The Washington herald., 1908-01-23
THE OPTIMIST.

An old and Oft-quoted axiom is that Of
Pope: THE proper study of mankind is
man. but for all that. it is. / think. lit
tie needed by the generality Of us. The
truth is that we are so busy about our own
selhsh affairs that we seldom have time
TO study ourselves, let alone our fellows.
If d friend or even an acquaintance IS
pre-eminently good we recognize the fact;
If he have faults we have not time to
weigh them against the good in bis
nature. but are likely. without further
study, 20 condemn him utterly, forgetting
that:
best men are nodded ont IF faults
And for the most. become much more the bcttr
For being lttle bad
II may be- thought easy 20 define the
qualities that should 60 20 make up a
perfect man, and yet every one who
should attempt the definition would be
moved more or less, this way OF that, by
springs within his own nature. We can
say with FrOudo that bravery. honesty,
veracity, these are the qualities which
are needed always. as the root Of all
greatness in man." and yet man may
possess all these qualities i'm a large de-
gree and yet be very far from that state
OF perfection which shall make him q
good companion, loving father, a kind
husband, "a worthy citizen.
Too often. / believe. We fail to consider
that man is largely what he makes
himself. II matters not into what en-
yironment he was born, he may escape il
~ Hs L.. 80 aa
hampering To his soul. AS Hoyace Bush
nell said.
We commonly expect o, see The great spirits and
geuiuses 4 the world struggling up 0Ut of ols-ur
Ey and want and heau thr0es af s1uI-birth. and
taking their place as o1uquerers. They are men
q victory. not # fortune Aud therefore doubt
less, It aas that 90 give man start God threw
BIN 1lt n his equilibrium iu the beginning iuoT-
DcratiHg IN bin wants the supply of which is 20
get onlT as he Hrugs ir from bis crude u0ssibiii-
ties by strenuous exertion.
We can see where a man arrives and
honor his station and his fine endeavOrs.
but that is not 20 know the man, What
were the springs behind his actions2 NEO
is there can tell, but the man himself?
N0t always actions show the man. we ind.
Who does kindness Is not. therefore. kind,
Perhaps prosperity becalmed bis breast,
Perhaps the wind Just shifted from tie east.
Not, therefore, humble De who seeks retreat
Pride guides bis STEPS and bids him SHIN tie great
Nao e1mbats bfarelJ is not, therefore brave.
BE araafS a deaflbeG like the msauest slave;
Who reasons wisely is n5', therefore. wise.
HIS IElie lu reasoning not Do acting. lies
One thought that results from this line
Of reasoning is that If, then. We md it so
Impossible 20 put a name TO our own
actions. we surely are in poor case when
we come % judge the actions OF our feI-
low man. The one safe rule seems 20 De
found iu the optimistic outlook on life
which makes us think the best Of the
world and IFS people; impels us 70 believe
that in spite of sin and suffering and
failure. all things work together for the
ultimate good
Really and underneath al their external diverzi
ties. ali mlu are n 0ne heart and mind p
Trust men. and they win be true 20 you; rreat them
greatly and they win saov themselves great though
theg make am exception iu sour favor 90 all their
rules u trade
That was Emers0n's d.ctUm, and that
wise philosopher saw deeper into the
heart of things than most.
But ir you cannot judge a man By his
speech. by his carriage. by his faCe-you
can AZ least tell 0f him by what De does
That iz what counts after all. for when
the man with all his faults and folbles
has passed away the work remains. II
is something done. finished for ali time:
the influence il eXerts is UnaIterabIe. As
Carlyle said.
The spoken uuEd the written poem. is sad 10 he
aE cuit0me of the man; how much more the done
vors Whatsoever Of morality and intelligence.
what RI patience. perseverance. f4ithfuines. q
method. insight ingenuity. energy iH q word.
whatsoever # strength the man had iD him uii
be written IN the work he does
And SO. after all. in one aspect man
can only be considered as a tool. an in
t=Iigent TOOL appointed by the Master 70
do some appointed work. That is what
counts. that a man shall work. work
hard. work honestly. not caring greatly
about the wage or the reward. but care
fuI only that the work-the only thing
about him that shall live-is well done
and good
GLORY q warrior glory of orator. glory Of song,
Paid with g voice fTirg by 20 be lost On an end
less sea-
Glory Of virtue. TO fight 70 struggle to right the
VrluE-
Nay. but she aimed not at slay, 20 Iorsr Of
Give her the rloy Of going on and stiu TO he.
The wages of sin Is death: If the wages Il virtue
hs dust
Woud she have heart 20 endure for the life of
The Wo-m and tire fy5
She desires no isles Of the best no quiet seats of
The g,J.
To rest ia a s5Idsn grove, or to bask in a summer
su-
Give her The wages Of going on. and not 10 die.