Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1905-10-07

The dictionary is the book to which
one naturally looks for definitions;
but in the case of happiness, dictlon-
airy hunting affords little aid and less
satisfaction. The dictionary nearest
to hand at this writing, says: Ethics:
a state of being, more or less per-
manent, in which is experienced a
large measure or the full con Element
of pleasures, especially of the higher
intellectual and moral kinds
This definition IS quoted merely to
show its inadequacy. However, It
makes one distinction worthy OF re-
membrance. Happiness may be class
flied as permanent or temporary. To
the first kind, only. this article shall
be confined.
Happiness is to the mind what
health is TO the body. Some one has
defined health Gs The harmony CT the
physical man with its environment.
If the p~ostulate just laid down be
true. then happiness is the harmony
OF mans mentality with its environ
ment.- In neither case must the ac-
ton of the mind upon the body in
refernce to health or the action OF the
body upon the mind in the matter of
happiness, be eliminated from the en-
vironment. 1t is extremely difficult
for one with a jaundiced liver 20 be
happy. On the other hand the mind
may rise upon the wings of faith and
love into the bright sunshine of peace
and Joy, while the battered body lies
in the dali vale of disease, tortured 0y
pain and consumed by the cnmisslrIes
of approaching death.
This writer once knew a fair young
woman, whom an accident in child.
hood had made a bed-ridden invalid
for life. Pain was her c o slant com
panion, and her wants required the
ministry of others as in the days of
her infancy. Yet was she the idol Of
her family, the beloved of the COM
munity, the amazement of those meet
ing her for the first time. Never a
sign of Impotence, a murmur
of rebellion at fate or regret at her
i~rreparable losses. But ever and al
ways, a pleasant smile, a cheerful
word, a loving glance, a sympathetic
tear for another's woes. Her life was
a poem Of peace, a hymn of happi-
ness. Her bedside was the very gate
of heaven to those privileged 20 APP.
proach 1t.
The postulate already laid down,
that happiness is to the mind what
health is to the body, sumo that
happiness is a mental condition and
not an accumulation of physical sur
~roundings. In other words, the basis
of happiness lies in ones self and not
in the abundance Of material thing;
possessed. Herein lies a vital erro.
made by many. They seek happiness
from externally, forgetful that it lie:
in the mind alone. The Millionaire seeks
for additional wealth with all the
eagerness he displayed in gaining hi;
first five thousand, and he is no more
satisfied now tnan then.
A rich man CHANGED to overhear {
poor oma at a wash tub bemoanin.
to herself the hardness of her lot, the
WEAKNESS of labor. the inequality O
distribution in worldly goods, and how
badly she needed a little money. an!
good woman" said the rich man, "hov
much money would make you perfectl,
happy?" She replied that 500 woult
fill her cup of joy to the brim H
handed her a bill of that DEM nina
ton, and before she even thankel
him, she exclaimed: What an oil
fool was not to say five hundred"
Happiness does no consist in Iii,
abundance Of things possessed. Diog
enes in his tub, whom Alexander lb,
Great asked what he could do for aim
replied, only t o get out of my sun
shine" This Diogenes was happier
than that same Alexander, with al
his wealth, success and renown; tol
Diogones lived contented in his tub
while Alexander weDt because Their,
were no other nations for him to con
quer. Contentment of mind with co;
rectness of conduct are the main
springs of happiness. A contened minC
is a continual feast. Goodness Will
'contentment is great gain.
The first essential to happiness, a!
the a%ncients considered it, is a SAM
mind in a sound body. It has already
been seen that the latter is not al
absolute essential, but undoubtedly +
is a great conducent. 1t is vastly NOR,
easy to be happy when the mind II
housed in a sound and vigorous body
uninjured by dissipation or debauch