Evening star., 1909-08-22
By William George Jordan

HAPPINESS does not come from folding our our
hands serenely, filling hearts with the
minor music of resignation, and gazing heaven
ward as though posing for spiritual photograph
Happiness is activity not torpor doing, not dream
ing finding oneself not losing oneself, illumination,
not illusion reality not imagination. Happiness
does not fool itself by believing that whatever is
best seeks constantly to find whatever Is best IN
what
Making ourselves believe we are happy by thinking
that we are, is poor brand of self hypnotism 1t
does not bring happiness any than imagining
we dining sets before us table with real eat
able dinner of nine courses Constantly declaring
we are happy when, in the deep indigo OF mood, we
feel that happiness for forever extinct as the
dodo, is not brave; it is dishonest. 1t is playing
confidence game on the creduity of our friends; 1t
is false optimism the voice OF the pessmlst lying
about his troubles. True happiness does not Drag
it radiates.
If the trials and sorrows of life depress should
not deny but realize then instantly seek to change
conditions the engineer stops his train at danger
signal and aids removing the obstacle on the track
If be real. should then bear them as
bravely as we can by concentrating the thought on
brighter things. We often accentuate our pains by
the poultices of self sympathy that we constantly
apply to our wounds. We do not let Nature gently
heal them; we do not seek to forget in helping
others to forget theirs. But merely declaring hap
piness does bring it; it is advertising goods you
have not on hand. Delusion never gives reality.
This comes only from truth, right thinking followed
by right living.
The Infinite gives to man happiness; but only
the raw material from which it can be made. He
provides iron ore DuC never plOWSHdIeS,
bricks wheat but not oaves. The material from
which one man forms only abode of misery, an
other transforms into temple OF JOY. Happiness is
manufactured article; it cannot be bought or sold; ;
it must be home-made-by the individual himself.
The only man for whom a ready y-made Paradise was
provided Adam-and he spoiled it all and was
evicted. All the other people have had to make
their paradlses or go without.
The Battle of Life
IFE is not summer holiday or personally con-
duct cd fn1r thr0 10y-la nd n a
accept lust it comes; it is struggle, battle. 1t
is not easy, it cannot be made really easy; but we
make it bit easier for ourselves and others. We
must do our part must fight, fight too with no
war maps of the full campaign spread out before us
for consultation and inspiration. We must night
the enemy that is nearest, vanqulsh the duty that
stands in our way, help the faint and fallen, win
every vantage point of higher, clearer vision. be
ready for whatever comes, with true soldier S
defiance of the odds against him. Whatever IS
worth while is worth the fight to attain it. If you
want happiness fight for it like man. fight to be
worthy of it. fight to win it. fight to keep it, fight to
share it. fight to help others get theirs And when
things look darkest-hght harder.
The battlefield in fight for happiness is not the
world, but-self. Mere attainment of wealth, fame,
success position power does not neces-
is the atmosphere of inner calm and peace. We
must battle against the elements within that keep
happiness from and vaantly on the side of those
that will help win it. There traits within us
that often poison the cup of happiness when is safe
within hand u jealousy. malice, stubbornness,
envy pride selhshness, dleness, fear, worry sus-
picion and host of others. Let realize the ee-
ment that keeps from happiness, and we start
bravely on the road to attainment.
How to Conquer Worry
XIORRY is a common enemy to happiness. 1t is
w restless surrender to vague fears; not meeting