The Washington herald., 1908-02-06
THE OPTIMIST.

In speaking the other day of the hope
that was TO be had. even out Of poverty
considered merely the advantages Of
poverty. To show these the more fully
it is fitting that one should also con
slider the Disadvantages Of riches. In
recent times these have sbeen rather
strenuously dWelt upon and We have held
up before us the physical disadvantage
in the way of indigestion and such like
that one Of the rich men Of the world
labOrs under
But it is not in this way that one may
see riches as a curse, or. If not curse,
may see where they do not bring any
blessings with them. "All the gold in
the world cannot buy a single heart
beat nor a single glance Of tenderness
from the eyes Of those who are indif-
ferent to us. as Lamartine said, and
before him. Cicero. in one Of his notable
orati0ns cried:
Is there a man upon the face Of the earth wHo
would deliberately accept all the wealth and all
the aHlIeuce the world rsn bsstow offered %
him upon the severe conditions oi his being un-
connected with q single mortal whom he could love
or by WbCm be should be helaFedI
And of course. the answer IS obvious
even in these days when We have come
to think Of the mOney-pOwer as all pow
erful. In every age Of the world there
has been an exaggerated desire for wealth
and men and women, possessing IT not
have been firm in the belief that money
could produce, or. at the least increase
( the happiness Of life. but it is not true
has never been true. Happiness consists
-aa rH .lf 60 .rrs f- a
growth within the heart and soul and
mind. and. as Franklin said, Let us
build out streets Of gold, and they viii
hide as many aching hearts as novels Of
straw"
Wealth is one thing that ia some meas
( are is within the reach Of every man. /
mean By that every man who is willing
1 to pay the price of It. But the price is
usually very high Sometimes it involves
the loss of friends; nearly always IL
means the repression Of other desires
/ the denial Of appetites which might
I BEAUTIFULLY Doe INDUCED. and when il Is
won what does IL mean after all?
A competence most men can acquire
I by honest labor. and I think that in d
I fair competence-witb no access Of de
I sire. no envy no jealousy lies the true
meaning of perfect happiness, for, as
Holland declares:
7 Wealth takes unto itself the qualities ly which
4 b. D., rCU Gathered bT crime or fraud and gath
ord I8 haste 10 beeumts @ curse % those vL1
bold d.. ANA falls into ruin by bis own cJuuptiQns.
/ Acquired Ir honest toll. many manly frugalitg.
patient endurance and patient waiting 1t is fuI Of
good. ard holds gsthlE iy force within Itself.
/ IF We but think Of the matter in tie
right way there is scarce one Of US but
/ Is SO rich that a lifetime will not suf-
/ fee 20 s4uander alb the wealth we have.
/ Wealth 0L thought is ours. wealth of OPP
pUrtuuity. wealth of life. and wealth Of
power which wc may use If we viii 70 win
. toward the only goal that is worth the
( striving for
Vh7 lose ne life i1 a1ziGus cares,
To iag ig boards tor fHtuT. years.
Can those when tortured bg diseased
chez Or sick hearts gr purchase Gsset
Can thusg Ir9.ug one gasp n breath,
ur calm tbe troubled fear q death:
/ Not one whit Bat we can store up
and hoard Ike a mIsor-aud with great
profit 20 our s0uis-go0d cheer, hopeful
+ ress. right ambition. aspiration. and faith
.n tile ultimate decency of things. That
I sort Of boarding leads the way 90 the
only sort of happiness that is possible
. To m0rtalz and that sort of wealth We
can give not only without "A selfish p7ng,
/ but with exceeding JOY and uplift to our
+ fellow mwJals who are poorer in faith
and happiness than we are ourselves.
/ Much lrauIu- shows bew little mutaIs know
/ Hurl saa.-H. HaH little wording can enjoy
/ Al best. ir tahe. ms with endless toys,
And ta.7s us children t drop to dust.
/ As monkeys 60 ui-r-r stand amazed
/ THsy faH O. fu3 what they So plainly seei
/ Thus uar. iu shining riches see Che face
/ OF happiness. nor kn1N 1t is shade,
/ But gaze. and touch ard peep and peCD again,
/ and wish and TCudU-it ia absent Iip.