The Paonia newspaper., 1910-07-08
TRY TO BE HAPPY
At LEAST ONE MAY ATTEMPT TO
CULTIVATE cHEERFulNEss.
Aeeordins to Philosophers, the Poe
session Of . Joyous Disposition 10
Worth Mors Than an Annuity
Of Generous Proportions.

Of Generous Proportions.
Pleasantly entertaining the audi
tors in Judge Cabaniss's court the
other day. the attorney for Mrs
Charles Wesley Reed spoke some elo-
quent words on the philosophy Of
cheerfulness. "A cheerful nature" he
said, like a Claude Lorraine glass.
tinges all objects with sunlight" And
he quoted with approval Hume's re-
mark that It is better to be born with
a cheerful disposition than with an
income OF ten thousand pounds.
Lifting the attorneys relations
from their environment OF personal
application to Mr.. Reed. there is much
to be commended in what the lawyer
said, declares the San Francisco
Chronicle. Cheerfulness is. indeed,
greatly to be desired in the world.
though whether a cheerful nature Is
necessarily a more valuable posses
sion than ten thousand pounds year
may be open to some argument II IL
possible, for instance. that ten thou
sand pounds a year might OF Itself
procure at least a type OF cheerful.
ness.
But OF the general usefulness of
being happy there can be no two
opinions. The man who sings at his
work. whatever his occupation. can
do more in the same time and Dc It
better than the one who follows his
pursuit In silent sullenness. Efforts
to be permanently useful must be
uniformly joyous. for what the sun
shine is to the flowers smiles are to
humanity.
II is possible. of course. to be too
enthusiastic over the Importance of
cheerfulness. To confront every situ-
alton with n cheerful grin is neither
humanity possible nor would It tend to
effectiveness OF action. Always to
look at the silver lining which is sup
posed to border every cloud. and noe
observe the cloud itself. is also likely
at times to be . mistaken policy. But
the habit of seeing the best side OF
every event. while giving . certain
necessary attention to the other side.
is one which 10 very we'll worth the
while OF every person to cultivate.
There is q difference between be-
ing cheerful and being mirthful. The
latter condition should be accidental
arising naturally out OF the occasion.
and the occasion seldom be laid
for H. Cheerfulness. on the other
hand. is something WHICH. being Q
habit Of mind. can be made continu-
Gus. II is a. natural to the heart oe
. man In strong health as color to his
- -. . L. nrl-
temperamentai infrmities be the
cause. there must be iil-health. ex-
cessiveiy severe labor. or erring hab-
its of life.
Carlyle. although he did not sue
ceed In making Mrs. Carlyle very
cheerful. recognized to the full the
value Of cheerfuiness: and at least
in his writings did much to impress
It's Importance upon people. There
is no greater everyday virtue than
cheerfulness." he wrote in one OF his
works. "This quality In man among
men is like sunshine TO the day. or
gentle renewing moisture to parched
herbs. The light OF a cheerful face
diffuscs itself and communicates the
happy spirit that inspires II. Tho
4OuTebt tempeT Iuurt HWeeten IN inc
atmosphere Of continuous good hu-
NOR
The person who has q cheerful na-
ture is In possession OF . very valp-
able asset in life. and. fortunately, 10
II . disposition which can be cuiti-
waited and does not depend. except In
. minor way. upon inherited traits.
II II . positive duty to be cheerful
where possible. and the occasions
whom Il 10 not possible are only those
exceptional ones when all rules seem
to fall. To brood over hopes unreal.
lied or to fear calamities to come n
only to fasten q chain on our thoughts
which makes for incficiency and rem
ders success improbable.
Tho cheerful live longest in years
and accomplish more for every year
that they live. Simply as q selfish
propensity 1t is abundantly worth cul-
tivating. for II is form OF riches, and
riches are what most Of us want.