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Show New Vistas for "Old Age" The Philosophically Minded Person Will Discover Numerous Compensations and Enjoyments for That Period of Declining Activity. very desirable ends." Row Lady Mnry would have enjoyed a jig-saw puzzle 1 The typical old lady of a genera-Hon genera-Hon but lately gone, sat by the fire with white cap and spectacles, knitting knit-ting socks for the whole family. Today, To-day, she dons a stylish stout, wears the new Oxford, in lieu of the somewhat some-what passee lorgnette, and sallies forth to solve problems of politics or contract bridge. A dear young Hoosler friend sent me the following original verse: GRANDMOTHERS Whene'er I think of grandmothers, 1 ihlnk of cherished things; Of creamy, delicate old lace. And dear remembered dreams. 1 think of modest mignonetto Dew-drenched at now day's dawn: Of perfumed uweelpeas pastel tints; Of shade upon a lawn. 1 think of Artemisia gray, Like filagree of sliver hair. Of lips that speak of troubled hearts Love's words of wisdom rare; Of fragile Dresden china In A corner cupboard old. Of Eden hours of new-wed love. Too sacred to bo told; Of shaded lights on autumn night. And sound of summer rain; Of now born baby's Hps against Mv breast that stings with pain; Of work-worn hands, that yet arc soft That minister with loving care; Of love that makes o'en drudgery A shining halo wear. Oh precious, priceless grandmothers! Without you. how great dearth! Oh grandmothers! Life shows In you True beauty on the earth. Ever since the days of Cicero's "De Scnectute," which we labored over In junior high, as they call It now, men have been fretting about old age. a writer in the Indianapolis News comments. com-ments. It Is generally considered a time of life to be dreaded btN-ause of the sadness connected with declining activity. But sometimes the window opens upon a new vista, and we fol' low Vlda T. Scudder's pages In' flip Atlantic with joy because they seem so sane. . Having suddenly found herself arrived ar-rived at the age of seventy,- Miss Scudder Is Inspired to take up her pen for the benefit of those In like predicament She regards It as a matter of triumph, rather than dls couragement. to have reached .a time when one may be glad to be left off of committees and like respnnslhlll ties, and spend the remainder of her days In the enjoyment of the scenes of life from the shelf, to which she valuable books, they are almost as rare as valuable men. I musi be con j tent with what I can find." (What would she have thought of the output of books, today?) Continuing. Lady Mary writes: "As I approach a second childhood. I en deavor to enter Into the pleasures of It. Your youngest son is perhaps at this very moment riding on a poker with great delight, not at all regret-Ing regret-Ing that It Is not a gold one and much less wishing It an Arabian horse, which he would not know how to manage. I am reading an Idle tale, not expecting wit or truth In It, and am very glad It Is nol ructa physics to puzzle my Judgment or history his-tory to mislead my opinion. Ue fortifies for-tifies bis strength by exercise; I calm my cares by oblivion. The methods may appear low to busy people, but if he Improves his strength and I forget my Infirmities, we both attain has been relegated, when one may read, not classics or any prescribed course, but Just what has long been 'oveted as desirable or particularly restful. Lady Mary Wortley Montague evidently evi-dently had a like aspiration, writing to her daughter. Lady Bute: "Daugh ter, daughter 1 Don't scold, don't call names. You are always abusing my pleasures, which is what no mortal will bear. Trash, lumber, and stuff are the titles you give to my fay'ori'e amusements. We all" have t our play things; happy are they that can he contented with those they can obtain : those hours are spent In the wisest manner , that can easiest shade the ills of life and are the least, productive produc-tive of 111 consequences . . . The active ac-tive scenes are over at my age, I Indulge In-dulge with all the art I can, ray taste for reading. If I would confine If to |