The Washington herald., 1907-12-10
THE oPTIMIST.


the fools OF this earth the Optimist does
not share. for as some one has said. 1T
takes brains 10 be a real fool" and the
man without foliies, 50 experience teaches
Us. is pretty likely TO be something OF n
rogue. In truth, the word fool" is one
Of large meaning; 70 one Il conveys one
idea. another has an entirely different
conception OF IL. The lexicograp pliers
who, of course, were the wisest Of men
surdly;" or. going a bit further into the
fog. they declare that fool is one who
''pursues course contrary TO the die
tetes OF wisdom" 1t seems to me. some
times. that dictionary definitions are
pretty cloudy Can any photographer Of
them all, or any philosopher. or any
teacher tell us what are "the dictates OF
wisdom" with a surety? I wish they
could, Ny friend the banker viii tell me
that II IS wisdom TO pouch my money
against a rainy day; my friend the spend
thrift declares that he IS wise when he
uses HIS money. for his present pleasures
and leaves the morrow TO take care of
itself Which is right? It is a hard ques-
ton. and hardly to be answered in sure
way until this life is over; and then--it IS,
unfortunately. too late 10 repair any mis-
takes.
Folly and wisdom are. in one aspect,
but the terms applied by the world al
large to the result af a mans efforts
Icarius. seeking to fly and dashing TO
death. is a fool, because he failed; Edison
making lamps burn by an unknown force
which we cali electricity. is a wise man.
Yet suppose Edison's lamps had not burn
ed and that Icarius had successfully navi-
gated the air-where would our definitions
be then? Sir Richard GrenviIle. assaning
the Spanish feet Of flfty-three ships with
the little Revenge, should. by rights.
stand to the world as a rare example Of
fool. but when
They sank his body With honor down into the
deep.
And they manned the Revenge with a svaTthisr
alien crew.
And away she sailed Eith her loss and longed for
her OWL
we come to see that It is such folly as
this that has made the world what it is
gums and wagging jaws. are apt 20 look
upon hot-headed youth as the tine Of
folly. as II their superintendent
though it may have been-had brought
them anything IN life but at the last, a
distaste for their food. weak shanks. and
watery eyes. Youth. or the other hand
conscious Of its strength and devoutly
hoping in the opportunities that are com
ing. is more than likely 10 dub the gray
boards fools. for that they have lived
long years and seem 70 have attained lit
tie but n multiplicity OF wrinkles and 20
be now somewhat meticulOusly awaiting
the final knock az the door
Nothing is 10 be achieved IN this life
without brave spirit that is willing 10
attempt the impossible: storm heights
that wisdom would shrink from. and 10
adventure into unknown seas that wis
dom viii not sail without a chart A
common phrase is Ito play the fool" and
IL is used generally in a cOntemptuoUs
way. but the man who never has played
the fool most clearly shows the utter
absence OF wisdom. There are other
phrases that have crept into the language
designed 10 show the unwisdOm OF being
a fool. POOLS paradise is one OF them:
the wiseacres forgetting. il would seem
that from that very paradise has come
some Of the best and greatest Of our
literature. What sort OF a heaven, do
you suppose. brother. that THE SOnnets
from the Portuguese" came from2 A
fools ,errand'' is another phrase that I
dislike. the way Il IS often used. The
desire OF the heart is strong, and a man
reaches out 10 his desire. Because at the
end Of a passage which may have been
troublesome and dangerous. he finds
nothing better than Dead Sea fruit. is
that TO stamp the voyager A fool? Has
he not made the journey. while the wise
acre STAYED ar home? Surely 70 sit by
the fireside and timOrously 10 keep well
out OF danger is not wisdomi And there.
again, is fools gold" that strange ad-
mixture OF minerals, practically worth
less. which has deceived so many q poor
fellow prospecting in the wilderness. But
the fools who sought and found not:
whose days Of hunger and nights OF ex-
posure were rewarded by FOOLS gold -
think you they had no other reward? Is
rot the open road and the bright eyes Of
danger a better mistress than the mus3-
ledger2
No; La Bruyere said rightly that "as
riches and honor forsake a man. We dis
cover him to be fool: but nobody could
ind it out in his prosperity that.
according TO our earthly standards, is the
test by which we judge. The only wise
man is Mr.. Success. the only fool is Master
Failure. But after all, it is better 70 be
a failure than never 70 have dared. and
all your wisdom win not bring you nearer
to God if you have not had the courage
10 live.