The Washington herald., 1909-08-29
BY THE OPTIMIsT.

a man without SelI-feSualntt Sdlo
Henry Ward Beecher. is like a barrel
without hoops. and tumbles 10 pieces"
The lack OF self-control is the rock
upon which a great many good and well
meaning people split cannot conceive
of a more unhappy man than one who
seeks to govern others without first con-
auering himself. The battle Of life is not
yet begun until he who goes Forth to fight
can buckle on the armor Of celf-conuol
And where does this priceless possession
OF self-restraint spring from? How shall
we 90 about acquiring it2 Perhaps many
have recognized and appreciated its
weight as an addition to character and a
necessity Tor those who would be useful
and helpful 10 their fellow creatures. The
answer to the question Is "self-knowl-
edge" for by the depths Of mans
knowledge OF himself Is measured his ca
pacity for self-contrOl.
There IL nothing selfish in striving to
know ones self beyond the bare fact that
there Is probably selhshness In everything
we do. BY that mean that each impulse
of humanity. whether for good or for
evil has behind Il a motive of self-grati-
hcation 70 some degree. But the indi-
vidual who honestly strives 10 guage his
own motives and impulses Is not selfish.
How rare are the instances where men or
women are willing to pause long enough
for introspectlon! II they only knew that
self-knowledge and self-control go hand
IN hand. perhaps they would be willing 10
devote a part Of their time 10 self-study.
Some ind Il easy 10 go through life
they make it a plan 10 travel along what
they call the lines OF least resistance,
which generally means that they go
ahead az far as they can without treading
on somebody else's toes. or encroach-
ing upon someone's rights. When that
occurs they are Just as ready to fight for
their own rights as the next man. III
they took the trouble 20 know themselves
they wouldn't have that trouble. They
then realize their own failings and de-
fects and when Il came 10 a clash with
Others self-knowledge would give them
control Of their own inclinations.
Control yourself and you may control
others. Optimist5 who are busily en-
gagged In the spreading OF the precious
doctrine OF helpfulness and cheerful living
know the value OF self-control They
have studied themselves 10 a purpose
They are seeking every day 10 master
the knowledge Of themselves, that they
may be better than ever equipped 70
make better optimists OF themselves and
Of their neighbors. Out Of self-kuowledge
not only grows self-control. but self
help and self-imprOvement SO that II
can be seen that the habit OF Interpreting
ones own motives passions and inclina-
lions is a very good thing to cultivate.
I wish I could emphasize even more
strongly the great need for self-control
Temptations of various kinds beset men
and women Of to-day. II requires self
government indeed. sometimes. 10 refuse
10 be actuated by selfish and sordid i'm
pulses. II Is just here that the man who
has self-knowledge becomes strong. He
knows that ne can do more good by ad-
herring 10 his pledges OF self-improvement
and the bettevment OF his fellows. He has
made a study Of his own mind, and
knows how easy IL Is for him to be
swayed, so he steadfastly turns his face
away from temptation and goes on his
way thankful that his optimism and his
self-knowledge has saved him by giving
him control over his own actions.
I know. fellow Optimists that many Of
you ind Il hard 10 live up 10 the best
there Is I'm you But habits are soon
formed. Each time you resist temptation
you still more strongly entrench your
selves behind your optimism. Remember
that every optimist has a duty TO per-
form. that the eyes OF those who ridicule
his vows and pledges are upon him
waiting for the least sign OF weakening.
The value OF optimism lies In controlling
your impulses TO the extent that after
awhile you will not have any that are not
for the good and the true. Consistent
optimism embraces self-control as one
OF its most helpful characteristics.
AS a subject closely linked with the
idea OF an Optimist's control over himself,
we will have next Sunday a discussion on
the benefits Of right living-taklng the
ground that optimism, and all the word
means, is one OF the signal rewards OF
conscientious sticking 10 a principle. I
want every member TO express his views
on this extremely interesting subject.
There will be little opportunity for quo
tatiOn or the thoughts OF Others-most
OF the contributions will be original, and
they will therefore, have a much greater
value. II is the thoughts and the opinions
OF the members Of the club that make
the optimist page so helpful and so valu-
able
given first prize 10 this:
LIES rudder Is self-control; without Il
life Is like a purposeless ship adrift with
the current. For harmony Of thought,
inclination and action we must be pas
sive. Self-control stems the passions and
desires that would overwhelm US. It is
the peerless gem around which are clus-
tered all the attributes that make mortals
what God intended them to be. 1t gov
ems impulse. desire, and passion: inspires
forgiveness for revenge; love for hatred;
charity for selhshness. and humility for
collaboration patience and contentment
Tor restlessness and discomfort II gives
10 the heart OF humanity the serenity
that softens and illumines the soul she'd
ding n lustTe that brightens life's pathway
and makes easier its cares and burdens
II gives blessing for an oath, a smile for
blow. A life swayed by seIf-control
Is got only ennoblng 70 itself, but Is
mirrored into the lives Of those II comes
In contact with, thus a two-fold blessing
70 humanity. To emulate Him who was
the personifcation OF self-control. self
must FIRST be conquered then will follow
the other virtues that ennoble and inspire
humanity to be as near like as "a possible
Its highest ideal. God.
POWELL RoGERS
l61 New jersey avenue
Marion G. Baker. Of Brentwood Nd
Is awarded the second prize for the fol-
lowing:
The engineer as he sits in the cab has
within easy reach OF his hand all the
levers and brakes which control that
great throbbing. wonderful thlng-the
engine TIa has fho 1fx-ec 30 b,,rd-oa. O.,