SENESCENCE THE LAST HALF OF LIFE BY G. STANLEY HALL SENESCENCE RECREATIONS OF A PSYCHOLOGIST MORALE ADOLESCENCE YOUTH EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS FOUNDERS OF MODERN PSYCHOLOGY ASPECTS OF CHILD LIFE AND EDUCATION D. APPLETON AND COMPANY Publishers New York SENESCENCE THE LAST HALF OF LIFE BY G. STANLEY HALL, PH.D., LL.D. AUTHOR OF “ADOLESCENCE,” “EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS,” “FOUNDERS OF MODERN PSYCHOLOGY,” “MORALE,” “RECREATIONS OF A PSYCHOLOGIST,” ETC. [Illustration] D. APPLETON AND COMPANY NEW YORK :: MCMXXII :: LONDON COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOREWORD In this book I have tried to present the subjects of Old Age and Death from as many viewpoints as possible in order to show how the ignorant and the learned, the child, the adult, and the old, savage and civilized man, pagans and Christians, the ancient and the modern world, the representatives of various sciences, and different individuals have viewed these problems, letting each class, so far as I could, speak for itself. This part of the task has been long and arduous and my conspectus is not entirely encyclopedic, as it set out to be. I have also tried to develop an idea of death, and especially of old age, which I believe to be, if not essentially new, more true to the facts of life and mind than those now current, and which I think much needed by the world just now. Despite the great and growing interest that has impelled this study, its themes have proved increasingly depressing, so that its conclusion brings a unique relief that I may now turn to more cheerful occupations, although it would be craven to plead this as an extenuation of the shortcomings of which I am increasingly conscious. If I have at certain points drawn too frankly upon my own personal experiences with age I realize that this does not compensate for my limitations in some of the special fields I ventured to enter. I have had in mind throughout chiefly the nature and needs of intelligent people passing or past middle life quite as much as of those actually entering old age. It is hoped that the data here garnered and the views propounded may help to a better and more correct understanding of the nature and functions of old age, and also be a psychologist’s contribution to the long-desired but long-delayed science of gerontology. It is a pleasant duty to express my personal obligations to the Library of Clark University and its staff, and particularly to my secretary, Miss Mary M. McLoughlin, who has not only typed and read the proof of all the book but has been of great assistance in finding references and made many helpful suggestions. G. STANLEY HALL INTRODUCTION