IT IS NEVER TO LATE TO LEARN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23108, 6 February 1937, Page 23

IT IS NEVER TO LATE TO LEARN

Many women want to do things that they were not taught to do in early life. They are attracted by music, painting, wood-carving, high-class cookery, and certain studies, etc. But, anyhow, whatever it is—why not learn it now? "It is never too late to learn while there is the desire to do so."

We have recently heard of a happily married young woman who lamented the loss of music in her otherwise perfect home (says the Sydney Morning Herald). She had never been taught music, much as she loved it. Perhaps school-work had crowded it out. She tried to console herself by deciding that her baby son should be taught music as soon as he could sit at the Eiano. By that means they would have ome music in the years. to come. A poor and doubtful consolation. The child might not be musical. Besides, it would take so long. Why should not the mother learn music without loss of time? Two halfhour lessons a week and some daily practice would soon bring some simple music into the home. It would also bo a delightful diversion for the budding musician.

This woman's experience is not unusual; others are similarly placed. I know of three women who first learnt music between the ages of 50 and 60. They got on well (we can generally do what we like doing), and they gained much happiness and satisfaction.

Indeed, for all sorts of beautiful and useful occupations there might well be a larger number of grown-up pupils. An old lady once told me that in her early home her father never allowed his daughters to learn painting, although one girl particularly wished to do so. Later the girl married a reasonable man. She soon joined some art classes, and within a year a picture of hers was hung in the Paris Salon. This is, of course, unusual. I did not hear however, that the artist's home duties were neglected. It seems, indeed, that, while we are training one sense, such as seeing or hearing, we are improving all our senses, and are bringing more usefulness and happiness into everyday life. We certainly are never too old to learn if we wish to do so. -Shyness or false shame sometimes hinders any serious attempt at learning when our school days are Jong over. It need not do that, however. Many noted persons have learnt late in life, and Queen Victoria celebrated her seventieth birthday by taking her first lesson in Hindustani.