WHY WOMEN GROW OLD.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIV, Issue VIII, 23 February 1895, Page 190

WHY WOMEN GROW OLD.

There are follies and follies in this world, but among the most senseless of these is the idea that because a woman has seen a certain number of years she must be relegated to some cosy corner and fill the position of the old lady of the family, leaving the gaieties and pleasures of life to the youngsters. This is much less common in this country than in England. There is much to be said in favour of the idea that people are no older than they feel. There are individuals, indeed we all know them, who are far in advance of the calendar, and at thirty or thirty-five are older than many others at double their years. It is not at all worth while to grow old faster than one’s health and labour demand. Once parted with, youth never comes back again. Any effort to return to its pleasures is looked upon with the utmost disfavour by society. < )ne can stay young and is all right, but having given up youthful enthusiasm, the world seems to frown on any effort to revive it, and the criticisms indulged in by friends and relatives are frequently so cutting that the first attempt is the last one. There is a proper and becoming enjoyment of the good things of this world that should never be allowed to die out on account of the years or circumstances of the individual. There are so many interesting things in life, and one can lie so companionable and necessary in one’s circle that it is the sheerest folly to give up and grow until actual feebleness makes it imperative. Even then, one may retain much of the brightness of youth and acceptably fill one’s place in the world and society. People grow old more frequently from inertness than for any other reason. It is hard work to stay young, and those who find it too much trouble to do so, drop very rapidly into the limp and careless condition of old age. Human nature has to be kept up as ninch as any of our other possessions, and when one is satisfied to let it go hap hazard and fall into slipshod ways, age takes advantage of the circumstance to increase his inroads and put his seal upon m. Of all things in the world keep young and bright and cheerful and up to date. For, of all forlorn things, the most forlorn is the person who is spoken of and looked upon as * a back number.’