Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-05-31
On Growing Old

whether 1t is worth while liv-
ing to the age of one hun
dred, and he decides it is
not. To what age would he
prefer to live-sixty, seventy
or eighty?
DR.. Cannon should re-
member that all things, like
Einstein's theory, are relative
to surrounding situations.
The Nations physical health
and mental outlook on
things have changed over the
years. Today a man of sixty
or seventy is a much more
alert individual than his
younger forbear. Surely, a
layman like myself cannot
know that anywhere near as
well as the technically in
formed doctor.
AS for diseases attacking
man in his later years, is it
not true that man battles
diseases at all ages? Is it not
q fact that with the united
effort of medical technicians,
social workers and scientists
in general who keep on ex-
tending the physical and
mental horizons to make old
age a happy one, people
should not grow old in a
haphazard fashion?
When the age of one hun
bred becomes commonplace,
man will try to extend the
life span to one hundred and
twenty five. 1t is obvious
that there will be plenty of
people around in their sew
entities and eighties. If men
at such ages both here and
abroad are beyond the ten
Sions of earning a living,
perhaps there will be enough
mature wisdom on this con-
tinent to overcome the fol-
lies of war. This assumes, of
course, that the world in the
meantime has not reduced
itself to an atomic ash.
Samuel Lightman.
$50
Perhaps it was the title,
who Wants to Be 1902"
that aroused my interest in
DR.. Gannon's letter to The
Star. or maybe it is because
I am we'll along in the sew
entities and still love life.
I recall that while visiting
near Boston years ago l
CHANGED to read in a Boston
newspaper about an old lady
who was, that afternoon,
going to celebrate her hun
dredth birthday by receiving
her friends. l happened to
mention to my father that
I would very much like to
shake hands with that old
lady but I certainly had no
claim to any friendship that
would warrant an invitation.
My father, probably one
of the last men to drive in
a Goddard buggy around
Boston, assured me that the
lady would doubtless be glad
to see me. He Immediately
had the carriage at the
driveway door and we went
to present ourselves.
When introduced, I ex-
planned to her that l was
a total stranger to her but
/ was most anxious to meet
a lady who was really 100
years old. I repeated Zone
hundred is really old, isn't
it?" With a twinkle in her
eye, and a sweet smile, she
replied, Eyes indeed, for to-
morrow morning. you know,
I'll be going on TO two hun
bred"
If I ever reach that age.
I hope I'll have as keen a
mind and the sense of humor
that fine old lady displayed
in that brief interview.
Old age is certainly a prob
lem. 1t all seems so remote to
us when we are young. All of
a sudden, we realize we are
old, and we find regrets have
taken the place of dreams.
DR.. Cannon has summed up
old age in a way that we, of
advanced age, can well under
stand. Washington tries to be
kind to the aged. 1t is only
because youth hasn't the
experience or the under
standing to realize what old
age really means that some
times makes them appear
thoughtless and not sppreci-
alive Of us.
DR.. Cannon says he would
not care to live to be a
hundred. would you?" I've
had my share of sorrow and
hard work, but life yet seems
like a real challenge to me.
and ut is a great life If your
nerves aren't too near the
surface" l.
Old Time Star hNadeF.