The Washington herald., 1907-06-28
THE OPTIMIST.

1t was not long since that a lady said
to the Optimist Men are TO be much
envied. Anything a man wants to do he
can do, provided be wants to hard
enough" u seemed az the time a hard
saying, for II 70 IS indeed true. why do
any Of MS men fan short Of our desires
Reflection VIII show, however, that there
r. a world Of truth I'm the axiom II we
fall short II is because we DO not want
90" hard enough: our desire for the good
thing is less strong or less persistent
than the desire for some momentary
qualification that. having INDUCED In,
makes Us lose sight for the time being
of the goal toward which we have set
our face
The Opumist has since learned that
the axiom OF the lady was nothing new
under the sun though undoubtedly the
theory was the outcome Of her own ez-
periences. Chatterton has said something
Of the same kind when he declared that
God had sent His creatures into the
world with arms long enough 20 reach
anything IL they chose to be at the
trouble.
II we fail. then. it is not because Of
III luck or untOward circumstances or
lack Of opp0rtunity-it is simply lack Of
striving. Plod is the word that marks
the way 70 success and happiness. 81
have known several men In my life,
says Dr. Ross who may be recognized
I'm days 10 come as men Of genius. and
they We're all plodders, Woodworking
intent men. Genius Is known by its
works; genius without works Is a blind
faith, a dumb oracle. But meTitOri0us
works are the result Of time and labor
and cannot be accomplished by an in
tention or q wish. Every great work is
the result Of vast preparatory labor
Facility comes by labor"
We used 10 deem that specialization
was good for the individual We are
coming more and more TO that belief,
but at the same time we are recog-
nizing that specialization is good also
for society as a whole The Jack-of-aU-
trades has but little function in this mod
ern workaday world There is little
chance to-day for men like NRossetu,
possessing equal facility in poetry and
painting We have come 10 realize that
each one OF these arts demands all that
mans soul and mind has TO give. The
vital point I'm these days is 10 fix the
mind firmly on an object want IL with
all ones heart and bend all ones energies
to attaining IT, The rule holds good in
love. I'm aesthetics. or in labor. industry,
continued industry, and toujours industry.
And as q man works for some outside
object you shall mark how the spirit
of industry reflects on his own soul
and character. The spirit of industry in
a man VIII lead him TO exercise his
powers on objects outside himself Of
greater dignity and more extended use
fitness. And still we shall find ourselves
lab0ring on for the work Of self-cuIture
is never finished. said the poet Gray.
To boz employed is 20 be happy Said
Bishop Cumberland. 1t is better 20 wear
out than 70 rust" Have we not an
eternity % rest in?' exclaimed ATuauld.
The battle 81 life is fought on a field
not Of our own choosing. The way is
mostly uphill and IL cannot be won with
OUT a struggle. If there were no diff
culJies there would be no success. II the
thing we desire is not worth fighting for
70 is not worth having. And the thing
a man desires. that he must let have
absolute possession Of himself Of his
heart, HIS mind. his soul On that object
he must tx his eyes. bend all his ener-
sizes. There IS no time for fowery by
paths or To halt by cooling streams.
lie must want what be wants so much
that nothing can turn MIN from purpose;
neither wealth. nor friends. nor the desire
for ease. And fighting always toward the
goal, feeling each day that an advance
has been made. that one is getting nearer
and winning strength in the dght-that
t is 10 be truly happy. For in the heart
u the man who is striving sings a song
n joyful hope 20 cheer him always on his