The Washington herald., 1909-03-14
By THE OPTIMIST.

that the many Of you who have re-
ceived your club-buttons are pleased
with them. II has been most gratifying
to have you call for them and II has
been great pleasure TO meet so many
of you face to face. Some day I hope
we shall all meet in a fine enthusiastic
optimistic meeting; one at which we can
show our strength and convince those
who wilfully stay outside the optimistic
fold what an enormous power for good
and strength toward happiness lies po-
tent IN our ranks
Please don't forget our club motto:
Lets Help" ! think il is the duty of
all US to do what lies nearest our hand
20 DO, and one OF the first steps toward
right living, happiness. and hope is to
join The Washington Herald Optimist
Club membership in which costs nothing
but a smile and a cheerful word. To full
Ill the optimistic obligation-the only one
that rests upon the acceptance of a club
button-I don't think any Of you can do
better than spread the gospel of opti-
mism. II you have sent for your button
yourself, send for another for the man
next door or for the lady in the next
street-for any person you know Of whose
outlook on life seems to be less hopeful
than IL should be al you have 10 do
Is TO fill out a coupon with the name and
address Of the person whom you want 70
join. and the button will be sent the
name viii be recorded, and the bigger
our membership Of course the larger
our power for good in this community
I say this community but after all the
community or The Washington Herald
Optimist Club has wide bounds. Already
we count our membership in several
States, and this week we jump 10 the
Philippines in extending cur influence.
We have an optimist in BrookpOrt. Ill.
who sends me the names Of two Of his
friends in Manila, with the request that
the paper be sent them. together with
two Of our buttons You may be sure
they went forward
This week have received a great num-
Der Of encouraging letters and I am sure
you viii be glad TO hear that four Of our
prize-winners last week have written.
saying that the cash prizes were. by
them, turned over 70 charity.
Here is a letter that seems TO be ad-
dressed TO az Of US. / print IL because II
ought to help us all:
= Dear 0Rtimist Friends: You are PRACTICAL
Demonstration and manifestation oi a life that s
Worth HVinS- for ycu are a tree planted IN the
soil Of ssSial thought. that IS every moment bear
ing fuit unto righteousness.
The optimistic life or influence Is a ltaven az wc-k
lifting humanity up to a higher rlane and betts7-
ment q conditions; II is light that shines into
the darker reces-es of human nature lilumin@tIng
purifying and making sweet the same Life d tl,
SIT Of God The blessings of life accrue 20 ne
when strive To please othCrs Aiy best 0pti-
mistic thought for each and every morning Is tina;
J sill Try 20 make glad heart each day. Yours
n charity and love HENRY HAMILTON.
- Hrrf-r
Then here IS a letter from Rosslyn.
Va. that should prove encouraging 20 all
of US:
My dear f1ends; u gives me great pleasure 10
tel yOu that the ODtimist Department IS working
wonders IN our quiet little corner of tins busy
world. Nav heaven continue 10 bless the good
work and let It brighten the lonely ones who need
just such help as the OItimist sends
H wIBIRT
a lady writes me. asking if I will send
her another button for herself. She saws
there was only one coupon and I let
him have it," the him. being her hus-
band. OF course. the button has gone 10
her. And I want all Of you to know that
when you find some one who wants one.
so as TO bear proudly the motto Of the
club. I shall always be glad TO furnish
them
can't help, either printing part Of a |
letter received from one Of our earliest
members. Mr.. Arthur ". Beer, who
writes:
The button is neat in design and better motto |
for a club Of ortmists could hardly have been /
seiected- It inspires the following lines. which
dare say viii hardly appear inspired in the eyes q
g critic. but then you also optimist here
they are:
Lets Help motto for Ms all
Let's help our bIr5en-beariug brothers.
And While we're busy helping others
The load from Our own hack will fall
Which is as good truth and philosophy |
as il is poetry.
You VIII find, feIlow-optimists that our 4
contest on Life has peen second TO none /
IN interest The number Of contributions /
has been larger than usual, and the con- 4
tributors are farther afeld. The subject l
was SO b!g. within IT was such a scope /
for expression. that il is not surprising /
that the general quality Of the contribu- /
tions sent in should be so good The re- l
suit is one Of the best pages that we have
ever had; a psse Of helpfulness: Of fine, |
suggestive thought-a page Of uplift
Please don't overlook the fact that /
there is another contest on. the subject is l
Character" and II should give all Of 4
you fine opportunity 10 contribute. This 4
contest closes next Wednesday noon.
First prize a check for s. is awarded /
this week 20 Clara d. Gilbert, 1909 Fair
mont street, for the following:
Life Is loving, doing, giving, forgiving !
f0rbearing. smiling. dispensing cheer. In !
short. life is working out Gods plan for /
as, and by living up 20 our motto, Lets
help I'm its brOadest sense. we can ac-
complisA this.
Second prize. Of 50. goes to J. B. Clay
Ton, Post-ofFice box III, for this:
It's so good to be alive, Every suicide
IS either mentally or morally mad II /
the croakers would leave the stagnant
pools Of their discontented selfshness
and walk in the green pastures by the
side Of clear waters. they would be
healthier In body, sweeter I'm disposition.
and cheerier IN speech. With every nerve
aquiver with the JOYS Of sight sound.
and touch; with the daily miracle Of ma
ture, and the fresh marvel Of friend
ship; with the thoughts Of the worlds
best minds in books. on canvas and in
marble; with the music Of oratorlo and
the mathis Of feathered songsters; with
the voices Of affection and duty 10 greet
US; Il is worth while 70 1--we, and we do