The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-15
A SUNDAY TALK.

II Is curious to consider how often we
twist certain maxims that have become
part of our very language around to
our own hurt l have in mind thai axiom
Blessed is he that expecteth little"
which many OF us love to mouth with a
grim smile that gives our hearts the lie
for we know We have expected much
And in very truth it is right that we
should expect much, should fixsour aspi-
rations high. and not blindly reach
out for things beyond our grasp. mt our
selves with care and patience and knowl-
edge to be fit for what we expect. If by
chance it comes.
I think that II does not matter how
humbly we fix our desires. most of US
are doomed TO disappointment. and we
speak OF that. too. aslf it were wholly
/ bad.
Why, it is quite true what Goethe says.
/ that
! All men are disappointed IN their hofes and ex-
pectations. Is life calculated only by its gains and
losscsy Who has Got made arrangement on arrange
ment, and has not seen them broken m pieces. How
often does not man strike into road and lose it
again. How often not turned aside FROM one
point which We had sharply before our eyes. but
only TO reaCn some higher stage, The Traveller, 70
/ his greatest annoyance. breaks wheel upon his
Journey and through this unpleasant accident makes
! tome charming acquaintance. and forms sume
connection, which has influence on all his life
| II matters not how man may plan his
life, he is, after all, but a creature of cir
cumstance. and the fell clutch" Of
which Henley speaks and which he en-
| dured SO bravely, is likely 10 fasten Itself
1 upoc any Of US at any time. When Il
comes God grant that We may not vince.
nor cry aloud. but bear our disappOint-
ment with courage. and find In il a
blessingl
/ II sometimes needs the keen pain OF a
/ bitter disappointment TO rouse the best
I that is in our souls. At such times
/ pride comes 10 our aid and begs US bear
smiling face toward the world, though
I our hearts be bleeding indeed Pride in
such a case is one of the choicest gifts
! OF our nature-when 1t impels US 10 hide
our own hurts and not 20 hurt others by
whining out our sorry tale.
In thinking thus my mind Is far from
/ the disappointment expressed in Mac
| beth that makes man in tremulous woe
| for his own mishap cry
Ny way Of life
Is fslln into the scar the yellow leaf
And that which should accompany old age
As honor love- obedience. troops Of friends
l must not look % have
/ For that implies gross carelessness. or
worse. and not real disappointment Sure
/ ~ man need not be disappointed il he
sows dragons teeth and reaps disaster
that was 20 be expected To SOW kind
ness and 20 reap unkindness; TO sow love
/ and 10 garner hate-these are the real
/ disappOintments against which no care or
prayer on our part Will avail. but are, In
very truth. but the outcome OF our frail
/ human nature.
/ II it were not so. then life would be
set thing. bOunden by rigid ruIes-so
much love given. so much due in return
so much revenge sought. so much hatred
10 be paid. and then. indeed, We might
/ live by rote and blame no one but our
selves for our unhappiness. But the viz
tue lies in realizing that in spite Of all
that we may do TO deserve we may never
reap the reward. and in cultivating the
/ spirit that will meet the most grievous
! disappointment and face IL down with a
/ laugh so that we may profit - H. And.
/ as Kingsley says, these things-disap-
! pointments-are they not given to US 10
use If we but have wisdom enough 10 use
them2
Surely a. the years pass on they ought 10 have
I made us better. more useful more worthy. We NAV
have been disappointed Id our lofty ideas 81 what
we ought 10 have done. but we may have gained
I more clear and practical notions Of what can D.
/ done. We may have lost IN enthusiasm and yet
/ gained in eanostntsS We may have lost in seusi-
bility, yet gained m charity, activity. and power.
/ we NAV bc able % do far les. and yet what We
do b. far better done And our very griefs and
/ disappoiutments-ha they been useless 10 rs.
/ syrely not
! To the coward who. with meticulous
/ eyes. looks out upon the world. and fears
90 take step lest he shall fan into
! some sin or danger disappointment may
/ well seem a thing 20 be avoided. a tear
/ ful shape that shall crush his spirit 20
the earth; but the brave man will greet
! the unseen with cheer" taste OF disap-
-POiutment with rare gusto as II il were
/ the very salt of life. and on 10 his self
l appointed tasks and hopes with a high
\ beating heart and an appetite for large
/ adventure.