Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-22
Reply.

This is one of a group OF letters
raising the same issue. but always IN
different form There comes time.
especially in the life Of women, that
offers the problem of the best en-
ployment of the maturer years. With
the family grown up and the children
more or less established, and the older
tests and interests waning, ana the
contrast with the strenuous life OF the
younger generation somewhat dlscon-
certing, there is natural turn back-
ward TO see whether youthiul aHlpi-
tons may be resumed,
The problem is part of a much
larger one, perhaps the largest prob
lem of a well rounded life, that OF
carrying on to old age, reapIng from
each succeeding harvest Of years the
richest crop.
The period marks the great divide
of life, when one turns from LOOKING
ever forward, which is the attitude OF
hopeful youth, to looking backward,
which is the reflective privilege, but
likewise the danger. Of age. To many
men the problem comes In terms oil
retirement. whether to yield the bur-
den to younger shoulders or 10 Keep
on the accustomed way TO the emu
of ones days. Retirement should not
imply cessation of activity. for that
would mean regarding life as past
with only desolate waiting for the
fall of the curtain.
Though the stage is differently set.
and the action calmer the last acts
may be the best To retire, one must
have--and that's ofen the chief con-
cerr--something TO retire on. but also
something TO retire to. some inter-
ests that had to be sacrificed IN the
well rounded life gathers those inter-
ests as 1t goes. and amassed resources
TO retire TO as well as on.
In a sense there is no turning BACK
life is lived in one direction only. one
remains as young as ones interests.
and the maturer interests are the more
responsible ones the most worth
while The present age presents not
only the revolt OF youth. but the DOM
ination of youth holding the center Of
the stage and setting the pattern ana
the pace of the dance.
Mental fitness demands that as years
| go by, the mind should mature, md
| like zest, like inspiration, ike interests
| In the richer possibilities suitable 70
| the directive years, Now professional
| interest Is a life interest: whether artist
| or musician, lover Of nature or OF ltera-
! ture, reformer, philanthropi6t, sharer
| Of movements of social welfare, these
| keep one going and the world needs
| mature minds TO direct 1t.
/ Equally reassnring Is the answer TO
| the question: Can adults learn? The
| Investigations conducted by Prof, Thorn
dixie give an emphatic affirmative reply.
| They don't learn quite IN the &as1e way.
and they are less patient Of schooling,
| nor do they need IL: they come t. their
| studies with ripper, less distracted IN
terest. The mind, like the body, needs
constant exercise; muscles grow fiahby
and minds grow rusty through disuse.
] Habits become fixed, but they may be
helpful as we'll rs harmful habits.
What IS difficult to make up Is the
habit OF disuse Lives that have been
actively lived IN whatever succession of
interests retain their virility and their
pliability we'll on 10 Old age. It's more
in the manner than the matter OF your
employment. though 1t Is never wise to
stop being interested IN something be-
You'd the range Of the necessities. You
won't stop learning when old II you
have never stopped at any OF the stages
IN the way.
So one can say 10 all inquirers
whether in the 40s or Sos and even the
Cos, TO men and TO women. you're not
too old to learn not too old to resume
genuine interests that ware crowded out
Of buster days. not too old 10 participate
actively IN the stirring activities OF 4
richly filed Worid~-a world Of progress
In Inventions. ideas all contributing to
the science and art CT living
Naturally, each one Of us is limited
90 few major interests which we have
cultivated with something Of a pro~
fessional, which means e lifelong In
terest however much we are amateurs
/ IN performance Whatever we make
part OF our lives, either through early
bent or pursuit, or later by entering
into the interests OF The oncoming gem
J Grafton. Is ours to live with and on, ia
J retire To.
u Adult Education" is an unfortunate
name for tbs important idea that the