The Washington herald., 1906-11-11

The foundation Of domestic happiness is faith IN
the virtue Of women the foundation Of political
happiness is faith in tho integrity Of man; the
foundation Of ali happiness temporal and eternal Is
faith in the goodness the Righteousness, the mercy
and the love Of God-HaTe.
This seems to be a rational definition
of happiness. Let US see what others say
on this subject
Paley says: THE word happy is a rela-
tive term. In strictness, any condition
may be denominated happy in which the
amount of pleasure exceeds that Of pain. F"
This. I take 1t. is also rational and true.
He further says, happiness consists IN
the constitution of the habits. The COM
mon course OF things is in favor OF hap
piness; happiness IS the rule. misery the
exception" This is a highly optimistic
view
Whewell thus defines IL: Since happi-
ness is necessarily the supreme object
Of our desires. and duty the supreme
ruler Of our actions. there can be no
harmony in our being except our hap
piness comedies with our duty" I'm
fortunately for many Of US. our happiness
very often does not seem to coincide with
our duty. but quite the contrary.
Crabbe has this to say OF happiness:
Happiness admits OF degrees, since
every individual is placed in different cir
cumstances either Of body or mind, which
fit him to be more or less happy"
In other words. what may be happiness
for one person is not necessarily so to
others. Hence we are not 20 judge OF
the happiness Of others by any standard
of our own. The man who said Let no
was simply a misanthrope, for the world
affords 20 every one at least some de-
gree Of happiness who uses the means
placed in his power 10 secure that end.
In my opinion the greatest amount OF
happiness, or rather the greatest hap
piness which We tan have IN this exist
ence, is domestic happiness. But Crabbe
/ further makes y distinction which can
but be regarded as rather nice between
happiness and felicity. He says felicity
is not regarded In the same light (as
happiness). II Is that which is positive
and independent OF all circumstances.
Domestic felicity and conjugal felicity are
regarded as moral eniOyments. abstraCted
from everything which can serve as an
alloy.
Without entering into the difference of
the meanings OF the two words. I concur
I
Grote quotes Aristotle as saying "Ev-
! cry man speaks Of happiness as his end
OF ends; he wishes 20 do well, which he
considers 20 be the same as being happy.
! But men disagree exceedingly IN their
/ opinions as 20 that which constitutes
( happiness; nay, the same man sometimes
/ places it in one thing. sometimes in an
other-in health or IN riches, according as
/ he happens 90 be sick or poor"
/ The synonyms Of happiness are felici-
/ ", blessedness. bliss. well-belng pros
perity. welfare. enjoyment, comfort. Sc
curity. Il is a general word, and express
/ sive Of nearly every general state OF
/ pleasure. Felicity IS primarily a mat
I ter Of favorable circumstances. which may
be mere exemption from disaster or dis
| agreeable experiences, or may be OF a
I higher type, a domestic felicity, which
I depends not merely upon the comfort of
/ the home, nor upon freedom from anX-
/ iety, but especially upon a higher degree
OF mutual love"
Blessedness is the state of the most re-
/ fined happiness arising from the purest
anG warmest benevolent and religious
I feeling. Type Of its meaning is furnished
/ by the use Of the word "bIesses" in the
/ Beatitudes In the Gospel Of Matthew.
ITO be happy at home should be the ul-
innate result of all ambition, the end %
which every enterprise and labor should
tend, and 20 which every desire should
/ prompt the prosecution; for II Is only at
home that every one must be known by
those who would make a just estimate
either Of his virtue or happiness, for
g-tYsffae 20 n~T-r oeogcf1uaf Nd sh. v,gr. =
is often dressed for show in paint and
| felicitous goodness
We often mistake the real conditions
/ OF others with regard TO happiness. and
deem We have found homes in which the
inmates were euacting q continual series
/ Of hypocrisy. and who concealed under
/ fair appearances unhappy conditions
when out OF the reach Of censure And
Of others We assume. who without any
! show Of general goodness, and without
attractions which induce popularity, are
/ received among their Cwn families and
/ known as bestowers of happiness, and
| reverenccd and loved
/ The best witnesses OF any mans or
wonan's character are those who know
/ him or her in the family circle, and with
out restraint or rule Of conduct. They
who carry gentleness, amiabnity. and
EbD0 ii4lt tAAt AlfA4lN N4A AAI anu "a
no advantage Of authority or privacy
must be deemed happy. and contributors
! to the happiness of others.
| Persons in afIiuence are often led to
/ Judge unjustly Of the lives Of those less
/ fortunate in worldly goods, and often at
| tribute unhappiness to them, specially in
/ their marital relations. when such is not
the case It Is quite impossible for those