The Washington herald., 1908-02-08
THE OPTIMIST.

The spirit of true optimism is the spirl
not only that searches for happiness, bu
/ Is determined TO find It, Imbued by thi
purpose, your healthful. striving optimis
viii always seek. at whateytr pains. thos
things that make for real happiness il
this troubled life of ours Among tn,
other gTaces the acquisition of which q
to make nfe glorious and happy, none.
think, can be more potent than virtue.
Be virtuous and you will be happy.
said the sage Of long ago, and this. Hk,
many another axiom which has becom,
part of our language. is indeed true. A:
Colerde said:
He cannot long be sreteaed, who dares 10 be ac
uFey tlftuous. Unless we aecustom our
selves TO mediate adoriagy on Him. the source q
al HriCe no virtue can be permanent.
Real virtue has mighty little to do WITH
what the world calls decency and re.
specta5ility. These are outward things
the side OF mis- nature that a man shows
to the world: virtue-the real virtues
hidden within mans soul, and is a
spring powerful enough to coRtrol all his
actions.
Charles Dickens was one Of the first
to recognize the fact that virtue had
mighty little 20 do with outward appear
ances, and we all remember what he
said IN his preface to Oliver Twist:
It is wonderful how Virtue turns from dirty
stockngs and hoa Vice. married to ribbons and a
l'iie cay attire, changes her name and becomes
H0msnca.
And Herbert Spencer had the same
thought when he said
We all find ourselves unable to preach yirtue in
thrasdbsre apparel with eordaiity as great as
tHaL "e would ahow % the same virtue endowed
WITH prosperity. Scarcely man is 10 b. found
VINO would not behave with more ciriify 10 a knaFe
~ bFoadcioth than 10 a haTe IN fustian
Indeed virtue has so little care for the
outward aspect Of things that it will not
really work except In secret Virtue IS
q plant whose roots require to be hidden;
Kept from the eyes Of the sun. Nor is
virtue thing To be constantly dwelt
upon or thought about by a man The
less a man thinks or knows about his
virtues the more apt he is TO remain
Nirtuous and 70 impress his fellow-men
with a sense Of goodness. Of course. vir-
Tue is state 70 which a man may bring
himself by the constant exercise of faith
and By the intense desire to use to the
fullest the best the God-giyen qualities
lhat are IN him. AS Victor Hugo SAYS:
It is absurd 70 say. Z VIII be man Of esnius p,
10 j. noble 70 say, 4 viii be a man Of virtue" II
j. not pTacicabe 20 strive after genius but il is
aiter virtue Napoleon was a man Of genius Wash
inston was g man q virtue.
If, then. the opinion Of the wise men
who have gone before US count for any
thing, II We are 10 take to heart any OF
the lessons Of experience. we must realize
that the real road 10 happiness lies along
the paths Of virtue.
Virtue alone 0utmilds the pyramids.
Her monument shal. last. BheH Egypts falls.
And so It beho0ves US all 10 put our
virtues 10 the test. for virtue is much
strengthened by combat; it is not virtue
10 shrink and retire in the face OF tempta-
lion, but 10 face temptations boldly and
.ramule them under foot.
Virtue and sense are one and srfst ne stiI
4 fal-Lless heart hetrays the head unsglnd.
irtue d0r mere good nature is a fool
j. sense and spirit with humanity
us sometimes angry, and is frowu confouuds:
lis even rndictive. but IN vengeance Just.
AnaTes iain would laugh at il; some sreat ones
dare,
sui az his heart the most uudaunted son
u fortune breads It's name and awful charms