The Washington herald., 1907-11-02
THE OPTIMIST.


While there is much that is austere
about the philosophy of dear Old Marcus
Aurelius. there is alse much that will
help us through the very tenderness and
cleaHness of the thought IF any man
is able to show me that I Go not think
right. I VIII gladly change. for ] seek
the truth, by which no man was ever
injured II we win but adopt something
Of the same opeuness of mind and soul
how we shall find ourselves led away
from ignorance and error; how deep and
/ true and fine wifi be our insight into life.
how much falrer a knowledge Of our
own selves, and above an, our own linn
itauons we shah get
10 the youth whose years lie Hu
golden and fair before him there seems
10 be no limitations How fair the road
looks. shining i'm t1e sun, How alluring
the meadows. how sweet sings the song
Of love, how rosy looks the future! He
has health and strength and vigor and
faith and hope, and he does not need 70
lay hold or optimism. because that is a
part OF his very being; it belongs TO BIN
as surely as the breath by which he
lives.
God Is very good to the young But
with the increase Of years and the in-
crease of what we are pleased To call
worldly wisdom, we come 10 think that
the glory Of life belongs to us, and that
we can always walk alone, secure in our
own strength; and less and less we seem
to give credit 20 the Master IN whose
company we serve and without whom
We were less than nothing.
Youth gets its first keen shock when
it comes face % face with the kn0wl-
edge OF its limitations. Up % a certain
point in life a man bravely defcs the
fates and declares that there are no
obstacles be cannot overcome And then.
some day. he comes up hard and fast
against the blank wall Of despair There
is no way over it; il is an impasse.
bags end" as the French say. Then.
for the first time the soul rec0fls upon
Itself. On the other side Of that wall
lies help and tenderness and love. Al
ways heretofore they have been his 10
command. now he IS shut out from them
by the Fatcs and is cast back upon him
SaIf Now. for the first time. the man
really begins 90 know himself for what
le is; his weakursses. bis need Of help
II is "a bitter awakening for q man 20
discover for the first time his limita-
t.0us. 90 realize that because tie hand
MAT used 90 clasp his in friendship can
clasp it 800 more that h- is less because
".F
agony of spirit and wrestling with The
soul. and, If man survive. he comes
20 see that the Euoulrdge of his lin
itations has armed him for the struggle
of life. he has attained a beautiful poise
of character. and the despairs Of youth
have been succeeded by a sweet cheer
fulHesss which enah.ed him 90 live his
i.fe hrIvely and make IL of use 70 others
I came across an article sa S=lf-Culture
ty Cariua Campbell EaeiesHeId the
other day. and she wrote of the "Beued-
cence Of limitations She said:
0'3 aze. with its physical GarsdfHrs las one most
b.1u-ifl conn -iHu--ta spiritual nature is then
at ts h--i. The immortal part af the man Is tfe
strongest. and. While tle body ur7sers Undsr the
irad af years these qualities which talHE 90 ths
spiritual rert constantly --riuz il richness and
-.r. L.rr. which .s immortal gather, deeper aud
deeper w.sriE--. passing FROM th- --aF.er iu+ui-
runs at girls first passion. upward through ths
devotion rt t'. mother t.r E.T children On, iu-
measurable dependence. fFg rEa rvH tie other NJ
tae 'Hile mated man and IMAM. upward --8.n a
-Ea divine trust ard i.rs f1r God T. is them thar
ve finally rre h-4Efr ~ su limitations. the
a.lurE which -asr Eavs wrought ig asr own lives.
and rle perfect symmetry ~ aH nature iu Hll's
works.
When We have once come to recognize
our limitation, We are iU a fsi- way %