The Washington herald., 1907-06-13
THE OPTIMIST.

There Is a world Of humanity in
graveyard. There are moods in which all
Of US find a certain grim sort Of satisfac
ton in walking with quiet tread along
the weli-kept pathways. bordered with
grass that seems greener than elsewhere.
and letting our thoughts play around
those silent hummocks and the cold but
eloquent stones that mark the goal 70
which we all must come az last.
II Is a curious thing that we-pessi-
mlsts and optimists alike-knowing full
well to what end all our labors. our loves,
our hopes. our strivings are leading us,
feel no fear OF death. Did we but stop
20 think there are a thousand perils be
setting us on every hand, which not even
the most timQEous and cowsrdly amongst
us really does. how few could go about
the days business, or, indeed, think the
days business worth while
From the graveyard whit a world Of in
spiration the hopeful man may draw, Here
beneath the turf lie the mere shells Of
those who in life accomplished things.
The machine lies here rustlng. but the
work the machine Cid. II IL was good. is
still In the world benehting mankind. II
was Ruskin who said
Men cannot benefit those that are with them ss
they can benefit those nat come after them. and
Of all the pulpts from which human voice is ever
sent forth. there is none from which it reaches 50
far As from the grave"
Here. how we are tortured by our er-
rors; how our mistakes beset US and cast
US down; here, in life, we know the
slough Of despair, and for our miserable
weaknesses are forced 10 travel often in
the shadow OF the valley. Of course. in
spite Of this, our work is yet 70 do and
we must do IL bravely and without finch
ing. and pray that the work may be good.
But having this high resolve We still
may be permitted 10 think Of the grave
yard. where.
There rs O calm for those who weep
rest FOR weary pilgrims found.
They softly he and sV-etlg sleep
Low IN the ground
Too closely we have adopted the old
Latin motto: "Ars Tonga. vita brevis."
Life is not so short. after al. We are
apt 20 measure life by eternity. as If We
knew all about the period before and
after life. when. in very truth. we know
nothing
Not one returns % tel rs n the rad
Whirh 70 discover ire must travel ton"
Life Is long enough for WEAKNESS and
pain and illness and grief over loss o.
friends II is long enough, also. for
brave plunge into the real business Of
living; long enough for striving, long
enough for loving. long enough for real
and honest accomplishment.
And AT the last. tine graveyard, quiet.
peaceful. and at rest u is not a place for
dependency but for hopefulness; IL in
cites not % doubt but % faith l.
should correct that melancholy and rather
whining yearniug for the tomb. and send
us back 20 life with renewed determlna-
ton 10 make the most Of the years that
yet remain. With Clear-eyed faith in the
noble.ess Of human destiny. we may say,
with Longfeiiow
i like that ancient Saxon phrase which calls
TIE burial ground Gods Acre T. Is inst.
u c.re-ates each grave within its wall.
And bTgathes a benson 0.sr the sleeping dust
Unto us fr-aps We shall at be cast
On fla sTre faith thar vp shall ri-a again
A. fhe great harvest when the arohanEsi's blast
Shall Vmn~w. Ike a fan. -he chaF and grain