The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-07
Br THE OPTI,IIsT.

To be honest, TO be kind-to earn lit
tie and spend a little less. 20 make upon
the whole a family happier for his pres
ence. 70 renounce when that shall be
necessary and not to be embittered. 10
keep a few friends, but these without
apitulation-above all on the same grim
conditions. TO keep friends with himself
here is a task for all that a man has OF
fortitude and delicacy.
That text. perhaps. best gives clew
10 what the truly useful life may be,
and the man who wrote it--Robert Louis
Stevenson-has much to say of like slim
ulatlng quality along the same lines
Always it will be found that the useful
life is the upright. honest life. but in
that very question Of honesty is a sub
ject for a volume. Honesty is no more
TO be set down in word than truth is,
for SO much depends upon your canons.
Are you 70 be honest in your life and
living TO what the world thinks is the
Standard Are you to be honest ac-
cordIng 10 the books and homilies, or
are you TO be honest to the truth which
is In yourself. and brave enough, II con-
WINGED II is indeed the truth. 10 stand up
boldly in face Of the conventions and
live for that honesty-Or die for II, II
need be?
Again let Stevenson speak 10 this
point:
If you teach a man TO keep his eyes
upon what others think Of him, unthink
ingly 20 lead the life and hold the prjn-
ciples Of the majority or his contempt
raries. YOU must discredit In his eyes
the authoritative voice OF his own soul
He may be a docile citizen; he win
hand. 20 disregard this babble and chat
terlng OF other men better and worse
than we are and to walk straight before
us by what light we have. They may be
right: but So before heaven, are we.
They may know, but we know Also and
by that knowledge we must stand or fall.
There is such q thing as loyalty 10 a
mans own better self; and from those
who have not that, God help me. how am
i 10 look for loyalty to Others2 IL is
good, believe, 10 be respectable. but
much nobler 10 respect oneself and utter
the voice OF God.
The useful life is the brave life. then;
brave enough 10 dare; hopeful enough
always 10 believe that daring and striv-
ing VIII result IN betterment to the
world; greater happiness TO mankind
1t is not given TO all Of US in this
world 70 play the hero. Most Of us, no
doubt though we cling to our desks.
are a little out at elbows and have ink
stains on our pallld fingers, have
brave dream somewhere in our hearts
that II the trumpets blared, the flies
screamed shrilly, and the drums rever-
berated that we could all march forth
into the thick Of battle and slay our
thousands. Perhaps we dream and
ious opportunity will come-but ere the
war that is TO show our mettle is de-
clared we are old and toothless, and in
stead Of marching forth on bareback
and bacon we have 10 content ourselves
with soaking our morning crust in coffee
TO soften il for our vacant and once
more tender gums. In short. our oppor-
tunity for herOism is passed and all the
time we have missed a thousand chances
right AT our dOor-not Of the sort of
heroism that wins the worlds applause
and medals and promotion, but that
quiet, everyday heroism of kindness.
gentleness. honesty, forethought-the
practice Of many virtues-that would
have made ours a useful life and one
TO be sadly missed when ii ceased OF
use.
And. above all, let US realize that in
its uuest sense the optimist life is the
useful life. To be hopeful always; TO
be honest with ourselves and others-but
first OF all with ourselves. to know hu-
mility and TO practice II; 70 be generous
and just; 10 be truthful and helpful; to
use such talents as God has lent us as
well as He would have us use them: to
know no fear OF life and 10 harbor
brave and lofty thoughts OF death-this
is TO live the useful life. and to in
crease by so much the sum Of happi-
ness In the world.
Word to the ODtimiSt Club.
You will remember. I hope. that the
subject for next SUNDAY is THE Food