The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-12
THE oPTIMIsT.

Somebody who reads The optlmist'
has asked II there is any chance for
thoughts of hopefulnes on the money
question It is the business Of an optimist
10 be hopeful on any subject, but here Is
one thar calls for all the cheerfulness
that man possesses. Money means so
much when one has II, and so little when
one has plenty of IT. Now that the ac-
QUESTION Of much money has come to be
responsible for sc much Of the bother in
the world, an added Importance has been
given those pieces OF gold and silver which
are so easy TO spend. so hard to get. To
owe a man friendship, a woman love, the
world gratitude; these seem TO mean 1T
tie. but to owe money-in this commercial
age It is TO be without character! For
some OF us It would be easier TO be opti-
mistic on the subject If the old ruling Of
Martial still held:
You say you nothing owe; and so ! say:
He only owes who something has to pay
But It doesn't hold nowadays, and If we
have nothing 70 pay with. nice sense OF
honor, no less than the exlgeneies OF our
creditors, compel us to hustle until we
get IT, It Is true, of course, that the pos
session Of money robs us Of many cares
and so helps toward an optimistic view OF
life, but even without money there is
plenty Of room for hope.
TO whom can riches give repute or trust.
Content OF pleasure. but the good and JustE
Judges and Senates have been bought for gold'
Esteem and love were never TO be sold
think that philosophy, throughout the
ages, has busted ITSELF more with railing
against wealth than praising It. The
hopeful notes are mostly on the side OF
the poor. DR.. johnson, content to talk
and drink tea. was often sorely pressed
for money, and yet, from his snuffy cham
bers the old gentleman could write:
To purchase heaven. has gold the powerl
Can gold remove the mortal hosrf
In life. can love be bought with gold?
Are friendships pleasures to be 5oidf
No: all that's worth a wish, thought
Fair virtue gives unbTibed. unbought;
Cease. then trash thy hopes 70 bind;
Lot nobler views engage thy mind
In some such thought az that lies tht
compensation for the optimist who re-
mains poor In purse. What can Il buy
that a man cannot purchase with him
self? Money is a good tool. but a bad
master He who has lots Of it must inev'
itably find that his journey toward th'
goal Of life is hampered somewhat 1t i:
an additional pack for a mans shoulders
a heavy one. too. and the responsibilities
OF its safe-keeping forbid a man 10 give
his whole thoughts TO the beauty Of the
world through which he is travelling; hin
ders his restfui sleep O. nights. Shakes
peare knew this when in Measure fol
Measure" he wrote:
If thou ar rich. thou art POOR;
For like an ass whose hack with iugOts bows.
Thou Dearest thy heavy rches but journey,
And death unloads thee
One supreme good a certain amount Of
money can bring. even TO the healthful
optimistic soul. and that is the gift Of In
/ dependence. Life is so short q space IL
which 10 do all that a man would tha
/ It seems an undue proportion Of 1t is giveI
up 70 acquiring the wherewithal 20 1--we
Il must seem. sometimes. 10 all OF US
that It would be better II we could e
about our chosen work without though
Of what the money wages Of that wOTl
were II il could be Just for the Joy o.
the working But It is not for the op
timistic 20 complain because the worlt
/ is not other than it is. It IS for Us, pool
or rich. 10 make the best az conditions a.
we find them. And, perhaps, after all
/ the independence we win by our effort vii
/ be the sweeter and the more useful TO TIT
world.
And so the only worry that the optimis
! should have about money IS that by hi
/ iabor-of brain or hand-he should ge
enough to enable him 10 do his work f.
the world. TO make his efforts for tn
/ right more powerful and efficient: to vii
/ that independence IN which he can bes
! express the best that is In his soul:
| Gather gear BY eT'ry vile
That's justified hy honor;
Not for Ia hide il in hedge.
/ Nor Tor g train attendant;
But for the glorious privilege
! OF being independent