The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-01-04
THE OPTIMIST.

One curious thing about optimism is
that once, as a faith, it is really Ingram
ed into ones system, IL applies 70 every
phase and condition of life. / suppose
that, ordinarily, nothing could invite to
pessimistic thoughts quite so readily as
the question OF failure, and yet If one
has bat learned to think wisely and
optimistically, which is the same thing
il is easy to understand that out Of even
failure, hopefulness may come. You re-
member what Walter Scott said: in
some enterprises, the real dishonor lies
not in failure. but in success and it is
not hard to follow this thought to its
logical conclusion.
Behold We know not anything" sang
Tennyson; there is none of US so wise
that we can say that the dear desire of
our heart is good. We see what we think
to be a desirable goal and we strive ali
our mind and heart and soul to reach It
and-falling short, we repine and think
that the world Is all wrong with US. and
yet there Is not one Of US so blind but
we may see that If we had succeeded in
our dearest wish it would have been
ruin for us and that in failure-in failure
alone. have we been triumphant. Dean
/ WaTrar said once:
/ A must have made yery small progress in
the true estimate # life if De has not learned that
what most regard as failure may be the most
splendid success. and what they regard a. enFable
I success may be the most abject Of failures. The
worst Of failures for any human being is not 70 be
/ poor Insignificant. 0utwardly unfortunate. but
TO be the slave Of his loser nature.
That is the truly optimistic philosophy
rightly applied TO this question, and the
best minds Of many ages have been ap-
piled TO reaching the world the truth
Of this
Who is there can set bonds to a mans
ambition or desire? Why should not a
man desire the highest but the higher
the aims the more sure; the more newt.
able his failure. Epictetus said once: at
thou desire never to fail in any pursuit
this thou canst do; this therefore practice
10 attain-namely the attainable"
But is not this in some sort cowardly
doctine after all? To what would you at
tain? To a certain degree of excellenc,
in the use Of English; to a certain limit
ed amount Of wealth; to a certain ccteri'
Of friends-these things you may hav,
and know no failure. But surely if one
desire only those things that are wei
within his grasp he has never aspired
and without aspiration can one trull
live? To my mind life-life at its high
est and best-is all aspiration.
The end Is in sight, and the true maj
IS he who hopes TO meet that end hravely
honestly, and without fear, and viii
the consciousness that he has done tn
best that IN him lay, not only 20 maxi
himself better-f0r that were pure selfish
ness-but to make the world better also
Work on, Work honestly. and though
the world may call you a failure becaus
you have attained neither 10 riches no
fame nor great honor. rest assured ina
no real honest endeavOT is wasted 0
lost. Kingsley says.
I II sou lose heart about y0ur work remeTnbe
that none Of il is lost-that the good 4 every goo
deco remains and breeds and works on forever
and that all that fails and IS lost Is the Outsid
shell q the thing, which, perhaps might have bee
better done.
And out Of our very failures in thl
world comes access Of strength and tn
ability to fight on. fare forward
Emerson gave US the trumpet eall-us
the failuTes-When he cried.
Never mind the ridicule, never mind the defeat
Up again, old heart There is yietogy yet foE al
justice.
And let rs remember that. after ali. /
is not given to our finite minds TO gras
the full significance of defeat. We ar
beaten to the earth only that We may RS
again." sleep TO waken:"
And as We fall hy various ways. and sink
Through manifold degrees II guilt and shame,
So manifold and various are the Ways
OF restoration. fashioned 10 the steps
OF all iulumity, aad tending an
, To the sane point attainat.e IS all
Peace in ourselves and union with God