Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-26

decline in function and performance over that
of earlier years. Psychologically. it is char
acterized by a passage from the autonomy
and self -sufficiency of maturity to state of
dependency and social impotence"
DR.. Lawton at the time warns
against the concept of a false old age, in
which certain mental and emotional mani
festatons mistaken for signs of senility
without any show of physical change
According to DR.. Lawton, there are two
types of people who think they old or are
considered by others as aged. while they are
not so in fact
First, persons previously neurotic, psy-
chotic or feeble-minded.
Second. persons who develop many of the
symptoms of decline as consequence of cur
rent social and economic pressures Both are
based on one main problem: the struggle to
retain and TO regain roles and functions lost
through cultural and economic forces, without
any biological reality. This phenomenon is
most common in the United States
People suffering from the illusion of false
old age should take example from persons
twice their age who had preserved their youth
fulness and vigor, mentally and physically.
Benjamin Franklin. for instance, was over
so when he rendered the greatest service to
his country by composing most of our Con-
stitution. FARO Aga Turkeys Grand Old
preserving his vitality practically to the end
And the famous French woman of the 18th
century, Ninon de Lenclos, at So looked
like woman of 35 and acted accordingly.
Then there is George Isaac Hughes, OF New
Bern, n. c.. Confederate veteran whose 81
year-old wife bore him son when he "a
and daughter when he was 90. And the
grandmother at Worcester. Mass, pictured on
this page, who goes swimming regularly.
And then Crystal and Priscilla White
mother and daughter, who look so much alike
in spite of their difference in age that no one
could tell them apart 1t would be easy to
cite any number of instances of people re-
naming young and vigorous regardless of the
number of years they had lived.
Some older persons" DR.. Lawton says
suffer a loss in a particular ability like
memory. new learning, or quick perception.
This may be due to several different factors
none of them related solely to the age factor.
Illness, poor work habits emotional factors
such as family dssensions worry over money
difficulties an insecure job, the pressure
real or imaginary-from a superior. may
cause loss in mental efficiency which is
falsely attributed to advancing age.
so widespread is the assumption that
age brings mental and physical disabilities for
which there is no cure, that the older worker
faced with this imaginary descent exaggerates
every sign of the passage down the slide"
Efforts made in various quarters TO
solve the problems of those afflicted with
false senility as well as of those who have
reached true old age
I'VE should offer old age" DR.. Lawton
concludes, real false, not generation. or
indifference, or sentimental pity. We should
offer It understanding based on facts. II Is
easy enough to grow maudlin over old people
and to feel sorry for them and for ourselves
who must grow old. The aged have a definite
contribution to make 10 the world in which
they live We must find out what it is"
How old is old?
Well there is no definite yardstick in days
and years. A person is as old as he or the
others thinks he is