The Washington herald., 1910-01-02

some of you have developed a positive
genius for originality and beauty Of ex-
preston,
I shall give a place OF honor to the
winner of the first prize. provided the
contribution is not too long.
You viii all appreciate tho value of
keeping your essays down to short length.
want new members. and I want as
many of the Old ones as I can get to
contribute every week. But space is too
limited TO print all the contributions. so
the shorter they are the more will appear
each week
Remember that few weII-chosen SEN
tences, simple and direct, are more apt
10 be driven home than a long article
which does not reach the point at once.
If we will all cooperate In this you VIII
find big benefit win result to our cause.
Let me hear from overy one on "Why
optimism grows."
I find that the first prize Of s. this week
unquestionably belong 70 A B. Fitzger-
aid, 209 Twelfth street. who cleverly
epitonizes beginning right" in these
words:
It IS an old saying that work well be-
gun is half DONE" from which II is ap-
parent that we should take the utmost
pains in every undertaking to make a
good beginning. Some begin the new
year with a full realization OF what its
days may have in store for them. In
other words. they have a purpose III life.
To resolve to do a thing and TO make a
beginning are difficult, but If we begin
with determination TO do we'll whatever
We take in hand and If that determina-
ton be adhered 10 success will be almost
a certainty.
Considerable actions in the world have
usually very small beginnings; from Il
few letters how many thousand words
are made. So from small beginnings Cod
causes a generous return.
Second prize Of $3 goes to B. c. saun-
ders, 16O3 Third street, for this contribu-
ton:
If the beginning be right the rest Of the
task viii be easy. No man or woman
will ever achieve a satisfactory or last
ing victory over self unless he lays the
foundation deep In the heart. On the
firm foundation OF a good beginning even
an empire can be built. "As the twig is
bent so is the tree inclined" and il we
warp our souls from the beginning no
power of ours can straighten it out. II
Is easy to mend, but thing once broken
can never be made whole Take heed OF
the good beginning and the ending VIII
be happiness and victory.
Third prize, g:
To begin the new year Alright one should
have IN mind some well-formed rules NJ
conduct for the ensuing DAYS. No strong
er foundation for happiness could be laid
han to cherish the rising thought that
the day dawned is full Of promise for
good, that its twilight viii find 2 little
deed for love performed and some weary
one helped along the way. Again. To
look forth from the window at daybreak
and sec the glorious sunlight. or ner-
chance the cloud-masked sky and feel
the conditions are God-sent With sucb
thoughts each day VIII begin expectaDtlv
and the apostle Of the idea viii live from
time to time encouraged by hope and his
belief strengthened that sadness is q
faIacy. LOUIS yARNrAr WoT-T,Fr
l0C6 Sixth street northwest
Five prizes Of 800 each:
Work we'll begun is work half done"
IS homely old adage that has been test
ed by experience and found TO be true
The ancients recognized The value Of this
precept. for their sages. moralists. and
poets counseled it in their writings in
polished and pointed phrase, and our own
frontiersman, Davy Crockett, expressed
it tersely in the sentence, BE sure
you're right. then go ahead Begin
ming right means having clear idea Of
the thing TO be done and the means OF
doing it, These prellmfnaries properly
attended 10. one may be sure there will
be no lost motion and no retracing of
weary steps. Mrs J. 7. O,CONNFrI.
gJi I street northwest,
To begin right you must have a strong
will power, q good heart, and a cleans
ing out of the soul. For the fight that
each man fights behind his chamber
door for courage and for patience and
for faith, he fights not for himself alone.
he fights for ali mankind; he fights as
one who is helper of his kind. All who
have meant good work with their whole
hearts, have done good work. although
they may die before they have the time
to sign 1t. Every heart that has beat
strong and cheerfully has left a hopeful
impulse in the world and bettered the
tradition of mankind. Then begin this
New Year right with a strong effort 10
do your very best, so that at its end
you need not look back regretfully and
say: Il wish I had it to live over
again." but instead you can trace each
day with Joy and say: what a blessed
year OF happiness" NJ T HAN1oN.
rs Eleventh street northeast.
Acrostic.
Begin the coming year with resolutions
wise,
Envy abhor, and jealousy despise,
Give every man thy ear and few thy
voice.
Improve each moment, in good deeds
rejoice;
Noble in doing right. good works en-
shrine,
Natures examples are wondrous sublime.
Indulge in sobriety, politeness entreat,
Ne'er forsake prudence, beware Of deceit.
Gather no vices, in all things discreet.
Reap honesty, and gentleness, whatever
you may SOW;
Invoke sweet tender mercy. charity be-
stow,
Guided By truth, to honor ever cling.
Heeding things like these sacred pleasures
bring