The Washington herald., 1907-08-10
THE OPTIMIST.

In seeking for ground for happiness.
and. I take II. It IS 10 that end that
optimism helps Us. it will be hard to ind
any more powerful aid than that Of
clear conscience. Conscience, says
Thomas Wilson in his Maxim Of Piety. .
as the present opinion a man has Of his
own actions" But Il Is much more than
this. II is the monitor that warns us
what Will be the consequences of any
doubtful action II not only makes US re-
greet the past. but it urges US 10 be care
ful Of the future.
There Is no friend so steadfast as con-
science; no enemy so bitter.
Conscience Is harder than our enemies.
Knows more. accuses with more nicely,
Says George Eliot. and when we realize
this We realize the force OF Thackeray' 5
admonition: Begin your day with a clean
conscience in every way. Cleanliness is
honesty" Many men have thought with
Butler in "Hudlbras:'
why should not conscience have vacation.
As well as ether courts O. th nation;
Have equal power 20 adjourn.
Appoint appearance and Tetunf
But there is no answer to the plea.
Conscience is with US always: viii not be
denied: cannot be altogether deadened. II
is part OF US and must be liyNL with.
There can be no happiness or decency
in life unless we keep IL clean.
Joseph Cook, who used 10 deliver the
Boston Monday lectures. called conscience
the laughter Of the soul at itself, but in
his lecture he said:
There Is spectacle grandeF than the ocean, and
That IS the conscience There Is spectacle gra1dcl
than tie sky and that Is the interior Of the souL
TO write the poem q tho human conscience. were
the subject only man, and he the lowest Of men,
would be reducing al epic poems into one supreme
and final epos. Il IS no more possible 70 prevent
thought from reyerDg 10 ideal than the sea from
returning to the shore"
It makes no difference what may be a
mans religious beliefs, his doubts, bis
/ kepticisn-conscieuce is there and will
not be denied Il is memorable in its re-
pr0ach; insistent IN its warning. AS a
man may. in spite Of the shouts Of the
multitude, deliberately walk over the edge
OF q cliff. so he may, for q time, deafen
/ his ears TO the internal call Of conscience
and go unheedng on his way. But the
call is there and ne is a fool who does
not harken.
Yet stiu there whispers the snail voice within
Heard through gains silence and DER gloiys din:
I Whatever cTeeu Sc Taught o. land be trod
Mans conscience is the oracle OF Cod
Said that fine old pagan philosopher
Marcus Aurelius: Keep myself. then
simple. good. pure, serious. free from af-
/ fectation, a friend Of justice, a worshiper
Of the gods. kind, afectionate. strenuous
( IN all proper acts. Short is life. There
[ Is only one fruit Of this teTrene hfe-a
pious disposition and social acts" And
T that I think. is q recipe that has come
down the ages telling US how we may
I find conscience d comfortable bedfelloy;
a glorious help % Us IN the battle OF life
/ pleasure. not a pain.
a quiet csnscience makes one so serene
And the only way TO possess a quiet con
science IS 70 live in optimism and faith
iclean-heaTted, clear-minGea. Doing ones
work IN the world with all ones strength
and heart; helping others. looking hope
/ fully forward; asking little; thankful for
/ little. As Shakespeare SAID IN ''Aus Well
/ That Ends Well" THE web OF our life
I IS Of a mingled yarn. good and Ill to-
gether; our virtues would be proud If ouI
faults whipped them not; and our crimes
would despair If they were not cherished
\ by our virtues"