The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-14
Nv THE OPTIsnST.
lie hath a tear for pity. and hand

Inc III bpNAlNloN.
"A hand open as day''-that is a beau
tiful thought for the members OF TINS
club 10 consider. We are striving each
dav to be more worthy Of the name OF
optimist. Are not an open hand and
heart. and a kindly thought for others.
the surest and best ways of achieving
what we so much desire?
7 have received such beautiful express
sions this week from the members. l
felt last week that The Helping Hand
would be a particularly attractive topic
10 the members OF tho club, and so IL
has proved. You viii see by reading the
selections that are printed that each Opt
mist has his own especial idea OF What
-The Helping Hand IS, and each eK-
presses himself a little differently. but
the conclusions reached are all the same
that Tho Helping Hand is and should
be the aim and ambition OF every op-
timist.
Hands were made 10 help with. Hands
were made to work with. Did you ever
notice the hands OF real workman or
those Of a woman whose daily life IS
continual round OF toll? 1 think there
are very few OF my optimists who belong
TO the world OF work and sacrifice who
have not such pair OF hands somewhere
I'm their immediate family circles The
hands OF a mother, for instance. the
mother Of a largo and growing family
The hands Of the poor woman, who, In
order that the precious ones may have
food ana drink and warm clothing
against the winters cold. does all OF
her homework Perhaps none Of the
children are big enough 20 spare mothers
hands. They would help # they could
the children Of such mother can only
be brought up 70 the right way OF re-
gardinE the value of helping.
This mother sews and sweeps bakes
and scrubs. washes and mends. Did you
ever stop to think OF the number Of
things such a pair of hands will &C
compllsh In one short day? And these
hands. rough and SCARED though they
may be- are always ready 10 socthe an
aching head. o. to CaTCss tho tired little
ones who cling 20 her skirts.
Can you place a value on such hands ?
Can YOU think Of the husband Of such
a woman not thanking God every night
Of his life that ne has such helpmeet2
No Optimst can. Take such pair OF
hands and compare them with the lily
white bands of the woman who does not
toil-the woman who has every single
.hiug that IS useful done for her 10y
servants. These hands are manicured
the skin whitened. and their beautiful
veIvety softness IS nursed and cared for
as tcnderly as though they were of price
less value
Which pair OF hands will you choose
fellow -optimists? Which pair do you
think will look the best when the time
comes for reckoning things by their true
value? DO YOU think that He does not
take count Of the helping hands2" DC
YOU think that He will give his rewards
20 the hands that are beautiful only "a
look at
No. brother optimists. the helping hand
is tho hand that tolls. The optimist will
n ne Is sincere cultivate that helpful
ness which brings his hands and his
heart. too into that class where useful
ness is considered before mere appear
ances. The text: Let not your right
hand know what the left hand doeth
applies TO the helping hand. for thai
help which IS most genuine is that Offer
cd quietly, unOstentatiously and which
is Of real and lasting aid. And tho
beauty Of Il Is. as Mrs. O'Brien quotes
that TT is one OF The most beautiful
compensatIous Of this life that no mar
can sincerely try 10 help another with
out helping himself"
Helping others, then. seems after al
20 be a sort Of helping ones self. Char
acter Is formed through the impulses
that comes from within. The mere out
ward show of charity and benevolence
or those other means OF aiding other.
which human beings cultivate In variou.
degrees. cannot count half so much ir
character-building as those which com,
from a generous heart and an earnes
desire 70 do something for some one else
il IS not the value OF the gifts. but tn,
spirit OF giving. that leaves its impression
upon both the donor and the recipient.
The optimists hand Is always out
stretched. No man Is so poor or so hum
bic that no has not the right to the hell
Of his fellOw-men. Tho dTunkard rollins
in the gutter the thief and even n,
morally degraded arc entitled TO receiv,
the best help that We are able to civ,
them. Organization OF society has effect
ed great reforms I'm this regard, an,
through tho present enlightened civiliza
ton the world IS growing better DAY b,
day. We look TO see some future dal
when crime and hatred shall be wipe,
out and mankind shall live IN such swee
harmony that optimism viii be a matte
Of course, a sentiment springing IN ever!
mans breast.
The world can never go backward Fl
the trend OF thought Day after day :
moves on toward the regeneration tina
comes through enlightenment and through
the hard and earnest efforts Of its IN
habltants. Optimism Is taking a grel
hold on the people OF to-day. II IS be
ginning 10 be realized now that cheer
ful and happy view OF life Is the onl,
view 10 take. The helping hand" which
the optimlst IS stretching forth is beini
taken with confidence, with the assur
ance that there is no return wanted 20
help given. II is no longer considered
eccentric 20 want TO do your best for tn
benefit Of others Selhshpess Is not
popular attribute. and the man who live
only for himself soon finds that he /
living 10 no purpose. lie finds that III
world is passing him by on the othe
side Of the street.
Look about you. fellow-optimists. ca
you not see some one right by your sid
that needs word of comfort. or q snil
Of encouragement? Now is your chanc
10 prove your right TO call yourself a
optlmist. Now Is the time to mako n.
optimist out Of that neighbor OF your
who has needed bringing into the fol6
What wonderful opportunities we Sc
every day 20 prove our optimism. no,
many chances we get To extend tina
helping handr What a privilege It
20 be en- optfrnist and 20 stand for IN
best and the purest things OF life. TIL
hand clasp Of an optlnist Is a help L
ward heaven.
The Thanksgiving proclamation OF Tn
Washington Herald Optimist Club Ia
been Issued. and for fear that some
you may not have seen the announcement
during the past week. I wanted TO r.