spirit of youth
remains alive and active in the hearts
of the old campalgners, Divided no
longer by an impossible physical bar
rier, age and youth can meet on terms
of equality in the common service of
humanity.
c.