Evening star., 1928-04-20
Tracks and Ruts.

This is not written for young men
only fer those who are ready TO ad-
nit that they are not as young as
they used 10 be Middle age IS a
flexible term. and so is age itself. be-
cause the scale is marked of in years
and the changes that il measures are
in terms Of tastes and feelings. ener-
gieS and 1ests. rnd the range Of human
interests
All Of these go together: and it isn't
o question of fathers keeping up with
their sons any more than il is of
mothers keeping young with their
aughters-though all that helps, In
neither case Is il a matter Of dress or
complexion or athletics or social whirl.
Every age has its own proper standards
OF mental fitness.
II is SAD 70 see anybody prematurely
old. whether actually young with an
old mans outlook and tastes and habits.
or actually well On Ia years. but yield
ing ter easily and too. early 70 diSabili-
ties For the proper principle Of men
tal fitness is for the uaidcle-aged TO
stay at the full Towering period OF
life MS long as they can. and TO go
about il senSf5sy Staying youthful
isn't a question Of rejuvenation-eitheT
by the route Of the glands Or Of friv-
Olity. or warmed-over aooleScenf EMO
tons. It's the natural issue and re-
ward OF a wholesome development OF
interests and the acceptance Of re-
sponSibilities al ali stages OF the orderly
procession of years. Its because some
men Of years are tempted into methods
not suitable 70 their years that the
saying arose:
.sTnere's no fool like an old fool"
Youth may have its fling: but you
won't stay youthful by having more
fingg of the same kind. Those who
keen on trying To answer the cali OF
youth may have unpleasant reminders
that il is q long distance call with
heavy tolls. Better listen 10 the cali
OF age, not by piltng up compensations
or even consultations, but ny meeting
the problem Of years with the spirit
that was made strong - youth foF
most Of the cherished and enduring
11rerogatives Of youth may be con-
finaeo all through life. Three are oi
the first order Of value: creatiyeneSs
or productivity: taking On new inter
eSts or constant learning, zest ana en-
thusiasm for the JOB.
Sd long as YOU can put out new
oa1tnn1t and get absorbed II IL. you
sre y0lIng. And Il you can 90 some
thing that you couldn't have cone al
well IN earlier years. you are groN.hR
did wisely. Mental fitness for nalodie-
aged men is as important To the reSl
fs the world as it Is 10 them; Tor thei
are the men on whose heads anc
shoulder the responsible work Of th'
world falls most heavily
Een Of that age and older VIII re-
call the excitement that followed Or
OsIers remark that the most orlgina!
work Of men who had done something
notable vas originated before 40. Ina'
statement was distorted into the notion
that men Of 50 might as We'll b
chlorof0ymed. for they never would ke
missed" Well, DR.. Osier didn't mean
that and he didn't say II, and IN MI
own person showed how the ripeneSs
Of years bears mellow fruit.
But i Is true that YOU We got 10 gel
q good start before 40. and n1uef
earlier. % prepare for well ftnnceE
career YOQ must have laid youi
tracks and struck your pace, The
great danger u years Is getting int
Yuts, and the habits u mind, such