THE FUN OF BEING FORTY

Shannon News, 12 March 1929, Page 4

THE FUN OF BEING FORTY

“Good gracious!” you say. “I dpn’t see much fun in that!” ■ ; Not even . 39-—when one may still think of oneself as. in the thirties, the prime of life, and capable of enjoying all its pleasures, without the extreme silliness of those in their teens and twenties—but 40! Nc longer is the first grey hair anxiously awaited. Tt is there, with many, others. ! Still, there are many compensations. No need any longer to worry about the slim, boyish figure, a real problem at 39. On the contrary, one can realise that, for a matron, one is young '—amazingly young compared with a woman of 50. And the matronly gowns and cents, so skilfully fashioned are things of elegance, and charm, and above all; comfort; Tt is true that, one docs not yet boast of one’s age, as do the more mature matrons of (30 or over, who tell you unasked, exactly how old they are, perhaps lest you. credit them with less or more, I never cun. be quite sure which; yet mostly I fear, to draw from you a like confidence. One regards them with respect, as having traversed the way one is .about to tread, and admires the way they manage their husbands and children, their servants, homes, cars, and tb,e dignity that they achieve in the performance of their social and public duties.

One reviews the last score of years and wonders how one ever survived; the strenuous times of hard work, when one felt that one was going to do great things in the world; alternatia'g with tho light-hearted abandon of joyous play; the uncertainties and delicious torments of falling in and out of love; the weighty decision made between a career and the joyous task of helping to build a home; and the inspiring privilege of guiding the feet of little children; the constant struggling against the necessarily narrow limits on one’s horizon; and the desperate striving to - keep alive and resist mental laziness.

One is conscious of having arrived at the top of a steep hill, and, having got so far, one sees it is not to the top, for another peak rises above. One takes a deep breath, and goes on, with powers of endurance strengthened by the la-st ascent, the sense of adventure still strong in one.