The Washington herald., 1909-06-06
Quotations and Original Views
of OptimiStS on the Preya-
lence and Advantages of Hap
pineSS.
Bv THE OPTIMIsT.


pendent upon external influences.
The heart and the mind, in short. our
own inner consciousness tells us what We
ourselves are better than any other
gauge which measures character. Hap
piness has two meanings which concern
optimists to-day. one is personal hap
piness and the other the happiness we
can give others or course. the latter is
the noblest aim for which optimists can
use their own personal happiness; but
unless we cultivate and possess personal
happiness there IS little or no chance that
we can convey message Of happiness TO
some one else.
The optimist is responsible for his own
happiness. BY subscribing 20 the theories
and the practices OF optimism he COM
mits himself 70 the duty OF looking only
on the bright side OF things. With this
icea firmly fixed happiness comes natu-
rally and easily. Every cloud has a sill
yer lining and the happy man IS the op-
timist who perslstently regards only that
side.
There Is 80 much in the world that
makes for personal happiness BY that
mean not only the beautiful. tangible
objects that nature and civilization have
given us 10 benefit and 10 please us. but
the opportunities that are given Us 20
make the best or life, for life al its best
I IS ve-v sweet Even IN its worst aspect
there is something that makes men hold
on 10 It. and that same thing is happi-
ness. The longer you carry that convic-
ton the happier YOU viii become.
Happiness is the heaven-given preroga-
I tive OF mankind II is true that ne alone
+ Of the species on this earth has the poSser
{ for unhappiress. bur that IS because Of
+ the power OF his mind But It was never
/ intended. I an sure. that the clouds
should hang above Us always. There are
/ some who have more than their share OF
the trials Of lie. and as they see others
-bout them apparently unscathed by sor-
rcw or misery IL is apt 20 make them bit
! ter and decrease their facility for happi-
ness In this way they disregard the su-
preune test OF happiness; IN this way they
utterly forget that happiness comes from
within and not from without II IS on at
titude Of mind. a mental process. Not all
+ the riches in The world nor all the wisdom
cf the world can make a man happy IN
less he has within himself the spirit OF
happiness. the germ Of appreciation. the
abuity 70 get The best out OF life that life
affords.
/ II seems difficult TO reconcile the state
rent that al men are. equal with the in
equaHties that we see All around US. but
/ il is true that we all have an even chance
for that introspective study which in the
end leads Us 10 q fun understanding Of
I ourselves. II material things are unequal
to-day there may be a Ieveling to-mor-
row. and in the end the chances ard the
opportunities for happiness are about the
same.
To scatter happiness among your feI-
lcw-men. dear optimists, IS. however,
something which The members OF this
club are doing every day. Every oontri-
button that you make 70 the clubs week
lIy discussion reaches and makes happy
some one OF your fellow-Creatures- The
I happiness that YOU spread in this way IS
very far-reaching. as I have every reason
10 know And happiness IN daily life
also is within the power OF every optimist
I'd uesLUM upon LuDeC Will M-4o-l 4-N
comes in contact
As I said last Wednesday when I an
nounced Happiness as the topic for
discussion this sunday. I do not wish FOR
one minute 10 be understood as believing
that optimists are not happy. For
know that optimism IS happiness, and
one of the surest ways 10 be happy Is "a
become an optimist- But II is also the
duty of the optimist 20 contribute his
share toward making others happy
Words and deeds OF love and kindness. a
Helping hand when you see the need FOR
il. smile. or a tear OF sympathy If need
be- all go toward making your fellow
men believe IN you and IN your sincerity
Of purpose.
Happiness is the ultimate purpose OF al
optimists. and the only possible way OF
being entirely happy is TO stick stead
fastly 10 your optimistic views The mot
TO Of The Washington Herald Cptimis'
Club is Let's help" and If you fnd
yourself helping others YOU Will surely
fnd that YOU help yourself far along the
. road 10 happiness. There is lots OF hap
plness TO be gained every day you 1--we
and one OF the best ways of all is 70 help.
Byron, in Don Juan. writes:
All who SOY would win
Must share it-Happiness was born twin.
which proves what I said, that in order
10 enjoy your happiness you must share
il with another This does not neces-
sarily mean that the cause Of your Own
happiness must be shared with some one
eise, but il does mean very clearly thal
your own happy attitude must extend tC
some other being and aid in bis happi-
ness before YOU can reap the fullest en-
joyment OF your Cwn.
The topic which I have selected FOR
next Sunday is something OF departure
from the usual weekly discussion. II
vas suggested by one OF the optimists
an6 struck me as being a happy idea
which 7 an sure viii attract you al
che subject viii be The Ideal OpIimist.
by which is understood that 7 want every
che Of YOU 10 write a description Of what
you think an optimist should be Con
tributions may be IN prose or IN verse
end may be original or selected. This !:
the club 10 display their knowledge o1
what constitutes the ideal optimis1 We
+ have discussed so many attributes thai
sc to make up the optinlist that I arr
sure there VIII be no lack OF material OF
! WEich 10 work
, want TO MAKE next Sundays discus
sion a notable ore. and for that reason
wish every singie member OF tAe clui
y-ould send in his or her views uDon ths.
interesting subject Remember the topic
; The Ideal Optimist" Let me see nos
many Of you really know what an opti-
1-ist is
For the contest on Happiness I hav,