The Washington herald., 1909-08-01
By THE OPTINIIST.
II solid happiness we prize.
Within or breast this jewel liea
And they are fools who roam;
The uurld hath nofhinc IN hosfov

Within orr breast this jewel lieA
And they are fools who roam;
The world hath nothing 10 bestow.
From our oWnselYcs our bliss must hoW.
And that dear hut. our home. Cotton
What a wealth OF meaning. fellow-op-
timists, there Is in the term "Home"
Who is there OF you 10 whom it does not
conjure up the best thoughts. the pleas
antest recoIlections OF happy hours ana
peace and contentment? J. C. Holland
says that Home. in one form or other. IS
tho great object OF Ilfe." and It requires
very little analysis to understand and ap-
preciate that this Is so.
Unless a man or woman has known the
delights OF home life and all that Il
means ne cannot really say that he has
lived The sweetest hours OF mans ex-
istence and the most profitable are spent
in his home No matter what his outside
interests are or how thickIy wages around
him the struggle for livelihood. his home
is the magnet that draws him back 10
himself. the place where he renews the
inspiration for his lifes battles, the spot
where his weary body and brain can find
welcome. rest. and happiness.
Last week we decided that the optimlst
dwells on the sunny side OF life, that he
walks always on the sunny side OF the
street; and why should he nGt2 For II is
there that his home Is located The op-
timist's home is on the sunny side: ii is
in his home that his optimism begins. He
manufactures II there and carries Il
abroad with him for the beneht OF all
mankind. For every .optimist has enough
optimism and 10 spare IL once he starts
20 cultivate IL, for the sunbeams OF life
out Of which It is made are plentiful
enough when once you know where 10
look for them.
Optimism is as much OF a necessity IN
the home as food. clothing. and other
means OF sustaining life. The homes OF
people who have not gotten into the habit
OF looking on the bright side OF things
are dreary places indeed. The optimist's
home is the abode Of smiles and laughter,
or earnest endeavor. Of a constant love
and trust Of mankind in general. At his
door you get the hearty handshake and
the invitation 10 step inside and share
whatever he has 70 offer. In the corners
OF this household you viii find no cob
webs of discomfort no closets where
skeletons OF family dissension and incom-
patibility are concealed
1t does not matter in the optimIst's
hSme whether there are riches o.. poverty;
" does not depend on the material things
OF life for his happiness. He will share
his frugal fare with you Just as readily
as he viii his feast. II fortune brings one
his way. He is constantly on the lookout
Tor those who are poorer than he that he
may share not only his goods. but his op-
timism with them.
Optimism In the home means n maximum,
OF Joy. Children reared in its atmosphere
Go not early seek 20 change Fl for the
false allurements Of the world. The young
who are fostered in the loving shelter OF
the optimists home and reared in its sun
shine love their homes and their parents
and know only sorrow when they have 70
leave it before the time comes for found
Ing new home for themselves.
And those children will make good men
and women. for there is no safeguard OF
virtue like the home. and there Is no
home so likely TO inculcate into the ris-
Ing generation a respect for virtue and
lL
you want 10 make life worth living and
your home sanctuary. cultivate op-
tmism- Live in the radiance Of a dwell
ms place founded on the principles OF n
love Of fellOw-men. Character IS formed
through surroundings. and II YOU have
brightness and JOY in the home your
children will be bright and full OF the 10y
OF living. You yourself will not look upon
each day as task to be quickly gotten
through with; you will realize that each
day is a golden blessing. a heaven-sent
privilege for as Johnson says in THE
Rambler"
To b happy az home Is the ultimate reu,lt n,
al ambition, the end of which ev1rv entervisa ana
labor tends and Of which every doeire ,,s,r4 49,
prosecution.
I feel that the real 'home" spirit dweus |
in the heart Of every member OF The
Washington Herald OptImist Club. you
can gather from the tone OF the letters
and the contributions that are printed !
each day that they rise from happy
hearthstones, from people who know that
tho real keynote Of happiness Is peace /
and contentment. Where shall we look
FOR happy homes and happy lives II not |
among optimists7 We are bound 10 re-
hect our surroundings. and it is no less |
true that our surroundings sooner or later
begin 10 reflect US, so that although the
true optimist is one that rises superior to
MS surroundings. he must eventually in
huence his environment and those with
whom he associates.
Create homes and you will add 70 the
strength and the stability OF the nation
Practice optimism and you will safeguard
your home against evil influences. and
instead Of unrest and vacIIating tenden-
cies. you viii have sown the good seed
ot righteousness
Home Is an anchor "A rolling stone
gathers no moss" is e homily to which
the cynical have added "and no experi-
ence;" but optimists are too far advanced
alons the road Of progress not TO know
that experience can be gained withou,
foregoing the delights and advantages OF
the home. Home life is best. When YOU
have taken long journey or paid a visit
10 foreign lands, there IS delight which
one feels when drawing near TO homo
that is not even equaled by the excite
ment Incident 70 leaving home with a
prospect Of novelty and change in view.
The man Who cannot appreciate the su-
perior advantages OF well-ordered and
happy home has something radically
wrong with him. Most OF ALL he needs
the saving grace OF optimism. which will
teach him. as Cotton says. that "the
world has nothing TO bestow'' compared
With the delights OF that home.
Often homes are unhappy dwelling
places for discontented and unruly spirits.