Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-04-22
THE PURSUIT OF THE IDEAL

THE PURSUlT OF THE IDEAL
 ''What's the use of talking about such things?" exclaimed the pessimst to the man who had been talking to him about how much better could be done in a certain direction. You can't have the ideal on this earth. ."
 Perhaps not. Perhaps the ideal is unattain- able. Perhaps the ideal in art, in literature, in politics, in government in individual excellence, is merely pretty dream in the heart of a dreamer. Perhaps it is will o. -the-wisp which men pursue and never catch and which has been placed in their minds to tantalize them by a Providence capable of such an infamously cruel practical joke
 But i'll bodes to the world if the day comes when men cease to cherish ideals and to seek to realize them.
 If the world hasn't achieved the ideal it has made progress, and all progress has been made possible by men with visions of the ideal. Per haps the realization has been far from the dream. Perhaps the achievement has been dis appointing to the dreamers. Yet, however far from the dream, and however disappointing to the dreamer it has been progress just the same a step forward which cannot be retraced; the gaining of new footing, little nearer to the ideal.
 
 ture when it is closely pursued. That is because, from the viewpoint made possible by progress, newer ideals are born The ideal of yesterday may seem paltry in the light of the ideal of to- day; but that is because, from the better view gained by pursuit of yesterdays ideal, newer and brighter ideals have been born in the dreams of seers.
 To admit that the pursuit of the ideal isn t worth while because the ideal is beyond reach is to forbid progress. All progress is born of striving for ideals, and even if it were true that the ideal is impossible no true optimist will admit-it serves wonderful purpose in leading humanity onward and upward.
 A man who makes up his mind to aspire to the ideal in his relations with his fellow beings may not achieve it. but most assuredly he will greatly improve his relations with humanity.
 man who makes up his mind that it is inn possible to achieve the ideal, and therefore makes no attempt to achieve it, makes the i'm possible attempt to stand still. Nothing stands still. That which isn't going forward is going backward; and the man who isn't going forward and upward is going backward and downward.
 A nation that determines that it's government shall be an ideal government will not achieve the ideal-right away, at least-but it's government will be greatly improved. Straining after the ideal means pushing forward toward it, and even if it isn't reached, moving forward is progress and progress is as immutable a law of nature as the law of gravitation. That which goes forward lives because it deserves to live That which goes backward dies because it de- serves to die. Nature abhors stagnancy and out of it breeds corruption that is death Nature fosters progress; and out of it breeds vital principle which is life and growth.
 Glitch your wagon to star," said Emerson. Give play to your ideals and pursue them eager ly Even if you don't catch up with them you will be moving forward The pursuit of them makes life worth living, and gives you the right to live.