The Washington times., 1906-03-04
Pitman PuIsifer Delivers
Well-CompoSed Hom-
lily to Short Story Club.
Pleasure Societies Wound
Up Winters Gayeties
at Members Homes.


ening was an address by Pitman Pull |
sifer. secretary TO the Senate Commit |
tee on Naval Affairs Mr.. Pulsifer dis
cussed Some Thoughts of Life. Its !
Meaning. and How to Get the Most /
From IT, and said in part:
This life is a puzzle and a mystery /
TO US all. We cannot fathom its mean |
ing. and only by faith do we know its |
haven. There is a hope within us that
the trials endured and perplexities over
come in the evolution OF life here are |
not to end our individuality. and a con
fidence that in the plan which has Civ
en- US so bountifully of the sweets Of
life. in the flowers. the lakes, and !
the woods. and with whose creator moth |
ing is believed 10 be impossible. we may !
depend trustfully on the wise and hu-
anane course being carried out
Life Is Work.
THE meaning of life, as we view it. is |
opportunity 10 work. II sometimes
seems a pity in fitting US the wisdom
gained by experience of parents can
not be.passed TO the child, so that many |
sure pitfalls might be avoided; but
then we should miss the naturalness and
the development which is so fascinating.
Not only this. but character is
formed largely through self-reliance
and seIf-heIp. and the constantly meet
ing and overcoming the hard problems
rpf life
while poverty itself IS 10 be shunneu, |
the getting away from it often hardeLs |
the muscles of brain and body and soft
ems the heart as nothing else can. fit |
ting the individual in the struggle for /
livelihood, which is becoming more |
and more difficult to achieve. and also |
creates a sympathy and a toleration for /
n iS fell yffrl<e hat H,er fpp Cd
in any other process. In fact. it is /
looked upon as a hindrance for a boy |
or girl 10 start life with mon2yed in |
herltance. The old stimulant. necessity, /
drives US into many undertakings where |
we are compelled TO start at the foun- /
dation and work up.
'of course, we have the exceptional /
instance of wealthy children possess
ing zeal and enthusiasm for good work |
and desire to get into the middle of 4
the great procession of breadwinners,
and enjoy the fruits that only drop TO
those who work for what they gather,
and the process Of hoping and want
ing and realizing; but the natural
tendency is to accept ease and luxury
when they offer.
What Colleges Do.
THE problems Of the world have
been largely worked out by those who
Inherited simply the old fashioned
!. virtues of honesty, love and enthus-
iasm. Some claim that the best results /
in teaching come from the smaller COL
1eges where every boy or girl is found |
because of an earnest desire TO learn
and where il is not exceptional to |
work during vacations, and even odd |
hours in term time. TO pay the tuition 4
Self help is the best help. The boy
may miss the polish of the university,
but the atmosphere is all charged with
high ambitions, and when he graduates
he takes to life work as a reality and !
not as time service. While a college
course is certainly to be desired, after
all it only adjusts the mental machf.-
cry to work, and if one is not allowed
this preparation the next best thing is
10 keep eyes and ears open, read good
literature and seek the company of
those who can impart knowledge
"Of course, comparatively few scale
the heights of what the world calls
success, but any one who loves and
helps his fellows, who heeds the obli-
cations Of citizenship. and does well
an any useful calling, really succeeds.
Be Hopeful and Sunny.
In work and in play, we should be
hopeful and sunny-not forget the
value of hand shake and the kind
I
lhuman happiness is made up largely Of
1ittle things. Whether commercioI raci-
proeity is beneficial is debatabIe but
we all know the efficacy of that social
reciprocity that gives and take in I
FeVeryday life, which brightens MANY
dark places, relieves trouble. sets faces
toward the light, and makes this old
world worth living in. Trtfes they are
an themselves. but, like sunlight in
dark places, they warm the springs of
the heart.
sometimes experiences come in so
hard form they seem insurmountabIe
1nexplicable and almost cruel; but. as
rule, the world is sweet or disap-
,pointing as We will it, Keep vour ears
TO the ground for the laughter of chill
Siren and the singing of birds and we
are repaid.
Although sometimes we see one of
our fellows whom We would think has
more than his portion OF the good things
OF life, study of individual cases dis
closes that one person or class
monopolizes all happiness. and there is
a plan OF compensation running through /,
our lives which, after all, causes US
to feel each that he or she would not |
exchange his or her personality for any
other.
Faith Beyond Hope
Faith is step beyond hope It is a
growth, an education. an evolution from
cause to effect, from what has been 10 |
what may be. and then what is In all
the mystery Of life we at last think we
8 see an unerring course running through
8 the ages. We do not know the process
but by faith
We know not where His islands lift
their frcnded palms in air;
We only know we cannot drift beyond l.
His love and care
MANS humanity to man increases
with the years. and we grow more toll
Grant of the beliefs of others Even
the creeds breathe a spirit Of love in
stead of fear, and character and deeds
: are more the test than forms AMI pre-
fessions. Life itself is TOO uncertain |
Z for as TO be personally proud and boast
ful, but We should bear the banner of
optimism and altruism, and so make
the world brighter and happier for
marching through IT.