THE PANTALOON, OR Old Man. The SIXTH AGE shifts Into the lean and slipper'd PANTALOON; MAN, though proudly denominated the lord of this lower world, passes through the gradations of existence along with the whole animal creation. His rise, maturity, and decay, succeed each other with the accustomed regularity. Indeed from this law there is no exemption. The vegetable as well as animal tribes are subjected to this wise and equitable progression. The seed sown expands, and shoots, and fructifies, and then follows its dissolution. And thus man, however robust his frame, or however vigorous his faculties, starts into being weak and helpless-towers towards the strength of manhood-and then sinks beneath the accumulation of infirmities, into the bosom of earth, the common mother of all! Such has been his history in all ages, such are the present successive modes of his existence, and such will continue to be his ever-varying condition till the heavens are no more 1 Of chance, or change, oh! let not MAN complain, Art, empire, earth itself to change are doom'd; But sure to foreign climes we need not range, Or hoary hair, I never will repine; Of CANDOUR, LOVE, or SYMPATHY divine; Whate'er of FANCY's ray, or FRIENDSHIP's flame is mine! BEATTIE. SIR THOMAS BARNARD, in his valuable little volume entitled Comforts of Old Age, remarks: "Infancy conducts to youth, youth to mature life, and mature life to old age and immortality. In the two first of these periods, the preparation is regularly made for the succeeding state of action, and systems of tuition are adopted to fit the traveller for the progressive stages of his journey. But the close of life is seldom made the subject of preparatory contemplation. For while to some it is an object of terror, by others it is treated with affected neglect; and the greater part of mankind immersed in the cares and concerns of the world, and in a contest for the toys and baubles, the crowns and sceptres, of the little scene in which they are acting a part, seem to have forgotten the great theatre to which they are ultimately destined. I am aware that in the hurry of busy life, amidst those professional and political efforts and exertions which are generally useful to the community, and sometimes promote the welfare of the party himself -this preparation cannot always be properly attended to. In active life, however, while we are striving for independence and competence, it is prudent at least to make preparation for the time when we may decline every other labour except what concerns the interest of our friends, connections, and dependants, or the welfare of the community. The object is, therefore, the security of a middle period, during which our exertions may be so directed, as by duties performed, and benefits conferred, to produce consolatory reflections against the approach of AGE and Infirmity; so that we may view the Grave, not as a scene of terror, but as a scene of hope and expectation !” What SHAKSPEARE denominates the Sixth Age, accords with that protracted term of life which approaches threescore years and ten. According to Proclus, whose divisions of the period of human life have been already noticed, Old Age commences with fifty-five, and terminates with sixty-eight years. And Cicero having reached the age of threescore, addressed his celebrated Treatise de Senectute, by way of consolation to Atticus, who had seen the same number of years, and with whom he had lived, even from his early days, on terms of the strictest intimacy. The term Pantaloon has been, and still is, a considerable part of a man's dress. An emaciated old man in pantaloon and slippers is, in Italian comedy, denominated by way of distinction, Il Pantalone; so that the name must have originated with the peculiarity of his habiliments. Shakspeare uses the appellation only twice in the whole of his writings-thus in the Taming of the Shrew, his words are: "that we might beguile the old Pantaloon!" The term therefore is employed satirically, and as such has an expressive meaning. It is indeed somewhat singular that the appellation should be derived from the wearing of a garment; but it is not altogether an unprecedented case. Though a fact, it savours of no small eccentricity. But let us now attend to the characteristics of this Pantaloon, or old man; they are drawn with a picturesque variety. 66 With spectacles on nose," is a significant indication of the approach of age. It generally affects the organ of vision in a very sensible manner. "I find I am growing old, for my sight fails me," is an exclamation by no means uncommon. There are indeed some striking exceptions. We hear of individuals whose sight does not fail with the advance of years; and who want not the adventitious aid of glasses, even to the last! But the general condition of man is otherwise. The assistance of the optician is sometimes, even at a rather early period, called for, and cheerfully enjoyed. And indeed the help thus rendered is so considerable, that it tends to exhilarate, in no small degree, the declining portion of our lives. The Pantaloon then, "with spectacles on nose," is a characteristic attribute; it implies the arrival of age when the senses begin to lose their wonted vigour, and shows the eagerness with which the aged avail themselves of the advantages still left in their possession. "His youthful hose well sav'd, a world too wide Forms another trait in the Pantaloon, or OLD MAN, that deserves particular attention. Avarice is not unfrequently the characteristic of old age. |