Gerontology is an unlovely word, and if you ask me
whether the G is hard or soft I should say it should be soft before an E; but the dictionary says the thing is optional, and I don't greatly mind. Anyhow, an international conference on geronto- logy is in progress at St. Louis, Mo., where scientists are dis- cussing how to make people live longer and longer, till it needs an effort for them to die at all. A laudable ambition ? I wonder. In the Old Testament length of days was something to be grasped at because, there being no belief in a future life, everyone wanted as much as possible of this. But death is coming to us all, and the wise man will school himself to await it with a quiet mind. And survival after the body has ceased to be a willing servant is a doubtful boon. But the problem of old age is insistent. There is more old age in the world than ever, and likely, as living conditions improve, to be more still. So far as men and women are effectively productive longer, that, no doubt, is an economic advantage to the community (though not to the younger men and women who are waiting to step into their places) ; so far as it means that they will be drawing pensions, or depending on relatives, longer, it is not an economic advantage at all. Anyhow, read Tennyson's " Tithonus." * * * *
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