The Washington herald., 1910-08-28
OPTIMISTS SHOULD SET A GOOD EXAMPLE

be music to some, fragrance 70 others,
and hopefully life-giving 10 ali.
Mrs. L. B. cHAAiBERLAIS.
In the year 1857 the wife Of the late
President Arthur was an infant in the
arms OF a nurse on board the big steam
ship Central America, or Cape Hatteras
The vessel was sinking The fierce storm
OF the night previous had done It's work
we'll. and the seamen were ordered TO
lower the lifeboats. that the many pas
sengers aboard might be saved The sea
had become calm and th= sun was shin
ing as the order was executedHA leu.
tenant in the United States navy was IN
charge Of the vessel. and under his direc-
ton we're more than 200 seamen. When
the last OF the lifeboats had been low
cred the eeamen made a rush to secure
them. but the lieutenant had been keenly
on the alert for such result and with
a cooked pistol presented. he declared he
would XIII the first man that advanced
farther. The mutiny was quickly Gained
and every man. woman. and child pas
senger on the ship was lowered into the
boats. But before the infant mentioned
a
took her from the nurses arms-she was
his daughter-and kissed her a tender
good-by. When all the passengers were
in the small boats many OF them impor-
tuned the lieutenant to seek his own
safety With them. but he scorned the
idea when his seamen must perish. He
then disappeared below FOR short time,
/ but soon returned In the fun uniform OF
an American naval oficer He took. his
stand on the deck with his arms folded.
watched by many Of those on the life.
boats that were floating out to sea and
safety.
In a short while the vessel gave a great
lurch. which the commander knew was
its last, whereupon he raised his cap in
the air, as II bowling 10 the majesty OF
God, who had seen 1T TO terminate his
career in this manner. and he went down
with more than 200 Of his men. his cap
In the air, his heart in his duty and h!s
grand spirit ready to start on that voy-
age eternal which he no more feared than
did Achilles death
| Would you know the name OF this
brave naval offlcer7 II is on a marble
shaft over there IN Annapolis-"William
| Lewis Herndon"-and The ending OF his
/ gallant life will be an inspiration and an
/ example 10 the thousands Of cadets who
will IN the. future look upon the shaft
and hear his story.
GEORGE P. HERNDoN
These gems OF thought from the weeks
reading are passed on TO my fellow
optimists. as they bear directly upon the
/ topic Of the day.
This from Robert Browning:
II you only knew the light
Thai your soul casts in my sight
How 1 look to you
For the good and true.
The beauteous and the right"
And from Browning this inspiring
| thought:
Others shall take courage to their heart
and hard
From thy hand. and thy heart. and thy
brave cheer.
And Gods grace fruetify through thee TO
all"
We find an especial appeal TO each one
OF US in this little poem from an IN
known source:
''Oh. 90 not deem that II matters not
How you live your life below;
1t matters much to the passing CROWD
That you see 20 to and fro;
For all that is noble. and high. and good
Has an influence on the rest.
And the world is better for every one
Who IS living at his best
EDITH V. BRADr.
Our own characters are the truest ex-
amples."
Words are but idle messages"
Our deeds must count each day.
The better for our knowing
His commandments to obey.
In the mystery Of all creation
This precept. good and true.
To follow one great principle
Our minds he viii subdue
Our characters well blended
In justice for the right.
We picture in our gladness
It's precepts. which is might
To follow as He teaches,
One purpose TO pursue.
Seeing the best in others.
We will follow all the true
EMMA HUGHES.
Shall we be remembered Surely by a
few; and that remembrance we are max
Ing sure of by the tenor. the example Of
our lives. Our actions, our characters are
the inscriptions we are making on the
hearts OF those who know US and may
survive us. We do not leave the Office
% others: we are doing Il ourselves.
Others might overpraise. falsify. and de-
ceive by what they say Of US; but we
are telling the truth-will our epitaphs be
read with JOY or pain? The example Of
our lives is unenviable. Shall we not,
then. show the tender grandeur of un-
selhshness, the endurance OF eonstsncy,
tie delicate paths OF pure conceptions OF
LIES reallties-shall we not try TO make
our world richer and happier with the
holiness Of self-abnegating love?
ALLIE SHARPE BALcH.
go to the ant" said the worlds wisest
man;
Delve in the earth and learn whate'er
you can:
Natures greatest and smallest works
teach wisdom
BY example, and have since time began.
Day unto day uttereth speech. and night
Unto night teacheth knowledge by the
light
Which comes into our souls out Of
darkness.
And gives to the patient seeker new
sight
Man. weak man, must learn what nature
4 knows;