The Washington herald., 1908-01-21
THE OPTIMIST.


word is more meanngfuI or more often
used than the word HoDe-which is, Of
course. the very foundation Of the phi
iosophy Of optimism.
We speak with the lip. and We dream in the soul
OF some better and fairer day;
And 0ur days. tie meanwhile, % that golden goal
/ Are gliding and sliding away.
I N1H the world becomes old. now again u IS yalng'
But The Betters forever the word en- the tongue
That is the true meaning Of Hope to
the optimist a continual striving from
+ the things that are 20 things that are
better. Ideally Of course. the striving
should be for the best. but optimism is
not blind faith; il recognizes the limita-
tlons Of human endeavor and while It
/ believes tnat always the world is swing
/ ing forward. not back, it recognizes that
/ the best, The highest. is an attribute Of
I God and not to be- realized on this earth
! by mankind. And with hearts fun Of
/ fine ard reasonable hope the optimistic
souls say with Tennyson:
Let che past b. past;
:. care I0t while We hear
A uamper ia the distance pealIng news
oi better and H5pe, a posing eagle burn
Above the unriCu tomorrow.
/ One thing experience teaches us-though
the lesson is q thought bitter-and that is
I that IN this life anticipation is always
finer than the realization, Fruitiou, even
I If it De of the fullest. always falls short
Of hope. and knowing this it is the part
Of wisdom 10 keep feeding on the future
and 90 refuse TO be cajoled into convert
/ ing pleasant and profitable hopes into
certainties that may prove % be disagree
able
4 60 on with tie hope that better days
viii come. said Matthew Arnold and
Wordsworth
Is meiitated action; robbed q this
Her solo support she lsUgUIsIes and dies
We perish also, We see by the glad lgEJ
And breathe the sweet air r fufurity:
And H= live. or else have 10 life
In all the days Of human life a man
shall find no friend more constant. more
c0nsoliHg. more faithful. more cheering
than hope; and hope welded 70 faith be-
gets patience and striving and action.
and urges man on 10 do the best that
in him lies. Said Amlel:
A. bottom. everything depends upon the presence
er absence n one single element In the s1uI-h0Te.
.hHt -..af|'. Ft as tta tItELs ana an
c.t.IIrs- i--sIIIasgs IH him hope u attaining
au end Once Eil this hope and his movements
become seuse.ess. spasn0dic. and c1nuiisve. A
att.e blindness Is Necessary # life Is o Dee carried
on ard Illusion IS tie universal spring Of move
mont.
Tt is then the duty as well as the
pleasure Of the optimist 10 hope-and to
hope always for the best But the true
ptimist. the man who desires not only
selfish accomplishment. but tO help his
felioW-man, wiz not sit down with folded
hands and hope that good may come
% him. He viii realize that IL is his
duty 90 take OF his coat, II necessary.
and 60 stUrdiIy to work in the direction
of his hope.
orr agony is great and how can il enda We
.1sl r.eu tHe anchor Of Hope and e. ont % en-
counter The necessities and discharge the duties q
lie. and though sadness may never lift the burden
from The mind. Hope Uil enable us % support IL
and as we work in the direction Of
our hopes We shall find that our dis
appointments. ana the StiHEs they have
lefr fade farther and ever farther from
our minds and hearts. Hoping much.
we may achieve some little thing. which.
however little. is distinct advance and
should therefore. renew our hope for
in the distance, but it IS yet great
ways of, and many a struggle. many a
Hear.-acEe. many a keen and cruel dis
appointment must we conquer ere we
Ulu through 20 It. But. ever. if We keep
our faces toward the goal and fight man
fully onward. shall we be able TO note
some progress, and struggle. We must. if
we nave hope for companion, always
at OUT side. urging us on imperatIvelv.
Downcast we may be, disappointed often
we must be, dIscoura cement must come
and the barriers seem impossible. but
always when we lock around We SHAH
find G0d-imulanted hope.
AaI SD shall ID the evening stars q this our life
slilg ufaH ls IS the stars dF morning ~ f,,i,ra
DAY. Think tE0u n muuiuE when thou art look
iHE upon FFrgs and when a SIN Is setting for
thee. turn lice 5h1Ut and thou mavasr see moon
rising l ts east The noon gives warrant that
t-e IE is shining stII-as Hope SAYS there still
is happiness