The Washington herald., 1907-09-19
THE OPTIMIST.

4 This is too busy an age for poetry
more's the pity. and few there are, ex-
/ cept professed literary men, who have
( time 20 read James Russell Lowell nova
days. but last night 1 took up his Pres
ent Crisis" and came upon this again
/ Once 10 every man and nation comes the moment
10 decide
/ In the strife Il Truth with FalsehOod for thC
good or evil side.
/ Some great cause. Gods new Messiah Offering the
bloom OE blight.
Parts the goats upon the left hand and the sheer
upon the right
And tie choice goes b. forever tvixt that darknes.
and that light
There is a clear statement Of the Ina
portance il Is in this life Of being able to
come 10 a decision. II IS all very vel
20 know good when We see It and u
promise ourselves that straight along
this clean path we viii walk, but We
are prone to put off the beginning Of the
Journey. Instead Of deciding at once e
set about the business or proper living
we wait and seem 10 hope for some ex-
terual force outside Of ourselves to help
US along
The true optimist, while he lives in
hope and believes that the world is good
must have also. an intelligent knowledge
that it is necessary for success that he
should have the power Of decision. To
decide quickly and TO decide rightly Is
60 make the most Of the opportunitie.
which heaven sends us.
| There Is a tide IN the affair Of men.
Which, taken at the food leads Ou 10 fortune;
Omitted. an The voyage of their life
/ Is bound IN shadows and iH niseries:
And We must take the current when IL serves.
/ Or lose ventures.
To have the power Of seizing this tide
! In the affairs of men requires a clarity
Of vision and keeuness Of perception that
most Of US need 70 cultivate. But al
good gifts We have are meant 10 be cuL-
tiVated. no power that We have Is given
% US at its greatest. Our talents are
Ike those OF the parable-to be used and
husbanded and iHcreased-to our bless
ing So this talent Of being able 10 see
frHe opportunity when It comes Is one
that We must train and hopefully cliug
20.
The keen spirit
saizas The prompt cccasiou-makes the thought
Start into iHstau, action, and az once
Plans and performs. resolves and executes,
Says Hannah More, and IL Is this keen
ness OF spirit that takes hold Of things
that viii help your optmist 10 a right
decision and 10 O right life. which shall
Dc helpful 10 others and 70 himself
But while animadvertlng on the subject
Of decision it is important that we should
not mistake needless impetuosity for IT,
Decision. 20 De helpful. must be thought
ful and the result Of consideration and
backed by experience we may well re
member Longfellows
Decide uat raslly The decision made
Can aer.r le recalled The c1ds imrIofe not,
Plead not solicit H5t. tbsy only offer
Choice and occasion. which Oacl being passed
Return 10 more.
So, 20 make our decisions rightly We
must keep before us high ideals. high
aims. and noble aspirations. Thus we
can never choose the evil rather than the
good. temptations 20 the f8Wery by
paths o. ease viii not assaU US. for ever
before us VIII lay the hard road along
which We know that we must win II we
are 20 attain the goal Shall we suffer
ln the journey? Doubtless, for nothing
that is worth the having IN this weary
world j. 10 Dee attained without SUFFERING
and striving. thought and labor But The
wearuess viii be clean weariuess and
fine, and just beyond lie the green
meadows of peace and happiness and the
great reward Of content II takes meas
Ure OF heroism in the soul Of man 10
hsht always for the right but each
fight brings us nearer the ultimate
victory. and leaves Us stronger and
uO0ler than before And TO cheer US
on in the heat OF Hfes battle We
have the knowledge that it IS a great. "a
wonderful cause for which we fight and
that our victory. small as il may seem
ln the great sum ~ things. yet means a
great deal 10 the world
Then 20 side ui-h Truth Is noble yr-r yrs shan
leg VTltcl5l C-i-f
Lrs ae' cause bring fame and profit. and Pts
lslsper.as 'a De iusr
Ihln il IS rhs brave nan chooses. while the coward
stands aside.
Doubling in Ls abjec, spirit. TILL his Lord IS
CulCifs1.