Evening star., 1928-06-16

has become Pap? Two thousand
years ago, Cato declared that wise
men learn more from fools, than fools
from wise men,"
Not one In hundred who quote DIR.
William Osler's joke about the useless
ness Of men over 40 years of age would
ever have heard Of him If he had not
had his little Joke. But young giants"
actually take that joke with all the seri-
BUSINESS OF Baalam's ass DR.. Osler was
making humorous farewell speech on
the eve OF his departure from Johns
Hopkins Medical College for England.
and he said, I'm the science and art of
medicine there has not been an ad-
vance OF the first rank which has not
been initiated by young or compare
lively young men" He cited Vesalius,
Harvey, Hunter, Lister. etc, every one
OF whom was over 40 years of age when
he accomplished work of note. Osler
himself published his first medical work
when he was 40 years old. He never
said, as Is now often quoted, that men
should be chloroformed at so. What
he did say was that professor at so
years should be retired at double pay
He was looking after his own ripening
age.
AHulcW Ldilk grew lIluiBHbIlt upon
reading the distorted reports OF the
Osler dictum and wrote protest to
the Living Age, In which he pointed
out lists of artists and writer's who had
accomplished their greatest works after
they were 10 years Of age. Sir Walter
Scott did not begin To write fiction until
he was past Osler's limit. AS for jour-
naligm, Lang said Sarcastically that he
preferred young men," for older men
are guilty OF good taste and averse
from frivolous stupidities."
Bacon produced the first two books
of "Novum Organum" at the age OF
SO: Haryeys great work on circulation
came when he was ~. Titan and
Michelangelo did their best work
after they we're "threescore years and
ten," so did Corot and Meissonier. DR.
q. Stanley Hail quotes a DR. Browne
who claimed that all men should live
TO be 100, and cited case of man
OF "a who attempted suicide because he
could no longer support his parents
The curse of age is idlenesS and gar
ruiity about agedness
Bancroft completed his history at the
age Of So: Tennyson wrote Crossing
the Bar" at 80, Newton and Herbert
Spencer worked until they died at SO;
Jefferson was mentally active up TO the
same age, also SO was Talleyfand
Landor published his last volume OF
Heroic Idyils" at 81; Michelangelo
painted THE Last Judgment" just be-
who died within the last few weeks
had passed 90 without lessening his
wit and eloquence. Between 10 and 83,
Vanderbilt increased the mileage OF his
roads from 100 TO 10000, and made q
fortune OF 100000 900 These prove
that the almanac has little 10 do with
genility: "a mans man for a. that
II he has constitution and good sense
and an opportunity to work.
Here is translation from the French
Of a poem by Fontaine which Gambetta
declared IN be the most beautiful poem
In the French language" eve may not
all coincide with Gambetta's appfecla~
tom.
'FBooz, a master and father true.
Combined with care for thrift a gem
erous hand
Women preferred him to the youthful
band,
For youth has looks. but age has
grandeur. too.
The old returning whittier sprang their
source,
EnLff eltfnhl, lehFlnH cnanklnK uHyS,
And II the fire In youthful eyes we
praise,
Ills light In eyes that now have run
their course"
In contrast with the indirectness of
Fontaine In the plain and sincere spirit
OF Walt Whitmanis Thanks TO Old
Age:
Thanks In old age thanks ere go.
For health. the midday sun, the im-
paipable air--~for lite mere life.
For precious eveT-lingering memories
fof you, my mother dear r-~you fa~
ther~yutl. brothers. sisters friendsl, !,
For all my days.mnnt those Of peace
alone the days Of war The same,
For gentle words, cmrekaes, gifts from
foreign lands, 8s
For shelter, wine and r&fat~~for sweet
appreciation. W
k&iSaxekEA lAaa ~ HaE1 Esalllna