The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-09
THE OPTIMIST.


Maurice de Guerin said once 10 COM
pany of young people as he heard the
clock strike: IF that clock knew that It
was to be destroyed the next instant, it
would keep on striking it's hour until that
instant arrived. Ny children. DO as that
clock; whatever may be going 10 happen
70 you. strike always your hour" In
those sentences Is contained a whole phil
osoDhy Of life. The thought that Is voiced
there Is one that, taken 10 heart, will
make a hopeful outlook on life possible
to all Of us, and will help Us 70 face
bravely and expectantly the hours Of duty
that lie ahead OF US
AS children we all learned Of the evil
fate that overlook Don't care" as chill
dren Of the larger growth we need, still,
70 be careful Of the blighting spirit OF in
difference and indecisiOn. De Guerin's
lesson was that the clock persisted; ii had
its appointed work TO do; its immediate
duty; and 1t went at It whole-souled- II
does not really matter in what sphere Of
activity We are living out our lives; TO
some the pen, 20 others the plough-it is
all life. just the same, and what matters
it that no corroding thought Of What's
the use2" should ever be allowed TO en-
ter our souls.
1t is so wonderful. In this narrow little
world OF ours, how our very lightest and
perhaps most thoughtiess action, may in
fluence the lives OF others for good or Tor
IL 1t is a bad thing for the work that a
-l,,, II
ly and without putting himself into 1t, but
il is a far greater III that such a man
is doing to his own soul. Laziness. slOth.
indiffeTence-these are diseases OF the
soul that can be cured only by those
who are afflicted and which. left IN
cured, are absolutely fatal
Our remedies of in ourselves do lie.
Which we asCrlbe 70 heay'n. The fafed SKY
Gives US free scope; only doth backward pull
Our slow designs. when We ourselves are dull.
Industry and faith-those are the two
tools with which the human soul can do
/ It's best-can most fully express itself.
In one OF his speeches before the House
! OF Representatives, James A. Garfield
4 said:
! Wherever ship plovs the SEA. or pIox f1rrows
ever ship a railroad train earries freight 70
market; wherever the smoke q the furnace arises
/ OF the clAng II the loom resounds; even in ne
lonely garrett where The seamstress plies her busy
needle there is industry
| That is material industry. which is
/ good; il wins such rewards as the world
/ has 20 offer 70 the successful man, FOL
/ patient Industry leads Inevitably 70 sue
/ cess, for, as Samuel Smiles wrote: II
]
prove them, II you have but moderate
| abilities. industry will supply their de-
! fciencies.' But there is an industry q
the soul which. above all we must no.
| neglect. The soul Ike the body. live.
By what IL feeds on. and, capable o,
! expansion into the infinite as ii is. W,
! may yet dwarf and stunt its pOsslbili
ties by dwelling too much on our ma
/ terial hopes and fears. Let Us forever
| understand that neither IN mind no
body nor soul IS It permitted us 20 stanS
still. Backward or forward We must in
| evitably move. and the divine impuls.
within Us. which no indifference cal
atrOphy urges Us forward 10 the light
There is so much 10 be done and s.
little time in which 20 do IL. II is no
for Us 10 say that the worlds burden
are not all on our shoulders; that afte
We are dead and gone others VIII TAX
up the work. Il Is for US constantly 4
think OF good work. fashion IN il on
minds and souls and then. with indus
NV and courage. 20 put our hands L
the task II il be not given US. Ike D,
Guerin's clock. 10 strike the hour, Jhel
let us set about il bTavely 20 strike II,
half-hOUr, or the quarter-nay. let Us no
be dismayed al the thought that we hav
only a few minutes yet 20 run. Whit
those minutes remain they are ours. alb
s0lutely. and il is for Us so 70 use then
that when the spring runs down an
time Is no more, We may face the IN
finite mystery with a glad cry Of 10
and the sublime consciousness that "
have striven-stTiven 10 be worthy o
whatever fate may befan
The reward is not set for some distan
date; not on such and such a day cha
We be called Up. as when we were lad
: at school, 70 receive a prize. Even a
, the power for good work lies within on
own souls and within the scope OF on
own courage. so within ourselves lies III
reaping OF happiness. not necessarily on
: own happiness. but the happiness Of III
world Says Ruskin.
All the hest things and treasures Of this wo-
are not n be produced ~ each generation for Z
self but are AL intended. not % carve olr woi
/ IN snow that VIII melt. bat each and all Of Us
be continually rolling q sreat white gathering sn0y
hall. higher and higher. larger and larger. amor
the Alps q human power.
Let the clock strike, The clock is NJ
time. but merely a reminder that tim
Is flying Tim is the life OF the huma
soul and the only Being who has tim
enough for he great work there is {
do is God himself. Strive on. ther
hopeful souls, Each stroke OF wo=k lift