The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-18
Heart To Heart Talks
BY EDWIN a. NYN

self you cannot see the beauties of ma
ture or of a great picture or of human
nature.
The ability to see is not in nature nor
the picture nor in humanity, but in
yourself.
Therefore, the cynical point of view
is wrong. and there is no wisdom In
the cynics philosophy.
1t requires dscernment and the right
angle of vision to discover the good that
is in people and things. And the opti-
mist is wiser than the cynic because
the optmist sees the things that are
worth while
The cynic is not fair critic.
The cynic does not see things as they
are. His vision is warped. The gen.
uine sort of criticism is that sort where
the critic discovers and appreciates the
good. He knows the evil. but is not in
fiuenced by 1t.
Be careful how you see.
Look for beauty and goodness and you
will find them, and they will make you
beautiful and good; look for uglness and
evid and you will find them, and they
will make you evil and ugly.
Sermonet
This was Hagar's prayer:
Give me neither poverty nor riches.
1t was a wise petition.
If you are in the depths of poverty
life can offer but little to you. The sor
did hand to mouth existence overwhelms
the best and highest that is in you and
prevents your being what you want to
be or ought to be.
Similarly, if you are very rich the
abundance overwhelms the highest and
best that is in you and prevents your
being what you want or ought to be.
You agree as to the first and deny the
second?
Note this: If you are rich you must
always be alert against the machina-
lions of the shrewd, else the shrewd
will surely get a part of your album
dant surplus. To feel that men would
rob you Is to shut up the bowels of
your mercy and put you out of touch.
Which is not conducive to happiness.
1t is true that
If you are rich you will hesitate to
trust a proffered friendship for fear
the proffer may be a mask with de-
sign behind it. You will feel that what
is done for you is done for your moneys
sake and not for your sake.
Whereas
If you are of the common herd your
friends are disnterested friends. If you
are sick or your family meets with mis-
fortunes these friends will be friends In
deed. Common folk look after one an
other In the times of suffering and of
stress.
Moreover
If you are rich your wealth exposes
you to every sort Of disagreeable no
toriety When your forty-second cousin
makes a scandal he Is exploited In the
black headlines of the newspapers as
1.-The near relative of the rich Mr.. -"
On the slightest provocation your fam
lily history is exploited for the delecta-
ton of the multitude.
Besides
Your labors to retain your wealth are
as sordid as those of the poor mortal
who grabs at mere existence. There is
nothing joyous and nothing character
making in your 1abors.
On the other hand,
Work for a living is blessing in
disguise. 1t is a panacea for sorrow and
makes for character. And, though some
times II may seem to be irksome and
grievous, yet there is in 1t joy that
comes in no other way.
Oh, my friends, 1 could give you many
a reason why you should pray the prayer
of Hagar.
Nevertheless 20 say. Give me the
richest"
And, to be frank with you. I who
speak to you have said the same, but
am free to say that
It is better to be poor than poverty
stricken; it is better to be happy than
rich