The Washington herald., 1909-06-13
By THE oPrIMIsT.

Our ideals are our better selves
An ideal is, therefore. something we
not only admire and which we often
greatly desire, but also something which
IS born OF our very selves, something
which we can reasonably hope to reach
by development and endeavor.
The ideal optimist is under discussion
to-day. and the above philosophy tells me
that IN each and every member OF The
Washington Herald Optimist Club lies
this ideal Many OF you have built a
splendid description OF your idea as TO
what the perfect optinist should be. and
tn those characters which you have
drawn Is mirrored the better part. the
higher portions Of your own characters.
Unconsciously you have. as Alcott writes
pictured the innermost desire OF your
own hearts and souls.
Many people have ideals. or imagine
they have, but they do not always realize
that they themselves can reach such an
exalted state. They pay little heed to the
dormant possibilities Of each and every
life. What II we should all awake TO
the great truth which have quoted
above? What If we should all make the
effort 70 understand that our ideals are
I our own thoughts-the best and noblest
Of them? Such state OF affairs would
be a crowning tribute to the cause OF
optimism, and would bring US many,
many steps nearer to the perfect life.
The ideal optimist IS then. the man
or the woman who believes in his own
ideals as emanating from his own capa-
bilities. The highest conviction that an
optimist can have is belief in himself. This
IS his most priceless possession. for IN the
cultivation Of character. the whole basis
OF culture must be a thorough under
standing Of self. Once gain your own
confidence and there are no heights which
you may not ascend.
Optimism is not a task. II Is the easiest
thing in the world 70 cultivate and it is
the most enjoyable trait that a man OF
woman can possess II not only makes
him companionable with himself. but X
makes him a rare delight as a compan-
ion for others. We know how easy It
is to form habits. and how hard it is to
break them. This is true Of optimism.
II being no trouble 10 form the habit of
cheerfulness and right living. you viii
find II next TO impossible 10 break your
self Of il. But I never heard of any one
who wanted 10 break himself Of being
helpful and cheerful and optimistic
Many people who are not real opti-
mists think that our club IS formed OF
people who deliberately ignore the fact
that there is misery and unhappiness in
the world. Thus we are set down as hum
bugs, who turn our backs on life as II
really is and dwell. as it were, in a beau
tiful but impossible world OF our own
creation. where there is nothing unpleas-
ant and nothing 70 keep US from being
as happy as the day is long.
How mistaken is this idea Of optimism
and how doubly mistaken is that idea
that makes US merely individuals who
claim q certain superiority over such fel-
l0w-beings as are not fortunately en-
dOWned with our disposition TO refuse to
worry over our responsibilities.
This Micawber-like picture Of optimism
is merely the result Of a lack Of careful
inquiry into the purposes and the bene-
fits of the Lets Help" idea.
II we help we are useful, and II we
are useful we cannot logically be scOffed
at. I believe that helping others is one
OF the most useful phases OF optimism,
and there Is no better way 20 help ones
neighbOr than by the power OF example
Let your neighbor see the advantages OF
optimism by observing your life. Let HIM
find that cant and hypocrisy have no part
in the optimist's makeup. This helps
him more than all the words that you
can utter in his behalf Nor should he
be allowed in any way TO feel that the
optImist is a Pharisaical individual, whose
attitude IS simply a pose and not a gen.
uine condition Of being. Aside from the
fact that this will repel those you most
wish 10 reach and TO help, it is the death
knel to true optimism The idea should
never be formed that because YOU are an
optinist you are a little better than your
neighbOr. Let IT be understood. rather,
that you are seeking IN all humility and
IN ali appreciation OF the weakness Of
humanity. including yourself. TO add your
little mite to the great work Of uplifting
that the optimists Of the world are sure
". but slowly accomplishing.
We have seen, during the last few
months. how many desirable traits Of
character an optinist should have. and
how many ways there are OF his making
himself a useful and beloved member of
society. But all these things are merely
incidental attributes which 1t was intend
ed every man should possess. We were
given certain faculties in order that we
might work out our destfnies intelli-
gently. and If we persistently ignore the
good and the beautiful traits Of charac-
ter. we dwarf our whole beings It IS
not the members OF our club alone who
should possess all the virtues which we
have described during the past few
months as being so desirable, but every
single human being should strive to cul-
tivate them. The ennObling tendencies Of
life are the optimists aim. for the
power for self-improvement belongs to
every one 10 use according TO his desire.
It IS the grasping Of the possibilities OF
life the full and free understanding Of
the meaning Of existence that makes the
ideal optimist
For next Sunday we have the topic
+, "Consclenee,<for discussion, and win fol-
low. for a few weeks. the custom Of con-
sidering one new subject every week
Every member is invited to make a sug-
gestion for a subject 10 be discussed dur
ing the weekly contests. Some very val
liable ideas may in this way be made
the property Of the club.
Mr.. william D. Harrington's essay on
the ideal optimist has been adjudged
worthy OF first prize, and the contribu-
ton appears elsewhere on this page.
The second prize has been awarded to
A. B. Fitzgerald. Of 2o9 Twelfts street
southwest. for the following:
The ideal optimist is one who has
hopeful mind, a firm faith in a smiling
attitude toward men and things. al
though smiles do not constitute his creed
Of optimism. He has the ability TO make
the best Of his condition no matter where
his lot be cast: is disposed TO take the
most sanguine view. and whose motto.
Ike Mark Tappley in Martin Chuzziewit
is Tets be jolly" Like Mark. also he
Is jolliest when circumstances are against
him coming ouf stronger in davs Of
rough weather and gray skies.
AThe ideal optirnist takes the road with
a jaunty step and a merry laugh and
Tie