Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-04
THE DAILY PRESS.
MONDAY..........-,.....,.....,.,....NOVRM MBER 4
Cheormlnees.

Cheorfulness.
tCheerful looks make every dish feastn
Cheerfulness is the sunshine of the soul and
the pleasing influence is not confined to self
to the domestic and social circles. II is q
true inward joy, an agreeable and sober
but it dihuses happy light and genial warmth
emotion, which, while it banishes melan-
choly, is readily distinguished from mirth,
that, like lightning, breaks through the
gloom, dazzles for a moment, when all be
comes dark again. Merriment is transient
and often spnsmodic; but cheerfulness is q
permanent and glowing serenity of the
mind. The man that enjoys this happy dis
position is not felicitous in his thoughts,
but he controls his temper, and his impulses
become amiable; while he feels prevailing
gratitude to the Giver of all good, for the
many blessings that have been vouchsafed TO
him. His family rejoice in the sunshine of
bis smile, and his friends unconsciously
and irresistibly partake in his presence
of that galvanic but agreeable excitement,
which with mysterious mental sympathy
speeds like electricity from soul to soul,
through groups and even entire eongrega-
tions of the human family.
Thus the cheerful nan is living fountain
of good humor to those of his fellow-beings
with whom he may come in contact. His
imagination is clear, his judgment unds-
turbed by ungenerous, suspicious or bigoted
prejudices. He looks at the world with a
hopeful if not laughing eye, sees cheerfully
the bright side of things, chases away the
dismal visions and specters that haunt the
idler's fancy, labors with contentment, and
enjoys the fruit of his toll with an ex-
qusite relish. He prizes not into the flying
,1n1- 81 fla h,,r, 81 L..
friends, and ridicules or lives down the
calumnies that affect himself-thus disarm-
ing the point and edge of slanderous weap-
ons, and rendering their venom inocuous
Good will is the general sentiment felt to-
ward him--for he is atfabe and obliging
qualities that are naturally reciprocatcd by
all with whom he converses-and whether
in business or pleasure has a kindly effect
upon the hearts of acquaintance, elicits
kindred friendship and a mutual or AMIGA
bic emotion. Indeed, cheerfulness may be
regarded as q most manifest sign of wisdom.
For as in our liYes, so in our studies and
thoughts, it is becoming and prudent to
temper this faculty with gravity, in order
that the mind may not be filed with mourn
ful ideas and sad forebodings.
The virtue which is so universally ad-
of Providence and desire to dispense, SO
far as in our power lies, additional happi-
ness TO all around, and a measurable con-
tentment with our own condition of life
We are not only happy, if good humored
ourselves, but we are anxious that oul
friends should likewise partake of the serene
pleasure that we experience. Proneness tC
melancholy is the sad condition of many
men. They regard the present with dis
satisfaction and view the future-always
an imaginary future-with alarm. They
look forward to their coming destiny as re-
plete with woe, and dwell upon pictures oI
improbable ruin conjured up by morbidly
creative fancy, with such terrible tenacity
that their minds are enveloped in gloom
and thus they first give way TO a nervou:
dependency, then to blank despair, which
not unfrequently conducts the unhappy vic
tim to suicide.
With such doleful persons, who are con
stantly suppOsing and building up in their
fantastic brains what they conceive to bt
insurmountable and inevitable obstacles
but which have no real existence, either
present or prospective-the conversation o
a cheerful companion dispenses the balm O
an awakened felicity, and kindles the pur
fame of hope; and then the heart of tn
hypochondriac becomes softened and bright
tned. lie sees his condition and prospect
in gayer and more vivid colors, and Will
he resolves to arouse his faculties from tn
Oppressive nightmare of sickly fancies, h
soon finds that
"Hope, lib the glimmering tApers light,
Adorns and cheers the way;
And still, as darker grows the night,
Emits a brighter ray
How important, then, and how gratifyin
also, will ever be the endeavors of all VIII
encourage cheerfulness of disposition
is a faculty that will Danish from the sou
all that secret heaviness and vain sorrow
which many men are liable to, who labC
under no real atfliction. Itdeprives the ur
avoidable evils and adversities of life of ha
their bitterness, and is a treasure even i
hours of severe and multiplied trials-lik
Pandora's box, a casket full of ills, wit
hope at the bottom--and so are the ills coun
terncted. Cheerfulness promotes virtue, re
proves vice, and improves temper. Properl.
appreciated, it will be recognized as por
tion of the divinity that stirs within us.