TO BE OLDER

TO BE OLD OR NOT TO BE OLD, THAT IS THE QUESTION. TO LIVE IN THE PAST OR BE IGNORANT AS IF "UNDER THE SHADOWS" (A PHRASE USED TO EVALUATE A PLAYER'S SLUMP BY A YOUTHFUL SPORTS' FAN). ROBERT HUTCHINS, PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO - AT A TIME WHEN AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING ACTUALLY AIMED HIGHER - SAID THAT "MOST OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT A HUMAN BEING OUGHT TO KNOW CANNOT BE COMPREHENDED IN YOUTH."

CURRENT AMERICANS BLISSFULLY LIVE IN PERPETUAL YOUTH. SO MANY HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE SPORTS TEAMS PLAY DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME GAMES THAT NO TIME EXISTS FOR READING, WRITING OR HOMEWORK. WITHOUT INQUIRING MINDS OR ON-GOING EDUCATION, NONE OF THE "IMPORTANT THINGS" WILL BE DISCOVERED EXCEPT BY THE NERDS AND OUTCASTS - OF WHICH I AM ONE. TOO BAD TOO FEW HAVE IT AS GOOD AS I.

YOUTH IS WASTED ON THE YOUNG. I SPEAK WITH SIR WILLIAM WATSON A CENTURY AGO: " SAY WHAT YOU WILT, THE YOUNG ARE HAPPY NEVER,
GIVE ME BLESS'D AGE, BEYOND THE FIRE AND FEVER,-
PAST THE DELIGHT THAT SHATTERS, HOPE THAT STINGS,
AND EAGER FLUTT'RING OF LIFE'S IGNORANT WINGS."