The Washington herald., 1907-09-24
THE OPTIMIST.

He came into my Office with streaming
clothes and sodden shoes, and, shaking his
wet umbrella, said: Two days and
nights Of this beastly rain. Pretty hard
for you TO be optimistic In weather Ike
this. should say"
AS If Optimism--a light within the soul
were not meant 10 help a man over his
periods of depression ana evil spirits.
Why should a man let the weather, a
thing with which he has no concern. af-
feet him seriously? All we need is a
spiritual umbrella to be careful that the
rain does not drip into our souls So
much of our measure OF happiness de-
.pends On ourselves, and optimism will tide
US over many a weary time We can
II We choose look on the rain as Rossiter
Johnson did. and gloomily cry:
How it pours pous pours.
In a neverendng sheetl
How II drives beneath the dOUsI
How IL soaks tbr passeFs feet
How = rattles on the zhstterl
How It Umplcs up THE lawn
How twill sigh and moan and mutter,
FTUm darkness until dawn"
Or may take the fine philosophy Of
LOngfellow and with true hopeful vision
that recognizes the hand Of God in every
thing, say:
"How beautiful is the rain!
After the dust and heat
IN the broad and fiery street,
IA the HaU0E lane.
How beautiful is the rain"
There is a fine lesson 10 be got from
the moods induced by the weather; the
lesson that in season or out Of season
We should refuse 20 be cast down or 10
yield 10 dark despair Gloomy thoughts
have no place in this workaday world
Of ours There are so many real
evils in the world that it is veriest
childishness and folly to let our souls be
affected by temporary external conditions
Somewhere, il is good 20 think, when We
are hedged IN by tempest, that at the
edge Of il Gods sun is shining. and that
the arch Of the maHy-colOred rainbow is
over il all; so We may say with Words
worth:
SIS heart leaps I'D when I behold
rainbow In The SKY:
50 was il when ny life began:
50 Is it now that ! am q man;
50 let il be when ! shall gr0S Old.
Or let me die
The child IS father q the man;
And ! could wish nv DAYS % be
Bound each 10 each by natural p.ety."
When there is a tendency 10 gloom and
sadness all the more reason that optimism
should smile; should rad!atc clean and
helpful thoughts This is no time 70 wear
a long and dismal face 20 think Of past
wrongs or SOrrOwS that may hap. At
times Of sadness the true Optimist turns
inward and finds hope: looks smilingly
forward and resolves TO march on IN
/ daunted and care-free. Now Is the time
to think Of the many lives that have been
lived before our own. which have sweet
ened the world FOR US, and made the path
We have 10 travel that much the safer
and less difficult Now is the time 10 re-
/ call George EliOt's trumpet call 10 op-
tfmism.
This is the life TO o5ne.
Which mauyrUi men have made more glorious
Tor rs who strive o. follow. May I reach
That purest heaven, il % other souls
The cup q strength IT, some great agony.
Eunudle generous ard0r feed pure love
Beget the smiles that have 20 cruelty.
BE tie sweet presence o. = good difUsd.
And in diffusion ever more iutsusei
50 shall ] Join the choir invisible
Whose music IS the g,aiu=ss e the world"
THE giadness Of the world'-that is
the optimistic thought that should shine
through any glOom-for the world is q
glad world and a good world. and the
race at heart IS sOuUd, men are honest
and hard-striving, women are pure and
gracious and tender; the laughter OF it'll.
children resOunds 10 heaVen-
The Eladness or the world, ours be Tho
/ glorious task 10 add TO il with our smiles
and our tndpqyar