The Washington herald., 1908-05-02
THE OPTIMIST.

| The changes wrought by death are ID themselves
so sharp and final, and 20 taQibe and melancholy
in their consequences. that the thing stands alone
in mans experiences. and has no psrallei upon earth
SO far, r. L. s.. who, facing death for
years. faced It always with an eye Of
bravery and laughed Iight-heartedly at
its powerlessness to cause him fear. For
here was a man who had not been
equipped by the gods with the sort OF
armor that some men have to buckle
through the world with, but was weak Of
body, frail Of lung. and had to travel far
and wide into the very lands Of romance.
not seeking for adventure, but for health.
And SO We. of good health and living
day by day in a certain sort Of security
which, after all. may be but a fools para
disc, come 10 honor this writer who
teaches US 70 be optimistic and hopeful,
even If the passing bell Is ringing. l
take it that those of US who have lived;
who have absorbed some Of the beat Of
the sea into our blood, who know the
winds Of the plains, the glory of the
| tropics. the mystery OF the vast cities,
have come somehow TO realize that there
may come time when man grows tired
and is willing to rest for his part. To
SUCH death-as a personal thing-is not a
bugbear or a fetch; 1t becomes, as it
we're, part Of the chances Of every day.
and one feels that If he were sure he
could play a mans part and at his pass
/ ing cry
| In the fell clutch Of circumstance
! have not wiaced OF cried aloud.
He might be well pleased with himself
/ and take what comes. il not smlllngIy
at least, without a whine!
But It is IN different case when death
touches not ourselves. but our friends.
/ for, to quote Stevenson again: Death
does not take them away utterly, but
Ileaves behind a mocking, tragical, and
sOcn intolerable residue. which must be
hurTiediy concealed" And that is the
/ part Of the business that makes US cry
out upon poor humanity" and which,
when the mood is upon us. will hardly
bear to allow US look one another in the
face
1 The poets and thinkers OF our modern
| age-losing perhaps some Of the blind
| faith Of our fathers-have brought US one
real consolation in the thought Of death;
deeming it not so much a passing into
rest but q step into higher work, where
We may express ourselves better than our
limitations allowed US here. Even so good
a priest as Kingsley had something OF this
sort in his heart when IIe wrote.
/ Death beautiful. wise kind Death when viii
yoa cme and tel me what ! want to know!
eouFied you onee and many time, brave Old
Death. ony % give rest TO the weary. That was
I coward 8 Eish-and 50 y0u would not come .
/ l vas not worthy q you. Aud nov viii not hunt
you any more. old Death DO you hide your time
{ and ] mine. Only when you ouma give me not
rest, bat woTk- Give Work 70 the idle. freedom to
the chained. sight TO the blind.
The sane thought, when q friend dies,
/ is not one OF depression or sadness or
/ sOrTOW--thOugh these things are hard 10
/ oveTcome-but are 10 be found on the
other side Of the shield, For there the
sun shines brightly
/ There is no death-ths thing that We call death
Is but another. sadder name for life,
/ Which is itself an insufficient name
/ Faint recognition Of that unknown life
That Power whose shsdow Is the Universe
We are too apt 10 cloud our faith with
the sense Of our personal bereavement.
Death has come and there is the ache
here in the throat" but that is for our
selves. We can best honor the dead by
accepting what was good that they have
left-high example, fine endeavor, high
/ purpose and lofty ideals.
! These Temainl
Friend after friend departs;
/ Who hath not lost a friend7
/ There is no union here uf hearts
/ That hnds not here an end.
We. zoo. must tresd the path thay trod
3he road 10 peace; the read TO God