The Washington herald., 1910-12-04
BY THE oPTIMIsT.

tone than usual But serious as it is,
you VIII find, I/think many inspiring
and uplifting thoughts II is plain that
10 the true optimist death does not mean
hOpelessnes. Death is a cessation OF la
Dor, Of toll, Of WEAKNESS; and there is
something in the human soul that bids
us know that In the peace Of death anger
and hatred and malice and all undesir-
able things pass away. and as we have
wrought in life so shall We reap after
ward.
Two hands upon the breast
And labOrs done:
Two plae feet cTOss in rest
The race IS won,
Two eyes with coin weights shut
And all tears cease.
Two lilS where grief Is mute
Anger at peace,
That verse of Dinah Muloek Craik's
gives us merely the picture OF death in
its outward seeming. and 1t is not good
20 think OF that way. 1t will not do 70
shun the thoughts OF death. for that is
Ostrich-like and stupid: we should not
think OF 1t as a danger at all. but as
goal 10 which we are all moving irresist-
ibly. and for some of US already the goal
Is In sight Death has no advantage"
says Quarles. save when il comes as
stranger" and ne advises us TO greet il
as a friend, or. II as an enemy, TO be
prepared to overcome it.
Each day brings us nearer TO it. but
with no bitter thoughts. let US hope. To
realize the inevitableness of the thing
should help us to live rightly: 10 be eager
with kindness, 10 be strong in our work,
to thank God for the blessings we have,
for the happiness we enjoy. And II per-
chance We find ourselves enmeshedi in
misery and pain. still we find consolation
with Cotton in the knowledge that
Death Is the nberator Il him whom freedom can
not release the physician Of him Ehqm medicine
cannot cure, and the comforter Of him whom time
cannot console.
Last week one OF the prizes was award
ed TO Miss Gladys Goodwin. whose adj
dress as given on her essay was 2426 r.
win place northeast, and a check for So
was sent 10 her. The check was returned.
no one being found of that name at that
address. I am holding the check for the
prize-winner if she viii call for 1t or
make herself known.
The two prizes this week are awarded
20 the essays sent by Lawrence A. Wild
mayer, 500 street northwest, and Mich
ael T. O'Leary. 9O09 + street. whose con-
tributiOns follow:
The Prize winners.
It is appointed unto man once to die
Heb, iX:27
Why is death a terror 10 men? Be
cause IL is the punishment OF sin, the
penalty that was attached by God him
self TO the first transgressiOn OF His law.
I'm the day that thou eatest OF 1t thou
shalt die the death" For this reason we
shrink from IL as the mark and sign of
cur fallen and degraded condition, Dis
ease. corruption. old age decay, are its
forerunners and are invested with the
same reprOach as testimonies 10 our be
ing born in sin
Death Is the end OF our time OF trial
After il our destiny will be irTevOcably
fixed. No more chance OF doing penance,
no more opportunities OF cOntrition. no
more merit. no more grace. no more calls
10 repentance. no more hope for those
who reject God in this life. No wonder
then that men dread tiff they are not at
peace with God or If they still retain any
affection TO sin Yet death is standing
at our very doors: at any moment the
king OF terTOrs may summon US away.
Are we prepared for the summons?
Yet 10 those who love God death loses
all its terrors. For them IL IS the begin
ming Of their true life All their hopes
have been directed to the unseen world.
Why should they fear? Their heart IS in
heaven and their treasure IS I'm heaven;
their King and Lord Is there. and all
their dearest and best friends. How
happy are those who are thus detached
from this world and ever look 10 the
world 20 GOMEZ
Pray for a happy death.
LAWRENCE 4. W1DMAYER.
q death, where is thy sting? o grave,
where IS thy victory?
Disciples OF pessimism say that in this
life there are only two things certain. |
death and taxes; but the optimists, their
opponents in everything. see all along
life's pathway. even AT deaths door, good
and consolation in all things.
Death is certainty. for Scripture
teaches rs that in the midst OF life we
ara I'm death. filing. as II were. a caveat
70 prepare for death. a warning to the
living that we should live each day as
though it were our last,
Stephen White. that beloved philan-
thrOpist said Il expect to pass through
this life but once. II there is any kind
ness can show or any good thing / can
do for my fellow-being. let me do II now.
Let me neither neglect nor defer IL, for I
shall not pass this way again" Here
was a postmaster OF optimism, and who
\ can say that he feared death? In doing
good as ne went along the road o. life he
knew that when land he died was writ
ten after the name Of Stephen White
that his life had been one OF pleasure, a
success in every way.
Death. the king of terrors. His maj
esty must he this indeed 10 the infidel.
the agnostic. or the atheist AN athe-
lists laughs a poor exchange for Diety
offended" To the Christian, TO him who
believes in the immortality of the soul.
death has no fear. for his creed teaches
him the perfect life, symbolic of happi-
ness.
Death is the cessation Of life-mors
omnibus communis Death is common 10
all; it spares not the just or the unjust
Then
So live that when thy summons comes to
Join
The innumerable caravan which moves
To that mysterious realm where each
shall take
His chamber In the silent halls of death
Thou go not, like the quarry slave at
night
scourged 10 his dungeon. but, sustained
and soothed
LBy an unfaltering trust, approach thy
grave
Like one who wraps the drapery of his
couch
About him and lies down to pleasant
dreams. MICHAEL T. oLEARY.
Honorable Mention.
~ VIEW OF DEATH.
No l shall pass into the morning land
AS now from sleep into the life of morn:
Live the new life OF the new world
unshorn
or the swift brain. the executing hand;
See the dense darkness suddenly with
drawn