The Paonia newspaper., 1910-06-17
TRY TO BE HAPPY
AT LEAST ONE MAY ATTEMPT TO
CULTIVATE CHEERFULNEsS
According to Philosophers, the Pos
session of a Joyous Disposition Is
Worth More Than an Annuity
of Generous Proportions.

of Generous Proportions.
Pleasantly entertaining the audi,
tors in Judge Cabanisss court the
other day. the attorney for Mrs.
Charles Wesley Reed spoke some elo-
quent words on the philosophy of
cheerfulness. "A cheerful nature" he
said, like a Claude Lorraine glass,
tinges all objects with sunlight" And
he quoted with approval Hume's re-
mark that 1t is better to be born with
a cheerful disposition than with an
income of ten thousand pounds.
Lifting the attorneys relations
from their environment Of personal
application to Mr.. Reed. there is much
TO be commended in what the lawyer
said, declares the San Francisco
Chronicle. Cheerfulness is, indeed,
greatly to be desired in the world.
though whether a cheerful nature is
necessarily a more valuable posses
sion than ten thousand pounds a year
may be open to some argument. II Is
possible. for instance, that ten thou
sand pounds a year might Of itself
procure at least a type Of cheerful
ness.
But of the general usefulness OF
being happy there can be no two
opinions. The man who sings at his
work. whatever his occupation, can
do more in the same time and do IL
better than the one who follows his
pursuit in silent sulleuness. Efforts
to be permanently useful must be
uniformly joyous. for what the sun
shine il to the flowers smiles are to
humanity.
II is possible. Of cnunre, 10 be. too
enthusiastic over the Importance Of
cheerfulness. To confront every situ-
alton with a cheerful grin is neither
humanity possible nor would IT tend to
effectiveness of action. Always to
look at the silver lining which is sup
posed to border every cloud. and not
observe the cloud itself. is also likely
at times to be a mistaken policy But
the habit OF seeing the best side OF
every event. while giving a certain
necessary attention 10 the other side.
is one which is very well worth the
while of every person to cultivate.
There is a difference between be-
ing cheerful and being mirthful. The
latter condition should be accidental.
arising naturally out of the occasion.
and the occasion seldom be laid
for IT Cheerfulness. on the other
hand. is something which, being a
habit of mind. can be made continu-
Gus. II is as natural to the heart OF
a man in strong health as color to his
cheek. and where II is lacking. unless
temperamental inhrmities be the
cause, there must be iil-health, ex-
cessively severe labor. or errinG hab-
its Of life
CARLYLE, although he did not sue
csed in making Mrs. Carlyle very
cheerful. recognized to the full the
value OF cheerfulness. and at least
In his writings did much to impress
It's Importance upon people. There
10 no greater everyday virtue than
cheerfulness, he wrote in one of his
works. This quality In man among
men is like sunshine to the day, or
gentle renewing moisture to parched
herbs. The light OF a cheerful face
diffuses itself and communicates the
happy spirit that inspires IT, The
sourest temper must sweeten in the
atmosphere of continuous good hu-
NOR"
The person who has a cheerful ma
ture is In possession of very valu-
able asset in life. and. fortunately. II
is disposition which can be cult
waited and does not depend, except In
minor way. upon inherited traits
II is a positive duty to be cheerful
where possible, and the occasions
when It is not possible are only those
exceptional ones when all rules seem
to fail. To brood over hopes unreal
lied or to fear calamities to come is
only to fasten a chain on our thoughts
which makes for inefficiency and rem
ders success improbable.
The cheerful live longest in years
and accomplish more for every year
that they live. Simply a. q selfish
propensity 1t is abundantly worth cul-
tivating, for II is form of riches, and
riches are what most Of us want.