The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-08
Nv THE OPTIMIST.

Well, my dear fellow-workers, here we
are at another milestone in our journey
together. and this occasion is one to mark
with a white stone.
Deeds" There is inspiration for you.
All you have to do is 10 read the ex-
pressions from the members to-day and
you will see what a noble band of work
ers we have Optimist LenoX. who is
one OF to-days prize-winners. says
What has man done?" and sounds the
keynote to the whole subject OF deeds so
far as optimists are interested.
What have you done?" That is al
most the first question that a man asks
another who seeks employment. Unless
you can do something you are Of no use
20 any one least OF all to yourself You
cannot expect to go forth into the world
empty Of achievement and expect TO gain
confidence and respect.
You may say. How can we do any
thing before we get the opportunity
and that is the answer OF weakness. It
is unworthy Of the man of deeds, the man
OF action. Make your own opportunities.
Optimist Clara Manakee says in her con-
tribution Il think the reason so many
fail TO do the little deeds is because they
are so small"
What a sermon we offered in that
thought "Despise not the day Of small
things" How do you know that the lit
tie things will not lead TO greater ones?
You do not know it at all, and l tell you
that you cannot afford 10 neglect the
making Of opportunity. once get into
the habit OF waiting for something big to
turn up and you will wait forever. Never
get the idea that any good task is unwor-
thy Of you. for that Is fatal TO progress.
Encompass the daily task. no matter how
insignificant It may seem; il is a step
ping-stone and serves the very useful
purpose Of training you for better things
and gives you that experience without
which your attempt 10 do big things is
futile
Don't think all this Is mere relteration
OF an obvious platitude. The precepts Of
right living are always reaching some
one who needs them. No thoughts are
absolutely new; it is only the new audi
enCe that makes them new. Every day
an old idea strikes an ear that is unfa-
miiar with it, and so the seed Of an idea
OF precept. OF an example is sown daily
IN fertile ground.
The teacher in school goes over the
same lesson year after year. To her they
are an old. old story. but the eager. ex-
pectant faces of each new batch of pupils
gives new interest TO what she must
teach and they must learn. The actor on
the stage goes through the routine Of his
playing night after night To the out
slider this seems like a dreary monotony,
the merest drudgery of life. but it is not
So His inspiration lies in his new audi
ences. and each time there are new SEN
sations. new thoughts aroused.
So il Is with our club. Every week we
have something 10 say about the growth
of character the development Of our
hearts and minds but 1t is because we
say It differently, because we have some
new subject before US. that keeps up our
interest In our work. Then. too we have
the beautiful thoughts Of others 70 pre-
serve and ponder over an example TO
follow here or a thought TO remember
there.
We have often said that work Is good.
that action is a balm to the soul. Deeds
count only when they are in some worthy
cause. Good deeds are the only deeds
worth while, for they bring the satisfac-
ton Of the conscience. Foul deeds" as
Hamlet says, will rise, though all the
earth o'erwhelm them, 70 mems eyes" II
IS easier to hide a good deed than an evil
one. for murder will out"
This is where the disciplining effect OF
good deeds comes in. We do not do good
for the sake Of advertising il. The self
satisfaction is a sufficient reward Mean
ness and corrupt actions are hard 20 eff
face. however. and sooner or later return
20 shame us. Let US think then only Of
good deeds and. like true optimsts.
pledge ourselves 10 working. not Sinking
I have received many echoes Of THE
Optimist's Garden" which proved to be
one OF the best topics OF the springtme
series. Mrs. Mary l. Reed. one of the
most faithful members, writes: Dear
Fellow-optimist; Our page on Sunday
was perfectly beautiful. II was a great
and lasting pleasure to read each con-
tribution.''
Another optimist, a prize-winner last
week. writes: Il want TO acknowledge
and thank you for your kindness in
awarding me a prize in The Optimist's
Garden II was indeed a page of good
things, and I am sure among so many
deserving ones II must be hard to decide
10 whom TO give a prize. However. you
know the lucky dollar goes to help some
one live closer 10 the truth to plant some
seed that will grow and wax abuRaantlv
I always enjoy your good words to US.
and those to-day on The Optimist's Gar
den seem more than usually appropriate
II is because 1 agree with you so thor
oughly In all you have said about gar
dens. The subjects are particularly well
timed and follow one another with a
beautiful sequence. Deeds is splendidIy
Trnctioa for by our deeds we are known.
and all our Wanted optimism avails us
nothing unless our deeds are living sub
sanitation of our teachings. Some time
I hope you will have Energy as sub
feet and 'Self-reliance' and Sowing We
have our gardens and we must plant
something or they will grow up with
weeds"
1 think my correspondent will recall
the subject Independence" which is
about the same as "Self-relance;" but
her suggestion for Energy is a good
one. Sowing is also most appropriate.
and we hope to have them in the near
future.
I am so grateful to the members for
their words OF encouragement. I feel
that each one of you is my friend in fact