Evening star., 1938-10-28
Disagrees With Sentiment
Expressed In Poem.

To the Editor OF The Star:
The Star of October IA contains q
short poem entitled The Drama Of
Old Age" to which I cannot subscribe.
envy the author her gift of poesy. but
hope may be permitted to call atten-
ton to another viewpoint Of the q,ies-
ton, as follows:
No. No. a thousand nos:
My heart will not acclaim
That creed which names
Bright and happy past as
Dead beyond recall:
Sweet memories Of long ago
Are never lost to a singing soul
Who keeps them green and beautiful
While Time speeds on his way.
A bright picture Of childhood haunts
my own memory: A group of children,
two or three boys and a girl. not yet
years old, standing on the slope of
hill. One boy suggested: Lets make
chair of our hands and carry sister
over the hill" They quickly formed
the chair and the little girl flung an
eager arm around each boys neck A
vivid picture of falling leaves and bright
ones covering the tender trees, was
thrown on the life screen of the child.
Today, at the age of 81, she recalls it.
Even the hazy autumn atmosphere has
clung to the scene, and the actual fra
GRANGE of the woods has crept down
the years cheering this one life scores
Of times since the bright day when
a thoughtful lad cher step-brother)
suggested the ride" over the hill. She
has never yet thought Of the occasion
without emotion. and gratitude for that
gay experience and memory to keep all
the rest of her life span-with never
a suggestion of dead past"
Later on, in her early womanhood,
another happy event took place. She
being a young teacher in the suburbs
Of a city of western New York made
the acquaintance of a druggist in the
neighborhood, who one day left the
place for trip to the eastern extremity
of the State near Lake Champlain Upon
his return the community was pleased
to receive and welcome his BRIDE
woman of culture and unusual charm,
who Immediately cultivated the ac-
quaintance of the young teacher whose
surname happened to be the same as
her own before marriage. This fact
aroused her curiosity and she suggested
that they compare notes which they
did, and very soon found they were
second cousins, the favorite uncle of
one was pronounced the favorite cousin
of the other. This fact led to more
and more intimate and pleasurable occa-
sions especially an invitation to spend
several weeks with the new cousins
which proved to be happy weeks, over
flowing with joy as these occasions were
followed by months Of an interchange
of pleasing events. Though ali of the
participants dncluding one who later
became Lieutenant Governor Of Ver-
mont, and another distinguished ply
sician and surgeon of Brooklyn have
grown old or have left the earth plain,
can she ever consider these happy times
as "dead"? No never! for the tender
memory of them will never die.
The majestic years moved on. The
teacher was married one autumn day
to a princely mana happy welded
life was enriched by the birth of a
gifted daughter, and in due time a son
of her dreams. But, too early in his
life, the father was called away by death.
Seven years longer the little boy was
spared, then he, too, passed to the Great
Beyond.
The mother and daughter lived on,
but never once could they feel that
the golden past was dead" 1t throbs
in their lives and sends sunshine
through their souls today and its light
and color cheers them continually,
though the mother has reached old age.
A happy peace reigns. for the Masters
voice may stu be heard.
october ~. ELIZABETH HAND.