The Washington herald., 1909-04-18
Rv TIE oPTIMIsT.

nc NSE4EEA4Du VI AHAANAtAAANA4N O. NAA~
subject for to-day's contest was made by
the members Of the club. and I am sure
you are to be congratulated for voting
for q subject SO full Of food Tor thought
and serious discussion Some of you may
feel doubtful about the word content
ment' and perhaps think that to be con-
tented is 10 be satisfied with ones lot IN
life, and that as optimists we should
never be satisfied with ourselves or our
work, but be continually striving and
reaching out for nobler and better things.
In a spiritual sense this view is an ex-
ceilent one. AS to the material things OF
life. I hardly think that any one viii In
terpret "contentment" so narrowly as to
suppose that It should stand for SNUG
complacency. or warped and restricted
view OF ones abilities. Contentment is
comparative term. and we all must realize
that or we should fall into an unhappy
attitude Of expecting nothing better than
what we have COntentment Of that sort
is not compatible with ambition, and am
bition is one of the mightiest forces OF
our lives.
The optimistic view Of contentment and
the benefits 10 be derived from it is, then,
that we should be able to say every day
that we have done the best that is In US;
in other words. 20 be content that we
have left nothing undOne in our daily
task or our daily life that will bring hap
piness to others and peace and JOY 10
ourselves To be content that we are still
able to work and dispense the gifts that
we possess is part of the doctrine OF OPP
timism- Contentment should not mean
resignation, ~ is too often conf0unded
with that totally unworthy attitude. Our
objective point as 0ptimists, and one
which we should ever keep plainly in
view. is 10 dwell upon the brightest side
Of life. TO keep dOwl the disagreeable OBJ
JectS. and TO endeavOr always 10 be
pleased with the best that surrounds us,
not however. to the extent Of stagnatiOn.
I wonder how many Of you have read
the Adventures in Contentment." which
comprised a series Of articles in one OF
the magazines during the past few
months The author very cleverly en-
deavored TO show the great virtue in the
coEtentment of mind and body. the sat
isfactiOn with which the individual may
view a days work done to the best Of his
ability. The beauties Of mans natural
surroundings and the effect they had up
on his being were put into most charm
ing expression by Mr. GTayson IN these
dILClcS. Many VI gtQ ObAAAllA0Lo must
have read them and felt the natural Op-
timism which they engendered-
Thomas Fuller. in "The Holy State Of
COntentment,' says: "Contentment con-
sisteth not in adding more fuel but in
taking away some fire, not in multiplying
Of wealth. bUt in subtracting mems de-
sires." There could be no palmer or more
direct exposition Of the meaning Of con-
tentment as we Optimists desire TO IN.
derstand il. The spirit of unrest which
is one Of the burdens Of modern exist
ence is exemplfed by mans desire, MS
constant struggle for supremacy over his
fellows, his disregard of the higher things
Of life and their blessing of contentment.
If we could only curb those desires a lit
tie and make the goals that men strive so
hard to reach seem less attractive-there-
IL lies the cure for discomfort. II they
could only realize with Omar
The worldly hopes men set their hearts upon
Turns ashes exc it pr0spers. and anon
Like snow upon che deserts dusty face,
Lighting little hour or twO-is gone.
Men pursue the various allurements Of
material life with no thought Of content
ment. forgetting that existence on this
earth Is but journey and that the only
way TO really enjoy journey is 10 give
attention 10 every stopping place. We
cannot wait until the journey is over 10
look back and say how much we have
liked this thing or that and how we ac-
complished this or that feat nor can we
live without regard 10 the efforts and the
benefits Of every day. To enjoy life as a
whole we must enjoy each detail Of life
as it passes before us.
Tie moving finger writes. and having writ.
Moves on. nOr all your riety nor Wit
Can lure It back 20 cancel half Ine
Nor all your tears wash out word Of II.
I find that the Persian poet furnishes
me with another illustration at this point
so 1 am brave enough TO quote him in
face OF his anti-optmistic philosophy
merely wanted to show the futility OF
rushing madly through ones existence
with no thought of the present The pres
ent is so often wasted and cast aside for
the sake OF the future, always reaching
for something 10 come, without noticing
the precious benefits of the day. SOFAS
said at the beginning Of this talk we
must positively accomplish something
each day we live and he content that that
IS according 10 our best endeavOrs before
we can value contentment IN its noblest
and best sense. And this does not mean,
either. that each days work should be
model for the next. We cannot be con-
tent unless we manage that the days ac-
complishment is a little better than the
day S DefOre- i DO not urge cOntentment
as q feeling of self-sUfficiency but as a
reward Of conscience. Unless we can
consciendously say that we have done our
best we cannot be cOntented. And every
oPtimist IS doing his best, else our hope
fui brotherhood would exist in vain. Can
not We not, then, safely say that Optimists
are contented in the best conception Of
the word2
A very pleasant episode OF the past
week was the letter I received from W. ]
2. Henderson. a dyed-in-the-wOOl optim-
ist. who won a prize last week He has
donated the prize to the children's fresh
air fund. TO be used for the poor children |
who go 10 Camp Good WIZ during the
hot summer months No more beautiful !
and worthy charity exists than this one. /
and I am sure Mr.. Henderson has the |
thanks not only Of those he has benefited
by his thoughtful act. but Of all the men,
bers of this club, who viii appreciate the /
true spirit Of helpfulness in which the
offering was made
Don't forget that next weeks contest
is on the subject of Faith" As I an
ncunced on Wednesday. this was also
suggested by, the members themselves. /
and / think it a very fitting subject for US
to discuss. You viii not forget the very /
helpful and beautiful collection OF 4
thoughts on Hope" and Charity" which /
we had several weeks ago
This weeks first prize IN the Content /