The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-03-10
THE OPTIMTST.

In rs final analysis. I think, it VIII be
found that pesshaism Is an ignoble sort
of philosophy II IS . philosophy and
not merely a gloomy state Of mind or
soul. ! can't believe that pessimism is
born into man-for life is hope. bound
ing. joyous. free: and pessinism creeps
along a laggaTd in the walk Of the life:
content 10 stay behind and snarI at others
progress. II. therefore. pessimism comes
20 seem ignoble, how strong an 1880
there is for the true optimlst--who Re
CARDS it as a fundamental thing in his
philosophy that he should spreao abroad
the gospel of good cheer and happiness
and hope.
Nobility is a virtue that may well be
cultivated. and by careful cultivation
nightly increased, so that the man who
clings TO this virtue shall. even II he be
a pessimist TO begin with. come to have
a wide. expansive outlook on life and It's
possibilities: shall lie down with hope and
rise with firm resolves. For:
Noble souls through dust and heat,
Rise from disaster and defeat
The stronger
And conscious still u the divine
Within theul lie earth supine
No longer
Il used to be the idea Of the ancients
that a man was born noble; even as some
men were born geztle; others kind We
have progressed far enough TO see that II
is not our ancestors who ennoble Us, but
we ourselves; though OF course. it is a
fine thing and a glorious start. and one
10 thank God for. 81 we are privileged 70
be born OF a noble father and mother.
Yet. even so. the nobility that is to mark
our lives must be the outcome Of OUT
own actions and thoughts. As LOngfei-
low says:
Noble By birth. yet nobler BY great deeds.
Nobility is one OF those attributes which
vitality influence the world Few OF the
virtues have so powerful a light 10 shed
on the dark places OF others souls:
BE nobiei and the nobleness that lies
In other men, sleeping bat never dead
VIII rise in majesty 70 meet thine own:
Then witt thou see IL gieam in many EYES,
Then viii pure light around thy path Be- she'd.
And thou Walt neyerm0re be sad and lone.
one great mistake many CT US make is
| in assOciating noble deeds with heroic
deeds. with deeds Of great pith and mo-
ment. when. as a matter Of fact. many
/ OF the noblest Of lives have been quiet
and unassuming, peaceful and humble
What is H. then, 10 be noble2 Not neces
sarily % stand IN the forefront q th,
worlds affairs; not to do great deeds. but
rather 70 DO the necessary deeds of hf,
| greatly. To be honest 20 be kind Z,
work hard. 10 restrict ones desires: TO b,
mercifuL and slow 70 anger. quick G,
praise where praise is due. and slow [,
| think evil-these are humble duties o.
life. which. rightly followed make f0
the betterment Of the world and IN,
nobility OF the human heart
/ A frm and righteous belief in the eter
/ nal goodness o. God Is a stirring he'll
/ toward optimism. which. IN itself. IS one o
I the nObler virJUes-fOr IL teaches u
always 70 believe the best. 10 look for
ward hopefully and serenely; 20 be conn
l dent In our own powers. content Wit
such measure Of happiness as has beef
allowed as. and sure. within our souls
that whatever the end my be. wheneve
il comes, that end viii be good. Il "
in our daily lives have been noble, TO
laggard, and optimistic through il all