The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-19
Nv THE OPTI1IIsT.


My dear friends: It occurred to me
that you would like little change from
the regular manner of conducting this
page. want to make each Sunday as
interesting for you as possible. and viii
always welcome any suggestions you
may wish to make in this regard.
Beginning with to-day, therefore, I
shall appoint leader for the Sunday fol-
lowing. In fact, I shall print two names
in this column. and those two people
whose names I use viii be the candidates
for the club leadership for next Sunday.
Each of the candidates will write not
more than 200 words on the subject as
announced.
My reason for giving two names is to
avoid the possibility of one of those Sc
iected being unable TO write the opening
argument In the Sunday discussion. You
will see that Miss Moor, who is the leader
for to-day. has written us a very inter
esting essay on the subject of Laugh
ter" OF course, my selection of Miss
Moor was unknown 10 her I did not
turn over the idea until I had received
all the Laughter" contributions.
I shall ask Mrs. II. B. Holliheld and
Mr.. H. v Bisbee to compete for leader
ship on "Adaptability" next Sunday The
rest of the members will continue to
send in expressions. original or quoted
just as heretofore One OF the two men,
beTs named will be selected as leader for
next Sunday and his or her original SEN
timents will be printed at the top of this
column.
II is obvious that the bred-in-the-bone
-Fr-e
tice in the art OF laughing. You never
can tell when you viii be called upon to
break up a spell of gloom by that blues
.dispelling act.
I look upon good, wholesome. heartfelt
laughter as a tonic; nay, a positive cure
for pessinlism, and when I speak OF
laughter, as an optimist, I mean of
course laughter that comes from the
heart, not the forced laugh, nor the
laugh that wells a hidden thrust, or the
hypocrite's laugh.
II matters not whether you can see the
point of a joke; jokes are not the only
things that provoke laughter. Laughter
IS a state Of mind that comes from hap
piness and love and fellowship with man
kind A laugh is only grown-up smile.
a laugh on the lips should mean a song
in the heart. 1t is the language of the
Optimist
One Of the members sends me a little
poem to-day. I do not know the author
ship. but thought it suitable for our dis
cussion to-day. Here 1t IS:
The thing that goes the farthest
Toward making life a suocess,
That costs the least and does the most
Is Just q happy laugh
Tho laugh that bubbles from a heart
That loves its fellow-men,
VII drive away the cloud ID gloom.
And the sun again
It's fun Of worth and goodness TOO,
With manly kindness blent
It's worth a million dollars
And doesn't cost cent.
One of the pleasant features OF our
growing Fresh Air, Fund is the con-
slant receipt by me Of such goOd-natured,
helpful letters from the members
Just to let you all have the benefit of
these cheering expressions from our
stanch optimists. I am going to print
two or three Of them to see II you don't
think they show proper spirit and an
encouraging sign that our work is not
in vain
Giving for a worthy cause OF this
kind is a twofold benefit The little chill
dren who viii go into the country as the
guests OF The Washington Herald Opti-
mist Club viii be benefited, perhaps. for
awakened TO new things. new ideas will
be formed in their young minds, and as
their bodies grow strong and healthy,
their minds, too, viii expand
The other benefit is that It makes US
self-sacridcing, and gives Us an object
lesson in doing for others. Perhaps you
have been counting on one OF The Her
AIDS prizes. That dollar is going to buy
something you wish very much a book,
pair of gloves, or a theater ticket
When you give It TO The Heralds fresh
air babies, however and make the little
sacrifice. you feel a glow OF pride in be-
ing able to contribute your mite toward
a need which is stronger than your own.
True sacrifice lies In giving away some
thing that you want yourself In that
way only can you reap the benefits OF
giving.
Here is a letter from one of the men,
bers. which I want you all to read:
Dear Mr.. Optimist-A lady asked me
the other day how people who were af-
ficted could be optimists. A blind person.
for example. 1 wonder if she has read
about Helen Keller and her book on
Optimism, and about Edwin Grasse, the
blind musician. also an 0ptimist. Schauf-
fer. writing about him. says; He is
the happiest person 1 know. It seems as
though there were enough uproarious
spirits and humor. and healthy optimism
in that blind boy TO brighten up a whole
city full Of jaundiced eyes.
He who goes down in the battle of