The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-09-17
THE OPTIMIST.

However one may live. resolved. per-
haps, with all his heart to look on the
hopeful, optimistic side OF things and 10
do the best he can to win happiness for
himself and others, there is yet bound TO
come 10 every one some period al which
the Ills Of mortality will seem too hard to
suffer. So among other qualities with
which the optimist needs TO arm himself
Is the quality of endurance-perhaps Of
| resignation. Although It is our bounden
duty always 70 hope against hope. and
yet 10 struggle onward, we must be able
some time TO recognize with Macbeth
that
- Thing, without remedy
Should be without regard What's done is done"
And while admitting that our own weak
ness or our own mistakes have had much
10 do with our missing the happiness at
which we aimed. we must yet be able 10
say in the right spirit:
But Heaven hath hand in these events;
To whose high viii We bound our calm contents"
The trouble is that we are so prone 70
hope against hOpe-to mourn, and still re-
gret the lost fortune, the friendship that
has been withdrawn, the love that care
lessly has looked away, that it is hard 70
be resigned. to endure calmly 1t may be
excess Of longing. or il may be our lack
Of strength Of viii, but there are few
OF US who can
go Bear It calmly. Though a p5uderous woe.
And stlll adore the hand that gives tie blow"
And so the quality Of being able TO en-
duTe braVely and sanely IS one that We
should take hold Of wisely and strengthen
our souls thereby:
Hes tT1lly valiant, that can wisely suffer
Tie worst that man can breathe.
and make las wrongs his gutsides
To wear them like LIS Taimeut ca-elessly;
And ue'es prefer his injuries 10 his heart.
TO 5'.as It into danger
There Is a subtle but meaningfuI differ
ence between endurance and sufferance
There is world Of difference between
that
NY loving heart. enduring Til IL break"
And Shakespeares Jew, the object OF
! wrong and calumuy and ill-Usage. crying
IN Ais humility.
'suferance is the badge Of all our tribe
For that sort OF sufferauce-which is
Endurance Of kind-Las nothing noble In
H. To endure bravely one must be armed
with the knowledge that he has at least
some shadow Of the right on his side
I To endure and be wrong is cowardly
as IL is to su-cumb 10 ills which. bravely
fought, viii flee To do the best we can
o. endure with fortitude whatever heaven
sends and % make the best Of II; q
refuse 20 be cast down or vanquished, but
. Z. fz.rr.~ q. E- -g-
forutude with which alone man can live
life wholly, and live it purely. Said Sil
Thomas Browne.
Where true f1-tIruds dvels LOYALTY. bounty
fr-uisEin and fidelity may be found. 4 man ma'
"1u1de "a persons constituted for noble ends Whg
dare DO and suffer and who have q hand o. bur1
Tor their country and their friends small and
creeping things are the product Of petty s5ais."
And so let the true optimist under
whatever misfortune may fall. arm him
self with endurance and fO-r-udc, stee
his heart. II he can. against mere seuti-
Uent-thc greatest enemy Of an honest
and ambitious pTide-aud. thus armed he
can hold up his head beneath any "blud,
geonings Of chance" and look the world
/ squarely in the face We know viii
Henley that
Beyond this vale OF wrath ard tears
Icons lEt the honor o. the shade
We need O. be able 10 say in our souls
looms bat the horror o. the shade
Finds. and shall fad me uuafraid'
II is a fine thing so 10 be able 10 steer
our lives that they may be kept clear Of
the evils Of great misfortune. failure in
our work. loss OF our ambition. the
pangs Of misprized love" But as Unto
each life some rain must fall" and we
are all subject 10 the ills meant 20 test
our souls, il is finer still 10 be armed
. with endurance 10 suffer-in spite OF pain
and heartache and misery; 10 strive brav-
ely with our work aid 20 wear q shin
ing morning face 10 the glory Of God
and for he batterment 0f The world.