Men and women cling to activities, not
because they enjoy them, but to delude themselves into believing
that they are still young. That terrible inability to resign
positions, the duties of which one cannot adequately fulfil, which
seems so disgraceful and unconscientious a handling of life to the
young, is often a pathetic clinging to youth. Such veterans do not
reflect that the only effect of such tenacity is partly that other
people do their work, and partly also that the critic observes that
if a post can be adequately filled by so old a man it is a proof
that such a post ought not to exist. The tendency ought to be met
as far as possible by fixing age-limits to all positions. Because
even if the old and weary do consult their friends as to the
advisability of retirement, it is very hard for the friends
cordially to recommend it. A public man once told me that a very
aged official consulted him as to the propriety of resignation. He
said in his reply something complimentary about the value of the
veteran's services. Whereupon the old man replied that as he set so
high an estimation upon his work, he would endeavour to hold on a
little longer!
The conscientious thing to do, as we get older and find ourselves
slower, more timid, more inactive, more anxious, is to consult a
candid friend, and to follow his advice rather than our own
inclination; a certain fearfulness, an avoidance of unpleasant
duty, a dreary foreboding, is apt to be characteristic of age.
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