Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-27
SMILING AND WEEPING.
IN Interesting Letter from NIr. sheD-
herd On Thfs subject.

IN Interesting Letter from Mr.. shcD-
herd On This subject.
Richmond December %, 1896
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
outs always morning somewhere IN
the world" So sang the poet and dra-
mstist, Richard Hengist Horne IL IS
equally true that IL is always nightfall
somewhere IN the world. But dawn or
darkness, each IS a part OF Gods great
plan and due TO the same great law.
There IS always sorrow IN the world. but
there IS always Joy. There IS no need Of
shutting our eyes 10 the one IN order to
enjoy the other What Is necessary Il.
20 see, or 70 trust when we cannot see,
that each IS a part Of the Divine PrOyi-
dence. even as dawn and twilight are
the results OF the same diurnal rcvol.-
ton OF the stcady-golng old Earth.
Armenia heeds beneath the bloody rule
OF the Turk; but America is free. Cuba
struggles for independence but our strug-
gle was long ago over. Shall We not re-
jo.ce because others are sorrow laden?
Shall the birds Of dawn be silent because
twilight Is hushlng the birds OF other
lands? Not at all. ITO everything there
IS "A season. and a time 20 every purpose
under the heaven-a time 10 be born
and a time TO die; a time 10 weep ana a
time 20 laugh: q time 70 mourn and a
time to dance" And the 3 $50 man con-
oludos: "Wherefore / perceive that there
is nothing better than that man should
rejoice ia bis own works, for that Is his
portion"
The old Purltans neglected 90 laugh for
50 long time shat the muscles that
stretch the corners OF the mouth back
became atrophied, ana then they coula
D. ia d
God put those muscles there II we are
not TO use them? Victor Hugo wrote
story once about a man who had been
dishcured when n child so that his face
showed always a broad grin. but that
was no more Of q delOrmlty than the
faces Of those who have forgotten no "
TO grin at ALL The ability TO smile IS
rarer than some people suspect. You viii
find plenty Of persons today especially
men in all parts OF the country. who
know how 10 chucklc when they get the
best Of somebody else. or even indulge IN
a eunlW when they hear good story
but who could not smile 10 save their
lives. This e. true Of sour and surly
folks. but in many cases Of those who
are even kindly disposed the muscles at
the corners Oh the mouth have grown as
useless as the muscles that move the
ear. Evolutionists tell US that the auri-
GUAR muscles are relic OF the days
when our savage ancestors found them
OF importance In detecting the approach
of danger. but generations OF civilized
life have deprived them q their function
What II the eyolutionis, u the distant
future shall conclude that the rlsorial
muscles OF our mouth have become but
relies Of the days when men and women
used 20 emile. Christmas ought 10 be a
day for the eymnastic exercise Of these
rlsorial muscles II, perchanco you have
forgotten how 10 use them and need an
instructor, take the nearest little child
and let It show you how What was 1t
Christ said? Except ye become as little
children ys shah not enter into the
kingdom of Heaven" Perhaps there is a
closer connection between the pure heart
and the power OF smiling than We some
times think True. Hamlet tells US that
zone may smile and smile aud be VII
lain" but he evidently thought the fact
was so remarkable that IL called for
special comment. What Is It IL not the
lack Of sympathy. the hard heart, the
self-centered mind that destroys the
mower Of smiling? Grief alone cannot do
II. for YOU can find nowhere a saintlier,
more entrancing smile. than that found
on the faces Of some old women who have
gone through fiery furnaces OF sorrow,
bur who have never lost their ability TO
sympathize with others In their
ioys as well as IN their grefs.
it is this tender sympathy mat
gives earth nine tenths sof its charm,
ana that alone will make Heaven posi-
bic The smile and the tear are its
exponents. Lord. forgive us. how many
OF us have almost forgotten how TO smile
as well as how q weep.
JOSEPH IA. SHEPHERD.