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Saturday 20 September 1941
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When ? — | [The Heart Is| l ? ...-Young
TnacTlatttf.
Are you an 'old buster'1? Do you believe in the mis-statement that — Woman, -poor thing, she's as old as she looks,
But a man's just as old as he feels. You don't! Neither do I. and when you think of Ninon L'Euclos. George Sand. Melba. Bem hardt. Adelaide Miethke. and, a thousand other women you know, you must agree that it is fifty fifty on all counts. When the heart is young the years do not mat ter ? hoot. You get plenty from life and in addi tion sit majestically on the heights of experience. To the schoolbov and the 'lads of the village.' once you pass 40 'you are an old buster, treated by some with respect by others with withering pity and derision. 'Oh! I've got no time for old busters,' l-jeard one of a group of schoolboys say while listening 1o a wireless program the other day. A cleaf . and resonant soprano was singing, 'The Last Time I Saw Paris.' and the boys thought she was real jam. ' 'Do you like her?' I
asked, 'rll say!' they cho rused. 'WelL' I replied, 'I'm glad you do. for I have it on good authority that her name is Smith and she is 63 vears of age. But,
as you near, sne fias a young heart, so you reaiiy do like old busters occasionally. They duly and becomingly blushed. But when you may feel truly sorry for old busters is just now. ' For ?n these days of stress and strife, when man power is needed, there is so little the physical attribute of the old permit them to do. We can only help by advice and encouragement as far as we are able. Bless these lads of the village in their blues and khaki?. Many a rheumy eye moistens at the sight of their god-like beauty and manly attri butes. It wss a young heart that approached me once in the 'Yorick** and said. 'Excuse me. sir. -I played cards here last night and lost some money to certain members. Could you tell me their names, so I can write the cheques?' I enlight ened him. Then he smiled and said. 'My name is Octavius W. Palmer, and I'm 82 years of age today. Will you have a drink? Yes. sir, 82 today, and by the living Jingo, I've had a good time and can look back and say. 'Octavius, me boy. you've enjoyed every minute pf it.' Eighty-two today, sir. and by heck, wlien I'm 90. I will be^ — well, bung for bolting with some young thing. . Name your poison.' (He was the father of Claude Palmer, the celebrated polo captain of the West ern District). King's Fine Gesture Old busters like the famous painter Frederick McCubbin. when they get to 40. grow down in stead of up. McCubbin was 65 years young when he died, and was a boy to the end. What a boy! His j'outhful enthusiasm passed belief. He joined the young 'uris in everything and loved and respected him. for he was a rock of refuge for them in their troubles. A young heart had the late King Edward VII. In .spite of the cares of state, he was always one of the brigade. I'saw him do a lovery thing once. Poor old Gen. Buller. after his South African debacle, was a practical outcast. One would see him on his little pony, with bent head, ruminat ing sadly, and your heart went out to him. One Sunday morning, after church, I was walk ing in Rotten Row with the parson. Suddenly, everyone's hat went off and through the crowd marched King Edward, arm-in-arm with Gen. Buller. One could imagine the King thinking, 'Cut him if you dare. He's tny friend, and be damned to the lot of you.' It was amazing how Gen. Buller came back into fashion afterwards. There is an old buster's club nearby, but there is no old man heaviness or regrets there. The place echoes with whole-souled laughter and bright wit. Age doesn't enter these portals, yet adjacent is a young man's club where solem nity and strict ethics obtain. They for the most part have yet to climb to that delectable peak, experience. Franklin Delano Roosevelt's mother, who died recently at a ripe age. was a girl at heart to the end. She was his mother, his pal, his fighting companion, and his encyclopaedia regarding State affairs. When the heart is young and the yearn have faded into the purple mist, there is joy in life that young 'uns wot not of. I am an old buster and am doing it a* grace fully as I can. The men. women, and children round me are a pretty splendid lot, and the com pensation they pay in the way of kindness and consideration make the narrowing way very good going.