The Washington herald., 1910-05-01
By THE OPTINHST.

BY THE OPTIMIST.
Did you ever pause on your way 20 look
through an iron grating at an old-fash-
toned garden?
Most old-fashioned gardens were sur
rounded by iron fences. Some OF them,
alasl were shut in by brick walls. which
kept them forever out Of sight OF the
passer-by. They were enjoyed by the
few and not by the many.
With what care and with what precis-
Ion were the old-fashioned gardens laid
out. with their borders. their gravel
walks. the beds carefully weeded. and
the boughs of the shrubs heavy with
sweet-scented bloom. II used 10 be the
fashion to take great pride in ones gar
den. People had plenty OF land then;
houses were not crowded together as
they are in the cities, and each house
keepers garden was a thing OF beauty
and well repaid for the work that it in
volved.
Nowadays people don't pay so much at
tentiOn 10 their gardens. Formal lawn
plots, with a few plants or trees, give a
monotonous tone TO most OF our gardens.
Convention has taken the place OF indi-
vlduality
There IS one optimistic sign. however,
in the gardens Of to-day; that IS, that
the barriers are down. Walls and fences
no longer shut the beautiful things away
from the public gaze The sight Of parks
and gardens is now enjoyed by the poor
as well as the rich.
Mems gardens are Ike mems charac-
tiers. What is found blooming there de-
ponds entirely upon what has been plant
ed there. Some erect strong barriers
about themselves and let no inkllng oc
the beauties within reach those who
would be glad 10 share In them. But the
Optimist's garden is not fenced about.
What he has he shares with his fellow
men. The delight that he takes I'm his
own blessings is doubled by the pleasure
Of sharing them with others
The optimist is very careful about the
garden Of character. He knows that there
are certain traits, like certain flowers OF
earth that blossom for a day and wither
down 10 their very stalks and are known
no more He knows, too, that there are
many hardy. vigorous plants Ike the
good, sturdy traits Of character which he
plants. These weather the SHOWS OF win
ter and bloom again when spring touches
them with her magic wand.
II must be plain 70 YOU that character
building is like any other kind OF build.
ing. No man likes 10 think that tn,
product Of his efforts is doomed TO de.
struction: he wants to build for all time
Without strong. enduring character al
the foundation OF his work he cannot
hope for success.
Building the optimists garden is hard
work. but II is pleasant work and Il re
pays a hundredfold.
To look into the optimist's garden yoJ
60 not have 20 peep through iron graf
ings or climb over stone walls. The Op
tImist invites you into his garden ant
asks you 70 linger under the grateful
shade OF noble trees. He wants you Il
pluck whole srmfuls OF beautiful bios
you have left the delightful precincts o.
his garden.
The optimists garden is a garden o.
character. The great tree under which
you just rested Is the sheltering oak Of
charity. Of benevolence TO all mankind
The roses Of unselhshness raise theil
heads just across the path. and a littl,
farther on those pure white blossom!
represent right living. The flowers o
modesty, contentment. and good viii ar.
blooming side by side with the lilies o
truth and the blossoms OF helpfulness
The air Is sweet with the scent of hop
and happiness.
Is It not an attractive garden, this gar
den Of the optimist? Why should no
everybody endeavor to cultivate such
garden? Why IS character sometime
neglected by men and women in thei
desire for other things-things which ar
not half so useful or so lasting?
Who Of you would not rather hinge
lovingly IN a garden where the spirit o
peace and happiness hovers than stagge
along the dusty highway Of life bowin
under the weight OF a bag OF gold?
The true spirit OF happiness lies in
contented and philosophical character
not IN the acquisition OF material thing,
The first satisfies; the second never does
The man who reaches out for wealth an
places it above everything else in his de
slres IS making a mistake that It vii
soon be too late 70 correct. First lear
the habit OF contentment, the cultivation
Of all the best traits OF character. an
your benefits will exceed those OF tn
avaraciOus and the discontinued.
Plant your gardens now and keep tn
fences down. Let every one know tina
you are cultivating happiness; help Their
10 start their gardens, too. Let there b
an exchange OF good viii and an inter
change OF Inequalities.
Be gardeners!
Next week Deeds" has been announce
as the subject for the members Of III
club 20 express their thoughts on. and
am hoping for a big response from 20
all
The work OF getting new members
still going on and hope you VIII all cor
tlnue TO work as hard as you have don
ever since the slogan for 1910. "Th
growth OF OPTIMISM was announced.
There Is a big satisfaction in printin
the names Of the new members, and
have yet 10 hear Of any one who regret
ted becoming a member Of our club. Tha
is the beauty OF optimism-once an opt
mist always an optimist. There Is n
backsliding from optimism; it is too pre-
cious an adjunct to the daily life.
Tho pTDrpggiOnr nv tho rl1eu,T.nrs ~rgri