Evening star., 1938-03-15
EAR MISS DIX: Believe it or
not, but there Is still an in
credible number of women
and men who are victims of

EAH MISS OAh. 6elleVc IL or
not, but there Is still an in
credible number of women
- and men who are victims Of
the age complex and who become pes
simistic, lose their ambition and ini-
tiative, throw up their hands and quit
after they reach the middle 30s. Worse
still, they resent any one Of their age
not thinking as they do and retiring
into dull obscurity as they have. They
bitterly criticize those men and women
who take care Of their looks and dress
and keep on with whatever work they
are doing. I am a trained nurse, and
my long experience proves to me be-
yond doubt that while too many people
do age early, countless numbers are at
their best physically and mentally
in the middle years and not q few in
late life. What can we do to help
overcome 50 much unnecessary de-
preston due to the old-time calendar
complex? A. D.
Answer-The people who permit
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aged in these days are the sit-down
strikers in life. They are weaklings
and the towards who do not want to
work or fight; 50 they make their age
their alibis for laZiness and for shirk-
ing all Of their duties and responsible
ties.
The woods are full of hale and
hearty men and women who climb up
on the shelf when they are middle
aged and never hit another lick as long
as they live, although they have still
80 or 40 years of good work in them.
Half OF the beggars who entreat us to
help poor old man or woman are
plenty young to help themselves If
they would, and there are few of us
who do not help some aged relative
who is younger than we are.
A ND who does not know parents
who make racket of their age
and force their children to support
them when they are far more able to
work than the children are? After
Bob and Sally get jobs, Father throws
up his and becomes too old and feeble
to do anything but play pool and loaf
around a bar. Mother is so aged and
infirm that the girls have to do the
housework after standing behind
counters all day while she goes to the
movies.
But you can't do anything to re-
juvenate these people who have the
old age complex, because they don't
want to be young. Age is their graft
and they make the most of it. We are
moved to mirth very often over the
figures Of fun that people, and espe-
cially women, make of themselves
when they are trying to f1out the
calendar and act and look like Is in
stead of 60. Goodness knows, they are
funny enough with their dyed hair
and painted faces and flapper clothes,
but at that they have something ad-
mirable that those lack who have sur
rendered to age They have pep and
they have spunk. and they are still
trying to do something In the world
instead of being cumberers of the
ground.
As for any one thinking that middle
age is a deadline that they cannot
cross, that is nonsense. It takes us
until We are 40 to learn our jobs and
our best work is done after that. That
Is when we begin to reap what We have
sown.
nEAR DOROTHY DIX: I am 81
years Of age. Have high school
education and am refined and cultured.
Have a talented knack for writing
songs and short stories. Now for my
problem: Would I be doing wrong if
I went to some large city and inserted
an advertisement in some paper Offer
ing to marry a lady of wealth so that
could devote all of my time to writ
ing? The job now have leaves me
so tired at night that 1 just can't
write. I have high principles and
ideals and would be good to any woman
who married me. Could I be happy If
I made marriage only for arts sake?
What is your advice? SONNY,
Answer-Well, Sonny, I don't be-
lieve that there are many ladies of
wealth who are looking for husbands
in the advertising columns of news
papers, so am afraid that your
chances Of stalking yourself that way
to comfortable living while you pur-
sued the MUSES. would be rather slim.
You see, women with fat pocket
books have no difficulty in marrying,
and they prefer some one they know
to an unknown genius who may not
turn out to be a genius after all.
Better stick to your Job. That at