Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1904-11-25
DO YOU POSSESS IT?

Cheerful livng-is there anything finer? Is
there anything more productive of true happiness;
more conducive to health more beneficial to the
world at large, well as to the individual If so,
what is it!
BY man of wide note and deep learning we
are advised 'sto be cheerful always, no matter what
else we do.'
Our lives are not governed by what we do or
what is done to u.s. but chiefly by how we think
about these things. The patient force which deter
mines the swing of the needle is not ability or in
teectual prowess. Disposition is the cornerstone
of satisfactory living. Behind and above this must
be character which is, of course, the foundation of
the whole human structure.
But character without cheerfuness is like a
house without windows. 1t is dark sort of thing,
which for all its safety and strength is sunless.
The call to cheerfuness is not in any sense a
call to charity. The cheerful man is helping him
self more than he can possibly help anyone else, but
see what fine sort of self-hep it is since through
it he is constantly doing for others!
A sunny disposition is one of the best stocks
man carry. Everybody likes it, and this being
the case everyone is ready to deal with it,
The person who is constantly finding fault in
everything is of no benefit to himself or any other
person He is a constant bore and worry to all,
and finally receives very little or no attention.
Likewise the newspaper that continually insists on
trying to misrepresent and pick flaws finds itself
a back-number, and has support, and is
soon crowded from the field by another, that though
not any better edited, deals fairly with the public.
People realize a sunny and truthful dis
position Behind many unsuccessful business
career you can find a sour face and a complaining
voice. Do not infer from this that cheerfulness is
a road to material success. 1t is more than
that, my friend; it is success!
Success, you know, is an India rubber term.
Its meaning always depends something behind it.
on stretch it into most any shape you like If
q man starts out to rob banks, and makes good
hauls and escapes arrest, he is successful If
sets about the real business of life with no other
idea than making money, he is successful even
though he has sacrificed every virture to the de-
mands made upon him by the dollar.
And if person determines early in life that
cheerful disposition is worth having, and strives to
obtain it, and does so, that person is success in
fine of the word. OF course, comparatively
few men and women ever stop to think about sue
cess in this form, but if they will acquire the habit,
will guarantee larger measure of satisfaction
than they may have met with before.
Cheerfulness is one of the universally under
stood attributes 1t is accepted at its face value the
world over. 1t Is the gold coin of dispostion-in-
deed, it is such large part of disposition that it
would almost seem to constitute the whole of it.
Some folks seem to be born cheerful, and this,
in fact, may have something to do with a certain
but very small proportion of the light-hearted be-
how we IRE born, or where, so far as our disposi-
tions in life are concerned. We can acquire most
any virtue by applying ourselves to the task.
Some of the most cheerful persons you and
know those who have the smallest apparent
''excuse" for being We wonder why this should
be- when, on the other hand are ranged mutitudes
who seem to have everything heart could wish, and
yet not cheerful.
We need not wonder. We may deduct from
the case a truth well worth remembering-that
cheerfuness is not necessarily twin of plenty or
peace. 1t is even more commonly found among
persons whose lives not marked by either
1t is just desire to see all the good that can
possibly be seen to accept everything that comes in
spirit of willingness; to let complaints die a-burn-
ing. The woman who seeks this pleasant
path shall find it fringed on either side by green
meadows, shady hooks, cool streams, and the sky
above will always be acceptable, whether blue or
gray. Days that once upon a time vexed will now
become bearers of good things.
The human world around will not be so cold
and far-standing of yore A new spirit of COM
radeship and friendness will seem to permeate even
lfeless things.
Don't think for minute that there are never
circumstances which demand frowns and good
strong language. There are, and always will be,
and you to meet and handle them accordingly
But do remember that the great majority of earthly
happenings are deserving of the smiles of good
cheer.