THE AGE OF ACHIEVEMENT

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 83, 6 January 1928, Page 12

THE AGE OF ACHIEVEMENT

How old is too old? Many kerbstone philosophers, at least those under 50 years of age, contend that little of worth is accomplished by men who have passed the half-century mark. Youth is accustomed to looking at 40 as tho peak age, and that is also established by some compounders of success formulas as tho age at which a man must have made his mark in the world if he is going to make it. But Dr. W. A. Newman Dorland, of Chicago, discovers the peak of achievement has been sot back considerably. Summarising the lives of 400 of the most famous men in history in an article in the “Welfare Magazine.” of the State of Izillinois, Dr. Dorland draws the conclusion that renowned men live from 20 to 30 years longer than those of past ages and that they reach the peak achievement 10 years later in life. He states that 50 was tho average age at which the 400 did their best work, but that world loaders who are still living do not reach the limit of their ability until they are past 00 or close to 70. “In the world war all, the great commanders on both sides—Hindenburg, von Bulow, Foch, Haig, and Pershing—were 60 or near it.” Dr. Dorland writes. “J. Pierpont Morvan. at the ago of 70, raised 4.(1,000.00:) dollars in 40 hours and stopped the panic of 1907.” Obviously, the practice of urging retirement on men who have reached 60 is unwise. If the United States were to lose rhe services of its outstanding men who have reached or nassed 60. it would be in a sad plight. This is a high-speed age, an age in which youth is predominant, but it is plain that routh can no longer be gauged by years.