The Washington herald., 1909-04-04
BY THE OPTIsIIST.

eSt-dyed member of our hopeful frater-
nifty in the enthusiasm with which you
have all entered into the Work" contest.
want 10 emphasize as much as possible
the fact that The Washington Herald Op-
timist Club Is a band Of hard workers,
who glory in their work and who are
proud 10 be enrolled among the useful
members Of society.
Work is optimism. If we realize that
man is placed here for some divine pur-
pose. Not only are We 10 work out our
destiny. but we must make an imprint on
the record Of human endeavor. Unless we
''taste the JOY that springs from labor
we have not lived. Otherwise we ap-
prOaCh the daily task In the spirit OF
wishing it over with Every moment OF
life is precious. so that we should be up
and doing, not merely with the upper
most thought Of accumulating our share
Of the worlds benefits. bat for the sake
Of that instinct down deep in the heart
which says TO all mankind: Labor IS in
dependence, it IS freedom. # is life"
Mrs. Browning says:
Free men freely wuTk vloaocrer fears God. fcars 70
sit at ease
And Elizabeth Barrett Browning knew
all about work When she wrote The Cry
of the Children" she had been down In
The coal mine-not merely places where
men toiled by the sweat OF the brOws for
their daily bread but where rrtle chill
dren. stunted in growth. labored that men
might satisfy their greed for gold. Al
most constantly from that time has child
labor engrossed the attention Of our re-
formers. That kind Of work is not work
at ell, but brutality 70 the helpless. So
that when the pOetess indicated that work
was freedom and independence she meant
Chs worthy tasks that men set out 10 ac-
complish with trUstful purpose and hon
est hearts and hands.
Too often we look upon work as q curse
instead OF a blessing. When some more
fortunate fellow-man appears 10 enjoy
lie 10 a greater degree than some Of US
are able TO. perhaps by virtue OF superb
ority Of intellect. possession Of wealth
or position, have you ever stopped 70
think. when your lot seemed hard and
'ycJr tasks endless. that should you sud
denly find yourself relieved OF the neces-
stIy for daily activity that you would not
be much better cff2 Perhaps your rich
neiGhbor with the fine house his lux
,uries, finds IL FAR harder 20 keep his
wealth, 70 guard or 10 increase IL. than
you do TO earn yO1r modest living. Pos
Eibly he has tasted so freely Of the pleas
Tres OF material existence that each day
Is a burden 20 him and he would be glad
70 turn TO some occupation in which 10
bury self While YOU have your work.
with all il brings you, no one may envy
you.
There Is no satisfaction In idleness.
'-work is alone noble" and an excellent
optimistic doctrine IL is. We believe in
labor as a part OF the universal scheme.
Each man or woman In his particular
kroove fills some important function IN
the vast machinery Of civilization. Deep
down IN the sea the coral insects work
necessarily. each one doing his full task
day by day. year by year. century upon
century. until at last the coral island ap
pears on the bosom Of the ocean. a thing
for mans admiration and an everlasting
example 20 him OF what work alone can
accomplish.
So IS built the grand structure Of mod
ern civilization. Every one of US, broth
er and sister optimists, has some part IN
this mighty work. And al the while we
are delving, building. cheerfully adding
our mite TO the whole. We are building
character. not only for ourselves, but for
future generations. on whose destinies
and inclinations our own must be indel-
ibly stamped.
Our view must be that work is not only
q necessity for mankind and a safety
valve for his energiees, but a positive
blessing and a privilege without which
there can be no happiness.
Work IS ennobling: il involves seIf-sac-
rifce and recognition Of the purposeful-
ness Of life The gospel OF work is Tor all
men and for all women. Through Il
alone can they be saved from themselves.
To enjoy work means the grasp OF the
knowledge that ones own work is worth
while; that no matter how unimportant Il
may seem 10 US. It IS part OF the general
law OF the universe. Work leads 10 bet
ter thoughts. TO peace and 10 content
nlent. II is optimism IN its highest sense.
This week I want 10 again mention the
matter Of crediting the source from which
your contributions are gatherei. The
contests do not take into consideration
this fact in awarding the prizes; they are
given solely on the merits OF the selec-
tions, whether original or not. but you
viii realize that the spirit Of justice and
fairness which actuates the work of this
club, IL is preferable to print the name OF
The author, as well as the contributor,
Ehere the contribution is not original.
You VIII notice that this week have
gwen EltdlcE 10 Ele names
of the weekly prize-winners. This is for
tho convenience of you all. In future
you will know just where to look for
the fortunate members.
Mr.. Wards selection from the works of
RHenry Ward Beecher I think IS entitled
10 first prize this week. The distinguished
.preAcheT was a hard worker for the right,
fRnd I am sure the practical sentiment
voiced in the attached selection viii ap-
peal TO you all as being full Of meaning:
o blessed bankruptcy when it saves
mans childreni / see many who are
bringing up their children as I should
Gang up mine. II. when they were Ten
Eears old, I should lay them on a dis
ecting table and cut the sinews Of their
Srms and legs, so that, they could neither
ralk nor use their hands. but only sit
5tn and be fed Thus rich men put the
knife Of incidence and luxury to their
.hildren's energies, and they grow up fat
sd, lazy calves, fitted for nothing, at
twenty-five. but to drink deep and sQuan-
her wide: and the father must be a slave
zii his life In order to make beasts OF his
children. How blessed, then, is the stroke
pf disaster which sets the children free
snd gives them over 20 the hard but kind
bosom Of poverty. who says to them,
ssworkr' and, working. makes them men!
-Beecher. R. r WARD.
@ POs;al Station
The second prize. Of s.. goes this week