The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-03-07
Plans Are Under Way to Arrange Meet
ing of the Members of The Wash
ington Herald Optimist Club.
BY THE OPTIMIsF.


the greatest of these is Charity" I
knew when 1 adopted the suggestion of
one Of the members Of The Washington
Herald Op1imist Club and selected char
ity'' as the theme. that It would call
forth many and ardent responses from
readers OF the optimistic page. for it is
a subject that should appeal with great
force to all believers in optimism. IN
deed, do not see how-any one could be
a true optimist that had not charity in
his heart You viii notice, fellow-op-
timists. that there are a great many
quoted contributions in to-day's page;
and that, too. is natural, because charity
as a subject has always appealed 10
poets. philosophers. and preachers ever
since, nay, even preceding, the ushering
IN OF the Christian era. 1t IS in very
truth one of the most ancient and re-
spectacle OF virtuea
I thank you all most sincerely for the
fine way IN which you have responded TO
this contest, deeply regretting that l can
not print every one Of your contributions
The only reason they are not printed is
simply the lack Of space And I may
say that the only reason I have not
awarded all Of you a cash prize is be-
cause the optimistic purse is more linn
tied than the optimistic spirit.
You will find printed elsewhere on the
page a coupon which 1 desire all Of you
10 whom the optimistic page has been a
help, all who are really optimists and
who want to spread the helpful gospel
Of optimism abroad In the land, to I'll
out Your name and address on this
coupon entities you to a button of The
Washington Herald Optimlst Club. The
buttons are very handsOme-''neat. but
not gaudy, as the saying goes-and I
have been wearing one for the past
week, which has attracted considerable
attention from my neighbors, so that /
have had TO give out many Of them IN
response to personal requests. You are
all entitled TO a button free Of charge
should be glad If you would bring the
coupons down TO the Office personally
and receive your button. All you have
to do is to leave the coupon in exchange,
bearing your name and address. so that
you may be properly enrolled on the
books as a member Of the Optimist
Club. If however II is impossible for
some Of you to come PERSONAL---VERY.
some of you. I know, live in far distant
States-theu you viii please send in your
coupons by mail and you viii then re-
ceive a button as soon as It can be sent
TO you.
one reason why am so anxious 70
get all OF your names properly enrolled
- lib,
strength is growing weekly. and we will
have such a fine membership before
very long that seriously. I hope that we
may call a meeting of The Washington
Herald Optimist Club at some sort OF
entertainment where we may all get to-
Rether. see one another, and talk brave
" about our hopes for the future Surely
It would be a great Joy to look into the
faces of an audience made up Of The
Washington Herald Optimist Club
Truly. indeed it should be a sea of
smiling faces.
have TO thank many of you this week
for personal letters of thanks and sug-
gestions. letters which have been most
helpful and encouraging. It is. indeed
good 20 hear from your personally, and
TO learn privately of the benefits that you
are deriving as individuals from our Op-
timistic page I wish I could print all
OF these letters. so ttat they might help
and encourage you. also There is one
fellow-member Of the Optimist Club, al
Parkersburg. W. Va, who writes:
For some time ! have watched with keen iuteres;
the growth Of tie Optimist Club. Il has indeed
been source Of hope and inspiration 70 me. and
I delight in passing the papers on TO my friend,
that they, too. may be helped and feel that life
in this wonderful age, is really worth the living.
I think YOU viii agree with me that
the true spirit that should animate the
members Of the Optimist Club IN taking
part az our Sunday contests in optimism
is admirably expressed in the following
letter. written to me by Mr.. James Con-
way Jackson. Of 251 Fourteenth street
northwest, who says:
Since you have been kind enough to use some o
ny contributions. some Of my friends have beer
curious 20 know II they are original and If an
getting paid. ! simply wish 20 state that / Away
have I'm the past. ard shall endeayOr in the future
% contribute something original. Not that ! cou,
not select something far superior from some Of III
great classics If ] took the time). but because
believe that your aim IS 70 have each membe
do his very best. according to his ability Now
as to being paid eFery reader ought to know
that in & contest the prizes always 60 to the win
ners But as for me. II the little contribution
that / send in from time 10 time should be in
strumental in bringing sunshine enough 20 chez
some lonely heart or 70 cause some gloomy pessimis
20 look at the brighter side Of life fhall conside
myself more than paid for the little that I ma
be able to do.
Hoping that the optimistic spirit may grow an
grow and grow until pessisn shall be nothing bu
memory soon 10 be forgotten. am. &c
You may be sure that The OptiInis
shares his hope
Although II does not come under tn,
head OF our contest In Charity" thl!
I have r-acafr-ad rf~a 1afrar fyor,
Irma T. Jones. Of s. Leicester court, De
troit, Mich, inclosing me & copy Of
poem. original with her. which has such
a fine optimistic ring TO It that / canno
refrain from printing Il here for the ben
eft OF al Of you.
COMING.
Happier days viii soon be here
Brighter skies above the clear.
Brooding love In patience bide
Nestlings the Tee-tops hide
O'er tie frost-king victor stiIl.
Life and love say measures TIN.
Croeuses and budding trees
DaffOdls and honey bees
Yiolets blue. fair lilies too.
Sweetest odOrs fragrant dew.
Joy-time, love-tinne, charming May.
Coming nearer every day.
Gries and storm and bitterness.
Winter cold and aching stress.
Haste away Then. hope Of man.
Shining days and great plan.
Joy-Hght, love-Ight, fading wrong.
HOPE and cheer and courage strong
Coming coming the wing;
List the joy-beIs Of the spring;
Ring out greed and cruel bate.
Ring in love and better fate.
Faith 10 man, and scom OF wrong
Day Of truth and day Of song.
I thank you all FOR your friendly an,
interesting letters. and let me take coca
sion here 70 remind you once more tina
the contest next week has for It's sub
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