The Washington herald., 1908-05-28
THE OPTIMIST.

II was Hazlitt. 1 think, who first wrote
an essay thanking God for rich men.
even II he himself were not overburdened
with the worlds goods. For. as he point
ed out, it was his, a poor mans lnesti-
mable privilege, to enjoy 70 their fullest
the things that money can buy; the
worlds masterpieces Of art. OF painting.
of sculpture OF literature. It was his 10
feast his eyes on the marvels Of archi-
lecture, the palaces Of the rich and they
who owned them. he argued. had no more
usufruct Of them than himself.
The Hoosier poet had something OF the
same thought when he wrote:
A poor man! Yes must confess
No wealth of gold do posses;
No pastures q fine with grazing kline,
Nor fields Of waving grain mine;
No foot Of Eat or iallow land
Where righuuly my foot may stand
The while I claim IL as ms own
By deed and title. mine alone.
And yet the homely philosopher. who
is supposed TO speak the words Of this
poem. goes to say that he needs no mans
compassion, and he dweHs with thankful
ness OF the "opulence Of poverty" which
allows him to
count
An inner wealth Of large amount
Ihe wealth. Of honest purpose blent
With Penrys enrir0nmlnt--
The wealth Cf owing naught to-day
But debts that would gladly PAY
With wealth of thanks still unexpressed
With cumulative Interest.
The thought that is back OF Hazlitt's
essay and the Hoosier bard's poem is
one that should be particularly appli-
cable 10 all OF Us at this season OF the
year. For now, indeed, II is spring. with
the promise Of summer; the drear DAYS
are past, tue world is at its fairest. and
the odorous breeZes from the South. that
come to us laden with the songs Of happy
birds. are but a part Of Gods riches. 10
be shared by poor and rieh alike.
To one who takes life hopefully and
trustingly believing in himself and in
the work he has TO do IN the short span
OF life allotted 70 him on this earth, a
consideration OF such thoughts as these
VIII lead inevitably 10 the conclusion that
such happiness as is permitted 10 Us
mortals depends far less on external cir
cumstanCes than on the power that is
within ourselves.
The man whose heart Is filed. as Il
should be- with gratitude toward that
divine Providence that has made the
world so beautiful, life so full Of hope
VIII find each day an hundred things TO
be thankful for-things which ne may en-
JOY as fully and largely as ever the rich
man can appreciate his purchased joys
The man Of wealth may congratulate
himself on his mansions, on HIS carriages
his pictures. and other lUXuries. but these
may equally as we'll De enjoyed by others
as himself. Indeed. II they were not so
enjoyed, and some times envied, half the
pleasure IN them would seem stale. But
the contented man Is he who can take
pleasure IN Gods luxuries and be not
envious at all that all the world. rich
and poor. just and unjust may enjoy
them, too II Is such a man who may
say:
voice n greeting from The wind was sent
The mists cnf0lded me with soft white arms
The birds did sing 20 lap me IN content
The rivers Wnve their charms
And every httle, ,daisy in the graSs
Did lock up 10 my face and smile to see me pass
These are the treasures Of simplicity
and contentment; pleasures which. with
the budding flowers. the bright sunshine
the glorious days, the songs OF happy
birds, and all the wondrous beauty OF the
earth, are emphasized 10 US at this sea-
son.
With the world so beautiful, who IS
there can call himself poor2 Old earth
puts forth her best efforts, and her sue
cess is fine and sturdy inspiration 70
man 10 emulate the example OF Dame Ma
ture. and do the best that in him lies