The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-17
THE oPTIMIsTs' AIMS" PRIZE WINNERS

what to do and TO say 70 give the most
encouragement and help to his brother.
Aim 10 make your neighbor an optimist
II this way he can learn 20 help himself
and in turn help others, and you can pass
on and give your attention TO some other
neighbor. and so on. Optimism. as
have said before, should be an endless
chain, reaching out until It embraces the
whole or struggling. needy humanity.
Optimism aims 70 make the world more
thoughtful and more appreciative OF its
good things. 1t aims TO wipe the
crouch" off the face OF the map and
plant in its stead the "smile" and the
helping hand"
1 wonder how many OF the members
own "Billlken.'' the little sQuatting god
who will smile perpetually at you from
the mantelshelf. have often thought he
would make a pretty good mascot for
The Washington Herald Optimist Club
for he Is the god OF things as they ought
TO be- and this club is giving a great
deal Of attention 10 things as they ought
10 be. and what is more, il is rapidly
bringing people around TO fits way OF
thinking. Things are beginning to be as
they ought to be. and the growth and
spread Of optimism is largely responsible
for the happy state OF affairs.
But there Is still lots OF good 10 be
done, and I have no doubt you all have
your aims as to the best method OF doing
It. One thing is certain. optimism can't
hurt any one. II has no dark side. You
can't help being benefited by optimism; II
simply takes a hold that you can't set
away from.
7 have enjoyed reading the contribu-
tons this week, but when 1t came TO
awarding tho prizes I found IL a pretty
hard task. so many excellent and timely
expressions were received. The subject
is one which seems to have drawn out a
great number OF original contributions,
ali containing helpfulness and words Of
good common sense. 1 doubt whether
there could be found collection OF peo-
pie who are so apt in the expression Of
their views on a given subject as the
members OF this club.
1 have decided on Appreciation for
next Sundays discussion. and / want to
reiterate my often-expressed invitation to
every member Of the club TO send in a
suggestion for future contests The club
is flOurishing and has engaged IN the
discussion OF n vast number Of subjects.
many OF which win be repeated in order
10 give those who have lately Joined a
chance 20 contribute their views, but at
the same time / want new subjects. They
need not necessarily be a single word.
because, like tc-day's, some Of the topics
have been short texts or phrases. such as
we had on The benefits OF right living
and The ideal Optimlst'
Any ideas which you may care TO send
me I shall gratefully receive.
I print below letter from one OF our
opdmists which speaks for itself:
Dear Mr.. Optimist: IL should be the
aim Of all optimists TO help others. and
when I send in my little verse every week
/ feel that some one is benefited by Il;
and am benefited by some OF the beau
tiful. uplifting thoughts OF others IN the
optlmist column Ian AIcIaren. IN the
Bonnie Briar Bush said that whenever
a beautiful thought came TO him he could
not keep IL, but felt that he must send 1t
out that Il might benefit others"
The first prize for the best contribution
on The optimists' aims" has been given
to A. b. Fitzgerald. 200 Twelfth street
southwest, who sends in the following
expression:
The aims Of the optimist are manifold,
but the principal one should be loyalty TO
our clubs motto. Lets help" This We
can do every day, as we live continually
I'm the midst Of great human needs. Ev-
cry one has something 70 give; something
that would help a little, at least, IN sup
plying these needs.
We should also endeavor to cheer those
who are oppressed, either by real or i'm
aginary burdens, and IN no way can we
do this more surely than by acquiring the
good Will habit, by seeking the good
and eliminating the evil in life Why
should we gaze ahead and predict future
evils that. after all, may never occur
! We are certainly happier for looking on
the bright and hopeful side.
/ So, too IN our intercourse with our
neighbor. BY holding q kindly attitude
of mind toward everybody. by looking for
their good points. telling OF their fine
! qualities and kindly deeds, we will be far
! happier than II we resort to a habit of
fault-hnding and criticism. BY cultlvat-
| ing this attitude we shall cease to be-
come pessimistic and embarrassing. II
we radiate this helpful. friendly feeling,
others will reflect it back TO US. II will
also help 70 lift the mind above sordid
meanness and viii have a most powerful
! influence upon our character. Blessings,
/ therefore, upon the man or woman who
not only acts and feels cheerful, but who
also has the faculty OF dispensing opti-
mism wherever they go.
Second prize goes this week 20 Chaun-
cey G. Graham. SO1s Cambridge place,
who has submitted this sentiment:
IT'S with our judgments as our watches
none go Just alike. yet each believes HIS
| own.-Pope.
A large portion OF our people IN matters
of Importance, moral. political, and re-
ligious, carry watches that are never ex-
actly right Some big clock governs the
mass around it If the big clocks were
all true to time and all alike. there would
DO some sense in being governed by them.
AS IL is, it would be well for US TO look
a little to our own timepleoes, exercise
our own judgments, and learn to think
and act for ourselves.
! In religious matters the Bible should be
the standard. 1t Is very agreeable TO 20
with the multitude II right: better be
alone than wrong or to wrangle with
/ those who differ in opinion and believe
they are right. Let every one be per-
suaded in his own mind. is the Injunction.
BY these remarks ] do not mean that
one man shall treat those with contempt
or indifference who differ with him In
opinion, but the reverse They should be
/ respected because they have an independ-
enco Of mind, without which man is a
mere automaton. Nor would I under
value the opinion OF others. This would
be to repress, no encourage investiga~
ton, and would be an assumption Of in
fallibflity which belongs only to the Gre
ator.
Optimism would prompt men to use the
noble powers Of their immortal minds for
themselves. that they may better benefit
others, and neither let them rust out or
be worn out 20 forward the selfish de-
signs Of intriguing and ambitious aspi-
/ rants.