The Washington herald., 1910-06-12
By THE oPT1mIsT.

by THE OFAImASLs
The preacher who chooses for his text
1.-THE Goden Rule" sets himself an easy
task. There is no admonition given to
mankind the principles Of which are so
readily understood. There is no mistak-
ing the meaning; there is no lodging OF
its application.
Il means you Just as surely as 1t means
me. brother optimist You cannot ig-
more the personal note In the Golden
Rule. You cannot evade the fact that it
sticks in the conscience OF the thinking
man or woman in every act he or she
performs. There is no mean or selfish
act that is not confronted by the STILL
small voice of conscience crying. How
would you like such treatmentf''
Tho essencs of optimism is In the Gold
en- Rule. because this excellent text COM
prehends almost entirely ones actions
toward his fellow-men. Optimism does
not only mean cheerfulness and looking
on the bright side; it means right living
as the means of happiness, and no one
can live right unless he accords that
same treatment and helpfulness TO his
fellows as he in turn expects 70 receive
at their hands.
You, my friends, have been living up TO
the Golden Rule. For months we have
been working together. cheering each
other and helping. by our words OF COM
fort and wisdom. TO brighten another's
pathway and lead him into the light.
II you were trudging along dusty
highroad, fOOtsOTe and weary, miles and
miles from your destination and had no
means by which TO get there except your
two tired feet, and man came leisurely
by IN big touring car with plenty or
room in II and passed you by without OF
fering you a lift. you would put that man
down as a selfish individual; nay, you
would even say that he was positively
guilty Of cruelty when by a simple act
he could allay suffering and cause pleas
ure at the same time.
And If you were the man In the auto
mobile, what would you do? Do not
Judge others hastily. and being the man
on foot boast OF what you would do II
you were the other one. 1 am sure none
Of my optimists would refuse TO give the
traveller lift In his car: but there are
many men who would thoughtlessly do
iust such a thing. and If accused OF be-
ing insensible TO the precepts OF the
Golden Rule they would deem themselves
ill-used.
Don't lose sight Of the fact that you are
always a little better of in some things
than your neighbor. You may not have
an automobile and are therefore unable
to relieve him Of the necessity for walk
ing. but perhaps you have something else
that will please him quite as we'll
II you are an Optfmist and refuse TO
share its beauties with your neighbor,
Won are guilty Of breaking the Golden
Rule. You can easily remember, perhaps,
when you were first awakened TO its adj
Vantages. Why not share with a less
fortunate fellow-man? I am tempted TO
declare that unless you observe the Gold
en- Rule you cannot be a true optimist,
for optimism is a wholly unselfish and
entirely cooperative state Of being.
am stu passing round the hat for
the little ones. The enthusiasm over our
project for raising money for sending
poor children into the country during the
summer months is beginning 10 bear
fruit You viii notice that the cash con-
tributions are coming in rapidly. In two
weeks we have collected a little over $50,
and I expect to receive as much more
during the next two weeks.
The fresh air fund" will be open uT-
til August J. and If the interest keeps up
I shall extend the time. had talk
with the treasurer OF Camp Good VIII
operate with The Washington Herald
Optimist Club in every way He is go
ing to give US a day at the camp, 10 be
called The Washington Herald Opt
mists' Day" when each and every one Of
you is to be invited to spend the after
noon at the camp and see for yourselves
what a worthy charity IL is.
OF course, If we were able 10 raise
large sums or endowments we might
~
What a monument that would be to the
club and its ever-working members! But
that is beyond us, and l have concluded
that the next best thing for US TO do is
to Join hands with some properly organ
ized charity of this kind and give II what
support we can.
There is also the Christ Child Society,
which I mentioned TO you as being very
near TO the hearts Of several Of our mem
bers. This society takes sick children Of
the poor and keeps them in the country
as long as II IS possible, building up their
poor little bodies with wholesome coun-
try fare, the good pure air of Gods out
OF doors, and the refreshing sleep which
only summer nights in the country can
give.
You will never regret having contrib
uted to q cause like this, Your own va
cation will seem the pleasanter for your
having made II possible 10 SEND one little
child into that wonderful realm which
seems like a fairyland to him and so diff
ferent from the hot streets and the brick
walls OF the thickly settled city neigh
borhood where the greater part OF his
young life is spent
One OF the Optimists suggested TO me
the other day that the club should start
a crusade for country life,' meaning. Of
course, that folks should go back TO ma
ture to rear their children. Unfortunate
~ for this idea the trend of the age IS
toward the cities. The city-bred child Is
rapidly supplanting tho country child.
The mental advantages of the city are
beginning TO have more weight than the
physical benefits Of the country. Per-
sonally, I believe that il is well worth
while for people who have growing fami-
lies 10 try and get them into the country
for q good part OF the year, but I should
hesitate TO recommend that children be
kept in the country and thus be deprived
Of the advantages that schools and col
leges, libraries and lyceums. and the
hundreds OF kindred educational benefits
Of the cities.
But every one needs a vacation. A rest
from the daily routine IS an excellent
thing. A change is what gives perspee-
tive, and when that change is from the
iron and brick Of the city TO the cool
reaches Of meadows and hills 1t is hard
~ necessary 10 use any other argument
than the word go
A city is certainly no place TO spend a
vacation. Rest and vacation should be
synonymous. hence we go as close to
nature as we can so that we may be re-