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all sentenced to capital punishment for the crime of living； and
though the condemned cell of our earthly existence is but a narrow
and bare dwelling…place； we have adjusted ourselves to it； and made
it tolerably comfortable for the little while we are to be confined
in it。 The prisoner of Chillon
〃regained ＇his＇ freedom with a sigh；〃
and a tender…hearted mortal might be pardoned for looking back； like
the poor lady who was driven from her dwelling…place by fire and
brimstone； at the home he was leaving for the 〃undiscovered country。〃
On the other hand； a good many persons； not suicidal in their
tendencies； get more of life than they want。 One of our wealthy
citizens said； on hearing that a friend had dropped off from
apoplexy； that it made his mouth water to hear of such a case。 It
was an odd expression； but I have no doubt that the fine old
gentleman to whom it was attributed made use of it。 He had had
enough of his gout and other infirmties。 Swift's account of the
Struldbrugs is not very amusing reading for old people； but some may
find it a consolation to reflect on the probable miseries they escape
in not being doomed to an undying earthly existence。
There are strange diversities in the way in which different old
persons look upon their prospects。 A millionaire whom I well
remember confessed that be should like to live long enough to learn
how much a certain fellow…citizen； a multimillionaire； was worth。
One of the； three nonagenarians before referred to expressed himself
as having a great curiosity about the new sphere of existence to
which he was looking forward。
The feeling must of necessity come to many aged persons that they
have outlived their usefulness； that they are no longer wanted； but
rather in the way； drags on the wheels rather than helping them
forward。 But let them remember the often…quoted line of Milton；
〃They also serve who only stand and wait。〃
This is peculiarly true of them。 They are helping others without
always being aware of it。 They are the shields； the breakwaters； of
those who come after them。 Every decade is a defence of the one next
behind it。 At thirty the youth has sobered into manhood； but the
strong men of forty rise in almost unbroken rank between him and the
approaches of old age as they show in the men of fifty。 At forty he
looks with a sense of security at the strong men of fifty； and sees
behind them the row of sturdy sexagenarians。 When fifty is reached；
somehow sixty does not look so old as it once used to； and seventy is
still afar off。 After sixty the stern sentence of the burial service
seems to have a meaning that one did not notice in former years。
There begins to be something personal about it。 But if one lives to
seventy he soon gets used to the text with the threescore years and
ten in it； and begins to count himself among those who by reason of
strength are destined to reach fourscore； of whom he can see a number
still in reasonably good condition。 The octogenarian loves to read
about people of ninety and over。 He peers among the asterisks of the
triennial catalogue of the University for the names of graduates who
have been seventy years out of college and remain still unstarred。
He is curious about the biographies of centenarians。 Such escapades
as those of that terrible old sinner and ancestor of great men； the
Reverend Stephen Bachelder； interest him as they never did before。
But he cannot deceive himself much longer。 See him walking on a
level surface； and he steps off almost as well as ever； but watch him
coming down a flight of stairs； and the family record could not tell
his years more faithfully。 He cut you dead； you say？ Did it occur
to you that he could not see you clearly enough to know you from any
other son or daughter of Adam？ He said he was very glad to hear it；
did he； when you told him that your beloved grandmother had just
deceased？ Did you happen to remember that though he does not allow
that he is deaf； he will not deny that he does not hear quite so well
as he used to？ No matter about his failings； the longer he holds on
to life； the longer he makes life seem to all the living who follow
him； and thus he is their constant benefactor。
Every stage of existence has its special trials and its special
consolations。 Habits are the crutches of old age； by the aid of
these we manage to hobble along after the mental joints are stiff and
the muscles rheumatic； to speak metaphorically；that is to say； when
every act of self…determination costs an effort and a pang。 We
become more and more automatic as we grow older； and if we lived long
enough we should come to be pieces of creaking machinery like
Maelzel's chess player；or what that seemed to be。
Emerson was sixty…three years old； the year I have referred to as
that of the grand climacteric； when he read to his son the poem he
called 〃Terminus；〃 beginning：
〃It is time to be old；
To take in sail。
The God of bounds；
Who sets to seas a shore；
Came to me in his fatal rounds
And said； 'No more！'〃
It was early in life to feel that the productive stage was over； but
he had received warning from within； and did not wish to wait for
outside advices。 There is all the difference in the world in the
mental as in the bodily constitution of different individuals。 Some
must 〃take in sail〃 sooner； some later。 We can get a useful lesson
from the American and the English elms on our Common。 The American
elms are quite bare； and have been so for weeks。 They know very well
that they are going to have storms to wrestle with； they have not
forgotten the gales of September and the tempests of the late autumn
and early winter。 It is a hard fight they are going to have； and
they strip their coats off and roll up their shirt…sleeves； and show
themselves bare…armed and ready for the contest。 The English elms
are of a more robust build； and stand defiant； with all their summer
clothing about their sturdy frames。 They may yet have to learn a
lesson of their American cousins； for notwithstanding their compact
and solid structure they go to pieces in the great winds just as ours
do。 We must drop much of our foliage before winter is upon us。 We
must take in sail and throw over cargo； if that is necessary； to keep
us afloat。 We have to decide between our duties and our instinctive
demand of rest。 I can believe that some have welcomed the decay of
their active powers because it furnished them with peremptory reasons
for sparing themselves during the few years that were left them。
Age brings other obvious changes besides the loss of active power。
The sensibilities are less keen； the intelligence is less lively； as
we might expect under the influence of that narcotic which Nature
administers。 But there is another effect of her 〃black drop〃 which
is not so commonly recognized。 Old age is like an opium…dream。
Nothing seems real except what is unreal。 I am sure that the
pictures painted by the imagination；the faded frescos on the walls
of memory；come out in clearer and brighter colors than belonged to
them many years earlier。 Nature has her special favors for her
children of every age； and this is one which she reserves for our
second childhood。
No man can reach an advanced age without thinking of that great
change to which； in the course of nature； he must be so near。 It has
been remarked that the sterner beliefs of rigid theologians are apt
to soften in their later years。 All reflecting persons； even those
whose minds have been half palsied by the deadly dogmas which have
done all they could to disorganize their thinking powers；all
reflecting persons； I say； must recognize； in looking back over a
long life； how largely their creeds； their course of life； their
wisdom and unwisdom； their whole characters； were shaped by the
conditions which surrounded them。 Little children they came from the
hands of the Father of all ； little children in their helplessness；
their ignorance； they are going back to Him。 They cannot help
feeling that they are to be transferred from the rude embrace of the
boisterous elements to arms that will receive them tenderly。 Poor
planetary foundlings； they have known hard treatment at the hands of
the brute forces of nature； from the control of which they are soon
to be set free。 There are some old pessimists； it is true； who
believe that they and a few others are on a raft； and that the ship
which they have quitted； holding the rest of mankind； is going down
with all on board。 It is no wonder that there should be such when we
remember what have been the teachings of the priesthood through long
series of ignorant centuries。 Every age has to shape the Divine
image it worships over again；the present age and our own country
are busily engaged in the task at this time。