New-York tribune., 1909-04-01
A DINNER OF SMILES
OPTINIST' CLUB MEETS.
President IN Letter DeCr1es Constant
Criticism and P6sSimiSm.

I Il
Hail "Optimfst Day, Avaunt "Au Fools Day!'
As the hands of the clock pointed TO the hour OF
midnight last night three hundred men and women
of the six hundred who were present earlier in the
night at the first dinner of the Optimist Club, at
the Waldorf arose and greeted the new day OF
observance with the singing OF The Star Spahsleu
Banner" 1t the "supremest" moment OF many
supreme moments enjoyed last night by NlHnan
J. Robinson, "Optimist at Large" whose idea 1t
and "a magnificent idea" too, he said
Aside from an optimistic letter from President
Taft and similar communications from Joseph H.
Choate. Andrew Carnegie. Kate Douglas Nigsin
and other happy minded persons IN the country
and the unusual purpose of the occasion the trans
cending feature the dominating spirit or the
nght-WiIIiam J. Robinson Seated next the toast
master the Rev. Thomas r. Slicer he frequently
took the gavel in his own hand, assuming dlrecnon
of the programme.
Behind the speakers table against the wall IN
red white and blue electric lights, was me III
sigma OF the club, with the motto "Smile! IN the
centre And there wasn't person in that Dig
ball room who didn't smile when he she wasn't
laughing.
The letter Of President Taft aroused genuine en-
thuslasm 1t read:
Cincinnati February Is. 1909.
NV Dear Mr. Slicer. have your letter Of FEB
TP the IL tftdg anq sg q Gad 4e to opm Club and
0ptimist's magazine toward the present conditions
he man who does not hope ng fG1 be brougbt
about is not the man likely to bring Detter tniiieS
The spirit Of hypercriticism. and the unGom, o
promising attitude which will not aGcePn f0lie
upon the full realization of the highest l1eais anu
me geeG9n ooG ar @ al IE T o retard progress
slant criticism and constant Pess1mlsm are PIo-
no one Who wishes to DO anything end bring bring
about real reforms should allow hlr5T SEN 81 81 aTqi
from day tC day editorials ana otnef Pnd b,tner
cles the tone Of which Is pessnistc alo ny ny pe r
thusiasm necessary successful effort as tne Te@d
ing Of such matter WILLIAM H. IA
Mr.. Choate sent this telegram:
Sorry to miss the optmIst Club dinner am ms sure IRE
the bright side and hope for the best rant heaEI
never won anything.
Mr.. Carnegie wrote follows
quite right dear Mr slicer. the optimtst il
exutation. never has any century made such prog
Instead OF NOV, .ns over iInperfections We should
creste With a instinct FOR turning his face to the
sun aud absorbing its spritualzIng light. Always
ascent ssor, Of perfection This IS the rock Of
salvation All Is well since all grows better. sue
cess 10 the optimist, from one of them
Mrs Kate Douglas Wisgin sent this greeting:
Or starting an endless chain Of snies-each little
link ~ which would be Ike the twinkle OF an eye,
NJ M =. tsir, vo1iG be strenEthened every time
heard the chuckIe OF street urchin, the gay chime
OF p schoolgirls laugh or the genial "Ha. ha :! or
seIl,T :.grcst rsIk 6f happRess li5ssssi
An enchanting idea-to start an endless chain Of
mist.
Mr.. slt-er said in his Introductory speech:
There never was child made better by scolding
and uaEEiuE. and the grown-up children or the
years in this country We have had perpetual
scodiug AT the hands OF the critics, Nhen our s
unworthy pleasure in fighting back, but no nation
Is The subject Of criticism by one part Of the people
and the representative Of resentment by the other.
land ,s thar We have lad enough Of moral massage
All MASSAGE is form OF paSslne eHerGlse i3s =, Sha
healthy human being.
Mr. slicer vas Interrupted several times by some
smiling persons tse far end Of the room. but he
said he was not emba raised by the suppressed
enthusiasm"
The dinner. besides its encours gn1ent Of the
rapr,- thought served another purpose, e. brought
to The attention Of pessmistic world the fact that
Wall street really not so pad. The cptimtss
told about IL song and speech. The last two lines
Of William :. Rohinson's composition, Down Wall
Street
You may now have little money, but It might haFe
II II hadn't been for level heads on Wall Street.
With this gratifying Thought to reflect over the
guests smiled some more There were quite NUM-
her Of men present whose names are well known
- Wall street. r Augustus Heinze was there
Henry CleUs was one Of the speakers and /. y.
Splegelhere was one Of the "smiiers
n make dOuby sure tndt eNeINP'ul "puiL ellii0
there we're two hImorists on the speakers list
Charles Ratteu I.oomis and Royal :. Goidsbury-
The Musurgia Society furnished the choral end OF
tho entertainment.
In his first speech William J, Robinson said that
New York CITY "a very optinhSuc town.
y.5fcb last night was surely self-eyident fact.
Mr PogIe one Of the speakers said: william
] Robinson stands for something We Will stand
for Robinson"
. In his second speech William J. Robinson sa'd
that he. was an hereditary optmist and that he was
r,Ieased that those who patted him on the back IN
fI,e da,s Of his weakness and business depression
slE stood. by him
Henry Clcvs said that the richest man was not
h. who had tho most money, bur the man VINO got
the greatest pleasure OF his savings.
william J. Robinson In his third speech. which
was made after John T. Burke, editor. had risen
ia speak said that the Optmist club. his idea,
would grow to be greatest organization IN the
world.
Messages or regret were also received from the
Rev Dr Edward Everett Hale. Mayor Mcclellan
and General J. T. McCleary.
PROHIBITION DEFEATED III IOWA