The Washington herald., 1909-07-11
Nv THE OPTIOusT.

received on the subject Of Kindness, r
the topic must be one Of singular attrac-
tiveness 10 the members Of the club. And
this is no surprise to me. since the prae-
tice Of optimism, which is the business Of
this club, must necessarily carry with Il
a kindly disposition and a nature full OF
thoughtfulness and helpfulnass for others.
The man who sets out 70 get all there is
out OF life never gets half so much out OF
# as the man who says. Il want to give
70 others the best I am able" In words
OF kindness. in deeds OF helpfulness. in
acts OF mercy and charity, he shows his
great love Of his fellow-men- Selhshness
and optimism can never E9ingle. and
kindness is one OF the prime ingredients
Of optimism. Kindness is the direct op-
posite OF selhshness. because the man
who is always on the outlook 10 benefit
others has no time 70 devote to his own
selfish desires
To scatter kindness should be the OBJ
ject Of every member Of The Washing
ton Herald Optimist Club. In everything
we do we md opportunities for a helpful
and kindly act. Il is these little acts
which count in life. They stamp the true
optimist and show that he is living up 20
his pledges as such No matter how
trIfins your act Of kindness or your good
deed may seem 10 you. you cannot calcu-
late the far-reaching effect II may have.
How far that little candle thrc7s Ire beamsl
Like a good deed IN a naughty world.
says Shakespeare. and think the great
bard knew the value Of an act Of kind
ness when he penned those words. For
men and women In these days Of spirit
ual and mental enlightenment 10 turn
aside when the opportunity offers them
10 do something for others. would be
blot on our civilization. Il is a back
ward step when individuals deliberately
shut their eyes 10 the many chances that
arise whereby they can benefit their fel-
low-men.
Not every one Of US Is so blessed that
he can offer substantial charity 10 those
about him who are not 50 well of as he
II is given 70 comparatively few 70 be
able 10 carry on great philanthrOpies.
whereby there IS a wholesale alsviation
OF the sufferings Of mankind But il Is
within the power Of every one Of US 10
give a cup OF cold water 10 a neighbOr or
70 stoop TO lift those who have fallen and
are in sore need Of sympathy and en-
couragement
The Good Samaritan was an Optimist.
Human kindness surSed hlgh-tde Ia his
breast and he was compassionate. 9th
ers had passed by on the roadway. and
the poor man who had fallen among
thieves, and who typihed humanity in
distress. was left TO die Of his wounds
The Optimist-Sama-itan may have been In
a hurry-he may have had important
business in the next town. and his hest-
tation may have meant personal sac
rifce, but he was kind and unselhsh4
lie saw only his fellOw-man in dire need.
Knowing there was necessity for help
and putting forth his effort 10 raise up
the fallen. proved his title 20 the des-
ignation OF optimist
II only we might demonstrate our Op-
tinism every day, Not for the sake OF
any spectacular reward or the inscrip-
ton Of our names in a roll Of honor,
but just for the satisfaction OF proving
that we are optimists in something more
than the name-that we honestly and
earnestly keep IN mind the things for
which true optimism stands. We have
come TO make this club a wonderfully
helpful and sincere organization. Each
contribution by the members Is an act Of
kindness and thoughtfulness-for II
reaches some one who may not have
otherwise been able 20 reap the benefits
OF its philosophy Every deed Of kind
ness makes an Cptmist, for kind deeds
were never meant to fall on barren
ground, and every act Of love and char
ity lives forever.
Deeds says Horace Mann, survive
the dOers." and II this be true let us be
certain that the deeds which are 10 live
after Us shall be good deeds Optimists
prefer not to believe that THE evil men
DO lives after them, the good is oft in
tered with their bones We would
rather live with the knowledge that Our
good deeds, the things which have en-
deared US TO our fellow-men. viii be held
in grateful memory OF US. and that the
hard and bitter things in life shall be
forgotten. But we cannot accomplish
this end without demonstrating that
there is a prepOnderance OF good over
evil
One OF the objects OF this club is 10
show the benefits that must accrue from
the proper grasping Of ones opportUni-
ties for heIpfulness. No hclpfulness ever
comes from unkindness; therefore in op-
timism lies only the good-the qualities
that we want 20 live after us-the things
We want TO be remembered.
Kindness Is to be practiced faithfully
by all optimists. Here and there. as we
go our daily ways. we can lend a hand.
and make some heart glad. Even a smile
sometimes is as good as a word. and a
word as good as a deed, but above all,
the deeds Of kindness-the things that
cost us some effort-these are the things
that count the most The easiest way is /
not the way Of the optimist He can
not afford 10 60 through life avoiding all
the miseries and the heartaches that ex-
ist. in order that he may hold his head
high above them and say: Everything
is bright. there is no suffering: on the
contrary, he must use his optimism 10
fight with - TO combat the influences
around him that make for unha ppiness.
Optimists. be leaders-show the way 10
complete optimism by wearing your
smiles and your deeds where the whole
world can gain strength and happiness
from them. Be kind 70 those about
you, and you viii be kind 10 yourself
BE living examples OF the power of kind /
ness to make the world better and better
each day.
Don't let your chances slip by, but be
up and doing every moment Of the day. /
There is kindness and optimism enough !
TO go round, and TO spare.
Next Sunday We will have contributions
on Perseverance. which ought TO be
delightful topic for the club 20 discuss. /
The contributions should all be in by /
Wednesday noon. but we wifi begin 10 /
print them tomorrow morning in The /
Herald, and every day during the week. |
as usual
Many Of the optimists have expressed !
themselves favorably on the daily op-
timist column, and I am very much /
pleased with the success Il has made /
Every contribution that is printed. wheth- |
er on week days. or on Sunday, has an
equal chance for the weekly prizes