The Washington herald., 1907-08-20
THE OPTIMIST.

The gospel Of cheerful optimism Is
spreading. am thankful to see, and the
poet of the somerviHe (Pa) Journal
comes out With
It doesn't pay At an. my friend, 70 be pessimist.
u You've acquired the habit advise you 70 desist.
The wise man always takes. you'll snd, cheerful
view of things,
Aud be is happiest, they say, who whistles and
who sings"
Not only is he happiest who sings, but
he is the most use in the world. because
he Is making the world happier
when God helps all the workers for His world.
The singers shall have help Of Him. not last"
SO declared Mrs. Browning. The song
that rises to the lips shows that the
heart Is too strong and brave to be crush
ed by the petty woes that fall to the lot
OF man, and the man with the cheerful
lit. instead of the damnatory sob, is the
benefactor OF bis race and time
But here the Somerville poet again;
The dolefu man is beaten BY the or,imist block
It doesn't make you happier &c knock, and knock
and knock.
II PAYS TO be c0ntented. even when things don't 60
right.
And when the sky Is elouded make yourself believe
II 3 bright
This IS, OF course. the very foundation
Of the belief of optimism. Always the
man who goes about his work blthely
Will beat out the gloomy, doubling. and
sour pessinist who can see no good IN
anything. To be contented-nOt salts
fed with anything but the best-but
eontented with what one gains; health
! lily contented, so that one still may strive;
this it is to use life wisely. as Addison
says:
| Content thysen 10 be o1sc,reiy good:
! When vice prevails and impous men bear sway.
/ Tie post q honor Is private station
And as for the ''knocker." well. let Us
thank heaven that no optimist was ever
/ guilty Of such a crime, Il IS the pessIm-
/ st, who. finding no good in his own soul,
can see only the I'll in the hearts Of
others. Let the pessimists see the world
as If It We're ali awry: men working for
purely selfish aims; women who know not
self-sacrifce children VINO are born 20
wee. We, the gentle guild Of optimists,
know better, and on the guidepost that
points along the optimistic road you shall
/ ever find the legend. more forcibie than
/ polite; II you can't boost. don't knock. %
50 cheer up everybody. and prcterd that you are
gay
Make your mind up that tomorrow win be brighter
than TO-DAY.
! Consistent optimism may not help you gain your
ends
But really il won't matter. and yUu win not bore
your friends,
Thus concludes our friend from Somer-
/ vile. And II is a good note 10 close on
II Is the note Of a fine hope and q glo-
/ rious confidence II inpresses upon us
the tact-s0 persistently ignored By pes
simists-that even the darkest clouds have
q silver lining That somewhere the sun
Is shining: that IN spite OF our tears and
sorTOws there are happy voices and laugh
ter waiting for Us 10 share.
Pess.mist or optimist, We are ali upor
the same interminable road. To the same
goal We ali tend with weary feet. The
work has 20 be done and we must do If
The only question that remains IS wheth-
/ er We shall do it with all our hearts. civ
ing freely Of ourselves: satisfied with lit
tle' loving much. believing much. and
/ hoping much. or whether we shall be-
grudge each painful effort; doubt that
God S In His heaven" and keep our eve,
fixed on the clay about our feet, or. rails.
ing our faces, greet the rising sun with
/ a smile