THE PRIME OF LIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 32, 7 February 1925, Page 17

THE PRIME OF LIFE.

WHAT IS MKANT BY i'hK TERM?

I Lecturing recently at University College, Cower Street, Profcsror Karl l'oarBon put forward the view, that man ; reaches bis prime at the age of about 27. ! This, if I may say so, strikes mc as ' prime nonsense, writes John Blunt in the London "Daily Mail."' So far as I have been able to observe, men, at 27, have neither the physical endurance nor the mental equipment jf older men. It ; may. for all I know, be the ideal age for! playing the game of football; it is cer- ', tainrr not the ideal age for playing the | more important game of life. i f>ome good few years ago tlie cry of i "too old at, 40 became rather popular] (•with the younger generation, until it' was (iiiscfncred that most of (he importbe |H>rl'ornin| by men nf (net I": but 'now |-.erba|..- the >uiiri£r*l generation of all will begin howling in their cradles! I "too old at" 30." ' J

Well, after all, it won't Jo us any harm. Professor Kurl Pearson, who, by the way. is quite old enough to knowthat he is not too old at either ;i(l or 4(1, cannot make our, flesh creep utter the manner of t)io Fat Buy in "Pickwick.' , For the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and whatever anybody may my mirldle-age is tho age that runs the world.

Middle-age, of course, is a torm of ; indefinite meaning, and many a man of i . TO is middle-aged in the s.-nse that his ] judgment is clear, his brain active, and j ' his body in pood physical condition. j j Ko one denies to youth its advantages, j j but youth is a. formative period in' J every direction, and lias neither the' stamina nor the wisdom of maturity. A I remarkable young man of 27 if iikely ■ I to b" still more remarkable at :;T ..r -17' or •*i. Youth lias it, mm prhilepcs ami claim.-, and. bcin;: wr.v «p|| able i.. |..,,k alter ilM'if, I li.-r-n iilc laki'ii full ;ei\an j tage pi. But ii ought nto to claim everything, for that is a sign of megalo- i jmania. jhe older generations have do;

J intention or nocking to letlial chambers, I anil if youth Mould only stop t> think a little it would realise that, its own adolescence will goon be over. 1 speak feelingly, I dare, par, having J reached an agr when 27 appears daily more remote, l.ut as I have detector], as I yet, mi Mgns of personal decrepitude, I lean also, I ]„,;„.. speak with considerable candour. i The truth is that each deeadc lias its I own advantages. When people express j dissatisfaction with life it frequently I arises from the fact that they will not I recognise ihat Ilipy are neither older nor 'younger than they ore. The youth of "20 I who yearns to be Prime Minister and I thinks lie would fill the role adequately ■i? iii>C as foolish as the o,i man of . s 0 ' who wants to gu to dancer. \i different age* nu-ii are Letter at ilitr.-r.Mii job-. ;ni.| , ..μ-cjihmii ly it i<. -..TV ,|lt'i.u!l 1.. -V V. iMI til- I'lilUe IJt lite n;.ll\ \~, I 1,.- μ-i v v"" ; "" ! ,! "' vjy uld art out of tin- iiimiing, but b--j twi'fU, ;;ij aud UO it v. uuid be liard Ito decide," _ _. .._„ _—_ i