The Washington herald., 1909-07-18
By THE OPTIAus&
o consecrates his hours


pect success TO perch upon his banners.
Work vigorously; srasp your opportuni-
ties while you may and perseyere every
moment Optimism when practiced faith
fully teaches US a good many things. The
lessons OF life are all spread before the
man or woman who IS always on the out
look for the good IN things But only
perseverance can help US 10 learn those
lessons. Rome was not built in a day
nor is any human ambition achieved in a
moment Laboring and persevering in the
dark. all unknown and unsuspected. many
& genius has spent the best years OF his
life. but when his work is ready. when he
is at last able 10 take the world into his
confidence and stand before il as a mas
ter, a conQUeror. then, and then only.
does the world reward him.
Years Of struggle and Of privation must
necessarily precede success in any direc-
ton, and no matter how hard the road Is
and how many setbacks are encountered,
il ali counts in the total when the great
aim Is accomplished, wnen the great work
Is delivered TO the world.
Edison in his laboratories tolls early
and late and the world knows nothing Of
what he IS doing His activities and per-
severance are a closed book so far as the
public Is concerned But sooner or later
he announces some utility, something
that is far-reaching in its benefits. some
thing the whole world IS eager 10 make
use Of II is then that his reward comes.
Fame and fortune crown the weary years
OF toll and anxiety-the pursuit OF an
idea, the constant pounding away at
seemingly insuperable dihiculties.
The inventors perseverance is only a
single instance of what this quality n
mankind is doing for the world. Look
about you. Almost everything we enjoy
to-day is the result Of some ones cease
less activity. We have a thousand things
to-day which We look upon as necessities
OF life which our forefathers Of a genera
ton or two ago never dreamed Of We
live In an age Of wonders and we take
them as q matter Of course. We never
stop TO think of the long and bitter strug-
giles that go on before we are able 10 en-
Joy the finished product The world is
sometimes selfish. and there are those
even who would try 10 steal the reward
from those who have worked and fought
for Ideals.
We have evidence every day of the re-
suit Of perseverance in the material side
OF life. How then shall we look upon the
use OF this quality in the moral and spi-
ritual phases OF our daily existence2
Optimism gives one perspective. The
optimist can see clearly many things that
he would not otherwise know about If he
had not pledged himself 10 that all-seeing
and all-pervading philosophy. We plainly
see the use, yes. the absolute necessity.
for the practive Of perseverance in our
daily work OF character building. Even
the Let's help" idea cannot be fully
lived UP 70 without patience and perse-
verance. How many Of YOU have met re-
buffs in the pursuit Of your duty. in the
endeavor 20 spread the doctrine Of op-
timism? Many Of you, I know. But for
your sticking to the task and your faith
IN what you are trying 10 accomplish
many Of you would have given it up long
ago.
The value Of optimism lies in ignoring
the difficulties and seeing only the big
things that are waiting to be accom-
plished Failure IS not really failure to
an optimist; II is only a temporary check
on what he is doing. He soon RECEIVERS
from lhe effects of a setback, and is
thereby only spurred on 10 more deter
mined and vigorous effort. To sit idly
down and allow any task to overcome you
Is not optimism. II everything we want
ed came to US easily. where would be the
good OF anything? II is only what we
gain through hard work and earnest ef- /
fort that we value We cannot appreci- /
ate the work Of others half so much as
we do our own. and it IS only by expert !
encing the hard knocks ourselves that we
can begin little by little 70 know what the !
other fellow is going through
sympathy with others in their daily |
struggles and perseverance on our own I
account are qualities found IN every op-
eimist. The members Of The Washington /
Herald Optimist Club are workers. To /
persevere IN whatever they set out 70 do /
IS second nature 10 them. and they. know
OF no such word as failure" I wish 4
could quote all the expressions which the 4
members send 10 me showing their ap- /
probation OF the work Of the club. and i
although cannot give the space / would /
Ike 10, 1 have made up my mind that /
from time to time Will print some Of the I
letters which the Optimists write me lust
20 show you that your work as contribu-
tors 10 the club is being felt, that the ef-
forts you have made in the past months
or the clubs existence are bearing fruit.
Most OF the credit for this success Of The4
Washington Herald Optimist Club be-
longs to the individual members who have
taken hold so heartily Of the "optimist''
Idea.
Here is a letter I received during the
week from the winner OF the first prize
In the Gratitude" contest, and I print it
so that you may all have the benefit OF
the complimentary things which It con-
tains about the club:
! received an order for the first prize awarded
.oc ny lines on Gratitude" for the Ortirnist Club
July Illness has prevented my acknowledging
receipt III nov. but / want 70 thank YOU for II Z
II was pleasant surprise. ! am glad to be an
0pt7InisI and consider it an honor to be ''at the
1eaa o. mo ciass. 1or one week at least.
IL bns With my belief ss expressed on ''sTati-
-rde ! think optimists should tell Won how |
much your work Is appreciated. Il Is a real rleas-
&c 20 INC such page IN a daily newspaper II ,
3 Ike bright flower garden against a background
y pain bricks and mortar. am sure you eniov ! {
{ as much as the rest Of US
And, indeed, I do, and not only is If !
gratifying to me personally to know that J
ne optimiSt page is held in such high re- :
5sro, but It is pleasure 10 know that J
,ou enjoy being optimists But that is 7
ne natural outcome OF optirnism-you are I
sao TO be one and you are glad YOU are :
iVing. Every day makes an Optinist !
happier and more cheerful. :
FOR the coming contest. for which con- :
riDuuons will be received up TO noon on 7
wednesday. July 21 I have already an :
louneeo The Sunny Side" as the topic. \
General and specific sentiments on op- 2
imism will be welcome Here Is an op- Q
'ortunify for every one to make some. ex- @
'ression OF his reasons for DWELLING on | s