Old Men Shall Dream Dreams

For youth and physical power there are the joys of ambition, of selfish hopes and striving, THE SEEING OF VISIONS. For all age, after a life well spent, there is the beauty of dreams, planning for others, UNSELFISH HAPPINESS.

THERE are many periods in the lives of human beings, each with its possibilities of happiness and compensation.

Each period of life is happy, and the life of youth and of age ought to be as far apart as the valley and the mountain peak.

Thomas A. Edison indignantly puts away the suggestion that he should begin to rest in old age, stop the hard work and change his life. He declares that life must be all hard work, the same steady work from the day when the brain begins its maturity to the day when it is put away in the grave.

Edison is wrong. Man is not put here to be fastened to the plough like a beast of burden to pull all his life. There is one life for youth, and another different life for age.

The Bible tells in few and beautiful words the separation of youth and age: "And your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.'

The life of the young man is his visions, hope of the future, plans of achievement and success for himself. From his boyhood he sees visions, follows them to success or defeat.

Youth is the age of striving and selfishness; old age the period of dreaming dreams for the young and for the future that age is not to see.

In our civilization the trouble is that all is planned for youth and too little for age.

The man who can lift the load, run swiftly, hit hard and push his fellow down the hill is the man for whom all plans are made. There is little place or honor in the world of today for the old; little heed is paid to their dreams, there is little appreciation of their kindness and unselfishness.

But it will not always be thus. The day will come when youth will listen with respect to the teachings of the old and look with love and reverence upon the unselfishness of the old.

The young man in his full strength, climbing the hill, meeting and overcoming obstacles, adding to the knowledge and possessions of his fellow men, indifferent to pain in the pursuit of his object, is an admirable being animated by a thinking mind.

Far more admirable and beautiful is the old age of peace and kindness. The old man looks upon the grandchild, dreaming dreams for that child's welfare, thinking not of himself, yet deeply and intelligently considering the future in which he is to have no share, guiding and restraining impetuous youth, and wisely stimulating imagination. There is a sight more to be admired than any accomplishment of fiery youth.

So it is with women that have created the human race, borne its burdens and shared so little in its honors. The young woman in all her beauty and power, with her courage in childbirth and her marvelous capacity

men of our race as the white-haired grandmother, unselfishly devoted to younger people, happy in the memories of youth, serene in the peace of old age, unselfish, benevolent and as far in peace, dignity and beauty above the turmoil and passionate eagerness of youth as is the white cloud above the black soil cut into furrows.

It will be well for the world when human beings realize that they live in one life many lives. Then their lives will be divided properly that in each year mind and body may do their best, and give to the Spirit the closest relationship with the universe and the sense of fullest accomplishment.

The trouble is that we put into one age the duties and the feelings of another. Our children are men and women before they have really been children. And the old are cursed with anxiety that should be borne by vigorous youth alone.

There is little honor for the aged, and our civilization lays upon nine-tenths of all human beings such a load of hard labor and selfish struggle that they cannot grow old in dignity.

The visions of youth are clouded by unworthy, selfish, petty ambitions. The dreams of age are made hideous by poverty, anxiety and other evils that old age should never know.

However, a better day is coming quickly. For the first time in the history of this earth there are entire great nations, all of whom can read and think, if they will.

Youth is the age of striving and selfishness; old age the period of dreaming dreams for the young and for the future that age is not to see.

In our civilization the trouble is that all is planned for youth and too little for age.

The man who can lift the load, run swiftly, hit hard and push his fellow down the hill is the man for whom all plans are made. There is little place or honor in the world of today for the old; little heed is paid to their dreams, there is little appreciation of their kindness and unselfishness.

But it will not always be thus. The day will come when youth will listen with respect to the teachings of the old and look with love and reverence upon the unselfishness of the old.

The young man in his full strength, climbing the hill, meeting and overcoming obstacles, adding to the knowledge and possessions of his fellow men, indifferent to pain in the pursuit of his object, is an admirable being animated by a thinking mind.

Far more admirable and beautiful is the old age of peace and kindness. The old man looks upon the grandchild, dreaming dreams for that child's welfare, thinking not of himself, yet deeply and intelligently considering the future in which he is to have no share, guiding and restraining impetuous youth, and wisely stimulating imagination. There is a sight more to be admired than any accomplishment of fiery youth.

So it is with women that have created the human race, borne its burdens and shared so little in its honors. The young woman in all her beauty and power, with her courage in childbirth and her marvelous capacity

men of our race as the white-haired grandmother, unselfishly devoted to younger people, happy in the memories of youth, serene in the peace of old age, unselfish, benevolent and as far in peace, dignity and beauty above the turmoil and passionate eagerness of youth as is the white cloud above the black soil cut into furrows.

It will be well for the world when human beings realize that they live in one life many lives. Then their lives will be divided properly that in each year mind and body may do their best, and give to the Spirit the closest relationship with the universe and the sense of fullest accomplishment.

The trouble is that we put into one age the duties and the feelings of another. Our children are men and women before they have really been children. And the old are cursed with anxiety that should be borne by vigorous youth alone.

There is little honor for the aged, and our civilization lays upon nine-tenths of all human beings such a load of hard labor and selfish struggle that they cannot grow old in dignity.

The visions of youth are clouded by unworthy, selfish, petty ambitions. The dreams of age are made hideous by poverty, anxiety and other evils that old age should never know.

However, a better day is coming quickly. For the first time in the history of this earth there are entire great nations, all of whom can read and think, if they will.