The Washington herald., 1909-07-04
BY THE OPTDusT.


The poet Gray in his ode for Music,
sang as follows:
Sweet is the breath Of yernal shower.
The bees collected treasures sweet
Sweet music melting fEn but sWUetGr yet
The stn small voice Of gratitude.
For ages ingratitude has been deemed
the basest of sins, and this view has
lasted up 70 the present time. All the
poets and philosophers have pointed out
its iniquity-in fact Young goes so far
as 70 declare that:
He that's ungatefll. has no suilt but one;
All other crimes may PAS FOR virtues in him.
The majority Of the members OF this
club may have escaped any personal
contact with the ungrateful person.
Our optimism helps US IN the hope and
the belief that there are but few such
persons in the world. But the fact may
remain that some of us have been placed
IN a position 70 observe or to feel the
consequences Of ingratitude.
I have seen the patient mothers and
fathers of families toll and sacrifice that
their children might enjoy advantages TO
which they themselves were strangers in
their own youth Early and late loving
hands and hearts have labored that the
beloved ones might reap the benefits OF
that labor. Can any OF you, my fellow
optimists. conceive Of a blacker or a
baser crime than that committed by
children. when they forsake such parents
in their old age? Suppose mother or
father are behind the times"-whO kept
them there? Suppose their manners are
o little rough. Remember they had no
such advantages Of training and Of edu-
cation as they gave 20 you. suppose in
their old age. mother and father are a
little unreasonable. cranky you call IL.
Instead of criticising them. you should
feel the utmost pity and love for them.
for perhaps their dispositions were hard
ened by labor. or their souls warped by
the lack OF the broadening Influences
which you have so freely enjoyed as the
fruit OF their sacrifice.
I speak OF this attitude OF children to-
ward their parents not because 1 think
II IS a common condition nowadays. but
because of all the phases Of gratitude
that which one should feel for those
who have started us prosperOusly along
our lifc's journey Is the one that Is most
imperative. Lack this one quality or
your nature. and nature fails 70 fulfill
IT'S very function. 1 deem II Of the utmost
importance that those who have TO DO
with the training Of future generations
should inculcate into their charges n
proper appreciation OF the value and the
incalculable blessing Of all that Is being
done 10 make them useful and capable
citizens.
"One good turn deserves another" is
a catch-phrase that we often hear IN our
daily lives. II means undoubtedly that
man should return favor for favor. II
YOU do something for your neighbOr, and
he forgets all about Il. you. who have
helped him should be the last 10 remind
him Do not dispense your favOrs with
the idea Of being repaid in fun. but
nevertheless. shun that man who accepts
your bounty and makes no effort 10 show
his appreciation Often word OF thanks.
sincerely offered. amply repays one for
a service. whether II be slight, or wheJh-
er II be a great one involving personal
sacrifice. There are stil among us to-
day good. beautiful souls who delight
in doing for Others-and the thanks and
hearty appreciation of those benefited
Is always enough 20 repay them These
do good for the pleasure It gives them
not for what It viii ultimately gain FOR
them.
While urging optlmists, and indeed
every one else. 10 do good without thought
Of reward. I want 20 also point out the
obligation that an optimist is under when
he himself is the recipient Of favors.
Even though II may 1-em TO you that
you are utterly pOwerless ever 10 repay
your benefaCtOT for what he has done Tor
you still YOU should never forget the
service performed. II IS in the order Of
things that some day, when you least ex-
pect II. you may be able 10 give a good
account Of yourself and prove to him
that bread cast upon the waters viii re-
turn. even after many days.
Remember that while q good deed car
ries with II a sense Of satisfaction which
is fits own reward, you are not absolved
thereby from showing your gratitude
when you can.
We have so much 20 be thankful for IN
this world. Opumists. who cultivate and
practice a cheerful and hopeful outlook
appreciate this fact. No matter how
many unpleasant things occur or how
sorely you are tried sometimes TO pre-
serve your optimism. there IS always a
brighter prospect IN view. The faculty
of smiling through tears, of looking for
the silver lining beneath the blackest
cloud are an Optimists dearest privileges.
To thank God for the beauties OF nature.
the blessing Of health, and the faculties
which enable us 20 enjoy life IN its best
aspects, all these things are the opti-
mist's duties.
Peace tranquility, and happiness are
the fruits of the grateful mind. Con-
tentment comes only 10 the mal whose
mind bears the inner consciousness Of no
wrong unrighted, no harshness offered in
place Of kindness. Of no debt unpaid.
and Of no offense offered a fellow
man. The beauties Of character
which optimists deem indispensable
10 the rounding out Of the perfect life
cannot be cultivated unless there is graf
itude IN the heart Let Us be thankful
that we are living, and that we are
allowed IN a measure 10 shape our own
destinies. Shall we deliberately refuse
10 accept this priceless gift OF ability for
self-imprOvement, and the resulting help
TO those about Us. or shall we grasp
every opportunity and Ike true optimlsts.
be thankful for our countless benedts2
We have just finished the first week
OF the daily optimiSt department Each
day IN The Washington Herald have
been printed several contributions from
members Of the club-each one has found
a response somewhere in some heart the
echo has been heard In this way op-
timism spreads.
Next week. Kindness" Is under dis
cussion. and already some selections have
been received Tomorrow the first ones
viii begin to appear. and with others 20
follow each day.
For the best contribution on Graft
tude." l have awarded the first prize Of
S. 70
, NJ. F. Case. on New Jersey avenue
northwest, for this contribution:
Those who are helping each other. in
the right spirit. day by day, as they pass
through life. are not thinking Of reward.
The helping hand the cheering word.