The Washington herald., 1907-07-06
THE OPTIMIST.

There We're some pessimlsts recently
who objected to the fact that the Opt
mist chose 20 take his text from the
graveyard. as if it were not the finest
test OF healthy optimism to nnd cheer
whore gloomy hearts see only cause for
woe Even if one be optimistic. that does
not mean that one Shall smut his eyes to
the Ills Of the world it signifies rather
that one shall so forufy his spirit with
well-gr0unded hope that he may defy
'the whips ana seorns Of time. and.
braving the worst, look cheerfully for the
best
Though one may De ever 50 hopeful
and optimistic. one cannot stop ones ears
TO the psraIyzins news that self-dcstruc-
tion is on the increase. not alone in this
country but elsewhere There can be
little in this world sadder to contemplate
than the fact Of suicide. and for the fact
there is no help.
But surely there is no human action so
short-slghted. so fauous. so cowardly. so
little becoming "a man as this act Of sui-
eide. One does not need % consider the
matter from the standpoint Of religion al
together
IF there's sn Hereafter.
And that ihefe is conscience Uuiu1Ierccd
And suffered o. speak 1u.. sells every man,
Thtu t must Poo au awtu. thing 90 die;
More uolud SEQ. o. die D.. ones osH hand
So said Blair in his melancholy musings
on the grave. But what optimism viii
teach man 20 consider is the hereafter
ia this life.
Optimism means hope. and so long as
there is a ray Of optimism in the heart Of
man there can be no contemplation Of
self-desUuction. Why do men seek 80
run away from this worlds ils?' The
causes have been set down nowhere bet
ter than IN Saakespeare's wall-remember-
ed lines:
The op.rassars wrongs The proud mans cantUmcly
The raug5 ut denzd love- the laws delay
The in7aieuc- NJ Office and the sGuus
That patient merit If the unworthy takes"
And there IS not one among them that
may not bee hraFeIy faced down or fought
down and the glorious battle of life Ec-
newed.
Life is what we make f.. very largely
and DE who cannot rise superior 10 cir
stance has learned the lessons Of life most
Ill., Who among us desires the thing that
is easy 10 attain2 Life means victory,
and victory implies a struggle. often.
indeed. the odds are heavy against U.s.
but an the more credit If we win the
fight, Even the pess.mist must laugh
when the way leads over velvet turf
the sky is brilliant overhead, and the
road is musical with babbIiug streams
But the spirit Of optimism which should
De iu The heart of every man aids us To
travel b.ithcly over the rough places, to
dismiss the lowering clouds that fog the
brain and would dim the star of hope that
still shines % point the way.
Once dead. y0u never shall return.
wrote the old Persian teut-maker more
in "a vein OF sorrow than in cyniclsm. No
more struggle. no more hope. no chance
for lfo.s glorious happiness any more. T.
s a cowardly way 90 leave the field with
the battle but just begun, il is an evil
example % set. it has increased the sum
" misery iD this gray old world.
Better. far better 90 set the jaw and
ciench the fist, fight bravclv on, and
cry with Heniy.
IN 'he f-I 7u'-. ~ Circumstance
E1rr r-' WINGED. r0r r-.t 1'rrl,
Beneath frg binds. .rlr1 1- ~ r-rlar
Nr head BE- t0afg-hu- u1l~rei.'
That is the spirit that optimism in
spires