The Washington herald., 1907-05-22
THE OPTIMIST.

Il is a fine thing for a man to be able
TO think that what success he achieves IN
life is due TO his own efforts. and yet how
very few Of us can truly say that We have
Travelled the weary road Of life without a
helping hand. And one OF the fine
thoughts that should tend steadily toward
optimism is that none of us is so poor but
he may be hedged about by the love Of
some faithful woman whose influence is
hopefully and strongly upward.
81 have seem says De Tccqueville, "a
hundred times. In the course of my life,
weak man exhibit genuine public virtue
| because supported by a wife who sus-
tained him i'm his course net so much by
advising him 10 such and such acts as by
exercising strengthening influence over
/ the manner In which duty or even ambi-
/ ton was TO be regarded"
Human nature is nodded by a thousand
subtle Influences, by life and literature. by
/ friends and neighbors: but no influence is
wider OF more profound than that Of a
good woman. That man comes nearest %
being the natural optmist who, with
/ Shakespeare, can say:
"She is mine own.
And I as rich iu having such a Jewel
As twenty seas IF all their sands were pearl
The water nectar and the rocks pure gold
/ How few Of as there are who stop "a
think how little we should be but for The
influence Of women A mans whole life
/ is marked by the quality Of those hours
he spent by the knees Of a good mother.
/ The lad whose youth is spent in the COM
panionship Of gentle-minded sisters of low
! ing grace is armored against many Of the
worst temptations of the world. To The
mature man is given the glory Of the
/ FIGHT He is 20 the front. in the thick OF
the fray, he has the excitement Of the
struggle. 20 him. If successful. comes the
plaudits Of the crowd But ever behind
him. II me be a true man-nO man can bf
called that who has not a woman cheering
and helping him 0n-is the WIFE mother
sister. or sweetheart who, I'm silence. is
faithfully bearing her part Of the burden
fitting him for the fray. cheering him ir
failure and urging him ever 10 carry The
fight 20 IT'S highest point
.'T1 no men are such cordial greetings given
As those whose wives have made them TT for
Heaven
/ Charles Mackay has well sung in hi.
"Prai-e or Women"
Woman may rr. woman mav give her mind
To evil thoughts. and lose her pure estate,
But for rne woman who afuUts hg- kind
Bv wicked passions and rs-Ha-=cIe-s hate.
a thousand make amends in sga and youth
Bg heavenly r.-v hv sweet sympathy.
=. patient klnire--. Hv enduring truth.
81 love vruamrst iu edversiE'
Cvuics may raH and poetasters raw
about tine "fralty Of women" but. afte
. all. an true men and optimlsts will thanI
God for the blessing Of the g=ntler sex
That man who has not the love nor re
speCt of a good woman Is wei upOn Oh
downward road. for such % condition ar
CUES within himself q lack Of those quail
ties which make a man fir % ass0ciat
with hls kind
All OF Cur happiness. much of our sue
' cess. most of AN our hopeful optimism
% comes from woman. It is good for us. 60.
/ 90 acknowledge this m times, 90 bear hae
| the flags ~ victory we have w51 and ia
the mat her feet. for though she niesse
us with her divine help. soOthes our soT
rows. keeps edge on our ambition. IL
D true as IDugfell1w says. that.
"Trs life as woman Is til q voel
- THiIU- on and and 1u.
With breaking heart and fearful eyes,
And silent us and I1 the srrl
The secret Ir1rin-s that arise.
Which this world never sstis5rs.
l some more zHms less 6Tit 0f tLe whole
r. Not one quite happy ro. not one.