The Washington herald., 1907-11-23
THE OPTIMIST.

There IL a certain rathskeIer in wash
ington. the walls OF which are adorned
with scraps OF the Rubaiyat-Old Omar's
philosophy, melting US mOderns 10 drink
deep and IN the joys Of the wine cup
forget the cares that infest the day"
The beautiful quatrains Of the Persian
tentmaker do not lend themselves kindly
10 mutilatloa-it is unfair to the man who
wrote. 1t is unjust 10 those who read
There is hardly any work of literature
which may not by adroit OF clumsy mutt
lation be twisted and warped out OF all
semblance 10 its original meaning; good
turned to bad ana EVIL itself be justified
Among the scraps Of Omar 10 which I
refer / noted one
Blessing We should use it should we no;g
"a line taken from that quatrain in which
the poet with intellectual inideiity sought
20 put the blame for mans sins and
mans follies on the CreatOr-the author
Of all good
Optimism. at least, Will do better than
this. We who have become convinced OF
the value Of a hopeful outlook Oh life. Is
duties. and its opportunities. are bound 10
have realized also that nothing is much
more useless than railing az fate. be-
moaning our condition. or trying 10 lay
the blame for our faults on others shout
ders than Dur own.
Blessing should use il should We not
or course We should, Old Omar means.
specifically wine-but what he sings in
praise Of the juice Of the grape may well
be sung in praise OF any OF the joyous
gifts with which God has so bOGntifully
supplied US. But the point OF Il all is
that we should use-use wisely, fully II
circumstances warrant. sparlngly II our
condition demands, but use always-abuse
never
IL is there all the trouble lies. To live
life hopefully is 10 face each life's cay
braVely, knowing that in our souls lies
the power, not only 90 resist evil. but 70
gather strength from our very tempta-
lions; strength that shall help US not
only % wend courageously along Hfe's
oIsty highway, but 10 enable US 20 ex-
tend helping hand 10 those OF our fell
lows who are falling by the way.
II should not be hard for the optimistic
soul 70 recall the multitude OF blessings
that surround him on every hand-bless-
ings not TO be used for selfish gratifica-
ton. but for the honor Of the Master and
When old Thackeray wrote:
Who loves not wine. woman and song
Remains fool his whole life long
he thought Of these three as a gentle
man thinks Of them-as joys 10 sweeten
life. not 10 damn IL
Ia spite OF all the cries Of the reformers
and the well-meaning temperance people
SO many OF whom are so Incorporate.
u naF ID. -
nothing on this earth that was not put
here for mans blessing and use. Il is
for each of Us 10 say what We can dare
10 use, without being led into tempta-
ton 10 abuse We must rely upon the
strength that is IN our souls. remember
ing with gratitude and awe that even
that strength is but another blessing. a
gift from the Master whose world il is
We are hindering OF helping along on its
march through the eternities
There Is scarce any attitude toward life
more cowardly than the colby material
istic and utterly selfish view. II is as II
Noblesse Oblige" was but a phrase. and
as If il were impossible for a man truly
10 cry:
7 am the master 4 ny fate
am the captain of 10y soul"
Omar IS strong meat for strong men to
NAe immature OF those easily led aside,
his philosophy is damnatory-even piece
meal IN TathskelleT. Better far the
philosophy Of gratitude and love and
courage that helps Us. cheers Us, in
spires Us. 50 that
Ont from The ranks q the slothfgl and SLOW
We may step 10 The fTort-path the heroes have
L ndannted b. dangers which facing w know.
And trusting the issues % God.