OLD AGE AND YOUTH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 1 August 1929, Page 2

OLD AGE AND YOUTH

Writing in the "Contemporary Review,” as an octogenarian whose place is “in the arena among the gladiators who are fighting their last round v#th time,” Lady Laura Ridding urges old people not to judge the young in a temper of jealous criticism. "These newcomers must think, say and do most things differently from how their predecessors thought, said and did them,” she says. "The focus of young and old eyes differs. The rose-coloured visions of youth may, after all, be truer than the blue-tinted ones of their ancestors. Indeed, some of the latter may have been colour-blind. Old people can extract delight as well as amusement from Jthe exuberance and eager certainties of youth; and that helps them to judge its absurdities and impossible ambitions with tenderness. Did not they, too, in the days of their 20 years, believe that they were called to do wonderful things? To rectify the mistakes of the previous generations? To furnish the world with a higher standard of ethics, social reform, government, art, literature? The fact that these day-dreams long ago faded in mirage should make them very gentle In their stricture on youth. They knowwell enough that discipline will tame the new generation as sternly as it tamed its grandparents.”