The Washington herald., 1908-03-19
THE OPTIMLST.


timism is in kindness. the virtue which
in truth binds the whole human brother
hood together. Indeed, the very word
itself. kindness. stands for knship. II mas
trickled down through the languages TO
US OF the present day having this double
meaning In the Anglo-Saxon the word
is ''cynde' from the root OF '-cennan"-to
beget. In Latin it is ''gignere.~ in San
scrit Jan" and in Greek -gignesthia" to
be born. Perhaps Shakespea-e's play upon
words. "A little more than kin and less
than kind" has had much 70 DO with
divorcing kinshio from kindness in the
average mind.
From the earliest times the usefulness
of kindness as a social force has been
recognized and dwelt upon II was one OF
the main tenets OF the ancient Hebrew
writer's and Marcus Aurelius. that pagan
who in his philosophy reached the sub
Unity Of Christianity. said:
Man is made to be kind and oblige. And. there
fore. when he does good Orce and prOTes serEics-
able 10 the world he has fulfilled the end Of his
being and attains his own reward.
Bailey. in his "Festus.' tells US that
Kindness is wisdom. There is none in life
But needs Il and may Learn
There is no attribute OF God that is bet
ter reflected in the human heart than this
OF kindness. The last commandment. the
one on which He told US. hangs all the
law and the prophets. was Love one
another" and that. in three words is the
golden rule Of kindnesst
The man who cultivates this God-like
tering Joy and sunshine and hopeful
thoughts Envy. hatred, and all Unchari-
tableness are not for the man whose
attitude toward his fellows is a kind one.
To such a man there can be no such
thing as hating a sinner. desplsing a
brother for his weakness. or thinking
meanly Of greatness honOrably won
Kindness to ones equal: kindness to
ones superior is always. perhaps, tine
tured with little doubt-even in mans
own soul-of self-interest and therefore
IL is the kindness we bestow 70 those be-
low US in station: 70 the miserable and
wretched; 10 those who need help. that
does the greatest good to the world az
large. and which. reflected. sheds a radi-
ance on our souls. Dean Farrar put this
aptly when he wrote.
A richer recompense awaits the kindness bestowed
upon the poor than the adrlatoTy entertainment Of
the friendly and the rch. In receiving friends and
relatives. do not forget the helpless and aictcd.
Interested benefcenes Is nothing ia the uord but
deceida selhslness. Luxury, ostentation. the hope
q return. are nc; true principles Of Hospitality
But kindness does not at all consist in
rich giving. II may be a magnificent thing
to donate library that costs an enor-
nous sum, but II the donor sacrifices
nothing in his gift-gives Ostentatiously
and out Of reckless abundance. il IN
no way resembles real kindness. 7 take
Il that susA a gift cannot weigh a mo-
ment IN the sca,e against the kind word
aptly spoken by one whose heart Is heavy
within him and who Is yet moved TO com
passion by an0ther's sorrow. The kind
ness which costs US something which
| leads US into the bypaths OF the world =
seek out the distressed. 10 comfort The
sick; lift up the fallen. succOr the poor
| carry sunshine into darkness and tC
spend the best that is within our souls ir
the service OF others-this is TO worship
God with all our souls. Such kindness
such kinship with the human brotherhood
IS worth al the set ritual OF prayers that
we're ever mumbled. Says Kingsley:
Every tine We perform an act Of kindness TO ans
human bcing. ave. even to dumb animal arr
indeed Worshiping God by whose Spirit al good
deeds and all EOod thoughts are inspired
No one can overrate the power OF the
kindness in moving the wheels Of this
gray old earth. The man who feels his
kinship 20 even the poorest and most
wretched Of his brethren is in very truth
gentle man. The spirit that IS in him
is the spirit that makes for hopeful op-
timism. II Will awaken the slumberins
emotions even Of an evil heart For II
this world of ours. with all its sin and
suffering and sorrow love and kindnes.
/ have never yet been utterly wasted.
We cannot live. except thus mutually
We alternate. aware or unaware
/ The reflex act Of life; ard When We bear
Our virtue outward most impulsireIy
Most fun Of invocation. and 20 he
Most instantly compliant cortes there
We live most life whoever breathes most air
And couutc his dying years by sun and sea
But when soul. Uy choice and conscience. doth
Throw ont her fun force on another soul
/ The conscience acd the concentration both
Make nere life. Love. Fer life in perfect whole
/ And aim consummated. is Love IN soo.h
As Natures ulagner-heat rog-rf7s rsrie with -rle