The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-11-04

really likes to be old, added to the
other ailments and pains that usu-
ally come with the years Is pain
in the neck. Women who have been
beautiful hate growing old; men
who have been gallants detest 1t.
but what can one do but accept 1t
with as good grace as possible?
Try to Stay Young
Men are not as definitely age
conscious as women. at least not in
normal times. Now, Of course, they
are. Those who want to get into the
war and can't because Of their years
are to be pitied, and those who say,
I'm glad I'm as old as am. SO I'll
escape the postwar mess" are to
be pitied too. because, mess"
though 1t undoubtedly will be. how
can one help having curiosity
about. and therefore interest In.
what the world will be like when
the boys come marching home? It's
when person ceases to have inter-
est. irrespective of the number of
his years. that he is old.
The ability to stay young in heart
is not given to everyone: it's q pre-
cious gift and one who possesses it
Is endowed with more than the or
binary capacity for enjoyment. You
have seen really old people who get
great deal Of enjoyment out Of
life - sometimes it's vicarious en-
joyment. but as long as it's enjoy
ment. what does 1t matter? Youth
laughs at hardships because youth
knows that 1t can conquer them; 1t
Is really merciful. since rough spots
must come in most lives. to get over
them when one is young and can
take It.
OF course. according to selfish
youth. old folks don't need or want
much. Well. that's as 1t may be;
some simple old folks are content
to sit in the sun and eat sparingly
Of nourishing food; others insist on
every luxury, and are pretty dis
agreeable II they are not forthcom-
ing. They ask Of their children COM
pound interest on any monies they
spent on them in their youth: and
the world is pretty severe in its crit
icism Of the sons and daughters
who don't dig down deep In their
pockets to give the old folks every
possible comfort.
Time to Start Now
It's pretty important to think
about what sort Of an old person
one Is liable to be-whether one ID
going to be q sweet old lady or an
old sour-puss: whether one is going
to be able to adapt oneself to q
changing way Of life. or whether
one Is going to be stubborn, domi.
neering old dowager. whose impor.
lance exists only in her own mind.
or because of her bankroll.
From purely selfish motives. II
for no other. it's certainly better to
aim to be as pleasant q person as
possible. more Of an inspiration
than q drag. The old folks who keep
the flag flying are not numbered
among those no one wants to have
around. It isn't entirely true that
lonely old folks are In that plight
because Of their inability to make
or hold friends. for death takes its
toll and 1t well might be that they
were left the last Of their genera
ton. y WV MEvNNN\N\-MFSVNA I'M
But the right sort Of old lady
makes friends among younger wo-
men, her children's friends and
younger women whom she contacts
through her church or club activi-
ties. and she cultivates a taste for
reading II she has not already
learned the solace and enjoyment
one gets from book.
Since we all must grow old. and
since we have SO many years Of
preparation for the role. one might
suppose that more Of the actors on
life's stage would give more credit
able performances. It's time to start
rehearsing the part. no matter how
old you are.