The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1947-04-18

Doctors who are experts in
the study of anatomy that the
human body replaces itself
about every eleven years. The
old parts-the skin, the bone,
the flesh, the nerves, arteries,
organs, all the anatomy from
head 20 the toenails-is con-
stantly being worn out and dis
carded while new tissues r
constantly being built up. A
persons looks or general pro-
portions do not change, no more
than does a single-track rail-
way change to the observers
eye though the ties and rails
are replaced from time to time.
A fellow who squints at him
self in the shaving mirror, a
woman who admires her make
up in the looking glass, may
think he or she is looking at
at in 1886. But in that time,
the anatomists tell us, nature
has more or less replaced the
face behind the look.
How fortunate we should be
if Mother Nature would repair
her original errors in the re-
placement process. Buck teeth
proving set of choppers as the
could be eplaced by an ever-im-
eleven period rolled by. Flap
ears could be drawn ever closer
to the head, pulled in a hitch
with every renewal. Little
folks could grow tall, and
crooked folks could grow
straight. Looks, physique,
coloring-all might be i'm
proved with each eleven-year
installment-just as a crab will
grow a new claw in three or
four sheddings, a little at a
time.
Even SO, eleven years is
sometimes a long time to wait
for a new deal, as the morror
or a face in the passing throng
will sometimes tell us. There
ought to be a priority rating
for emergency cases. otherwise
it might take a good 80 years
for some folks TO get across the
passing line. At the same time,
both nature and the individual
ought 20 be given the privilege
of calling the whole thing a
mistake. each time the 11-year
option came around.
All of which of course is
phantasy, SO far as the physical
body is concerned. We can do
something about it during the
years OF growth with diet, exer-
else, vItamins, etc. Babies to-
day have less ricketts, and gen
orally grow straighter, taller,
healthier and brighter than did
babies of other generations.
But after the period of growth
is over, we are what we are
and that forever. And instead
of getting a fresh new face, a
new set of muscles, a complete
new self-starter or generatir
replacement as in the automo-
bile garage, what we get in
stead is a good patchwork
job which ever eleven years
tjusabout RECEIVERS the sur
face of the old innertubes and
body work. And we must be
thankful with that much-ac-
cepting the wrinkles and the
grey hairs when they appear, or
disappear; grateful simply to
get the old machine back in
working order. If she doesn't
hit on all six cylinders as she
used to, then be thankful that
five is enough to make the
grade.
So much for the physical
man, But what about the spir-
it?
Here that miracle of replace
ment is sometimes possible.
We have seen meek spirits
grow strong and even great,
and we have seen big spirits
collapse and blow away like
mist; sometimes N periods far
shorter than eleven years. We
have witnessed miracles of re-
newal and of resurrection; and
the tragedies of the long de-
cline, o" sudden extinction.
The story of spiritual resur-
retion is the greatest story in
human affairs. The whole chris
tian religion is based on mans
resurrection. Every man born
can experience a spiritual re-
birth if he desires it and if he
is fortunate enough to have
available the help, the friends,
the material circumstances and
the spiritual climate which
make i possible.
Perhaps an even more inter-
esting process to watch than
the comeback. is the specta-
Gle of some humble and obscure
youth suddenly flaring higher
and higher in he bright flame
of growth, as a lamp is turned
up in a dark room.
>
And nothing is more satisfy
ing than to be aole to look back
upon an old unhappy life and
to know that one has outgrown
1t, and can no more return TO
it than the flying bird return
into the egg-to use an image
of the novelist Tolstoy.
We once knew a surgeon who
was perhaps the most gifted
man we have ever known IN