ON GROWING OLD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4453, 17 May 1930, Page 3

ON GROWING OLD.

LORD BALFOUR'S OPINION. In tlie light- of his achievements (hiving- recent years, if is interesting to recall to-day the terms in which Lord Balfour announced his resignal ion of the leadership of his party in TOll (says the “Manchester Guardian”). He wished, he said, to leave that position of heavy responsibility before lie could he “suspected of snU'erng from the most insidious of all diseases, the disease which comes upon those who, without losing their health or their intellect, nevertheless get somewhat petrified in the old courses which they have pursued, whose authority grows because they have been long in the public service, or have been great- men of science or business or whatever it may he, but who cannot deal with the great problems which in this changing- world are perpetually arising with all flic freshness and elasticity really desirable in those who have lo conduct great concerns.” He added that no man ever knew in himself when that moment had come. The sort of malady of which lie was speaking might- attack peo-■-plc who were in Ihe prime of lile and ot intellectual vigor as long as Ihe intellectual vigor was exercised along the old lines, bill who nevertheless were less capable of adapting themselves -to the changing- circumstances of life than those who were of less authority because younger, and yet were more capable also because younger. “1 am vain enough to hope,” -he said, "though no man can tell, that I have not yet reached that period, but I should be miserable if I ran the margin fine.”