The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-17
THE WEEKS PRIZE WINNERS.
TEN PRIZES OF ONE DOLLAR EACH.
Nv THE OPTIMIST.

Dear fNlOM w VI ANl A'NAllNubhA euAu a
great many years ago that beauty is
only skin-deep. This was intended for
fippancy. but it has turned out to be a
proverb To as the saying has a deep
significance. because il starts us 10 think
ing Immediately about those beauties
which are not merely visible, but which
manifest themselves by word or deed.
Physical beauty or attractiveness-and
this is meant particularly for the ladies'
is a splendid thing to possess but most
Of you will admit that II is a slit that is
purely accidental You may talk as much
as you please of heredity and Of a long
line OF perfectly bred ancestors but the
scion of the most illustrious and high
bred stock may be deformed or ugly,
while the peasants child may be fair Of
face and figure to the point OF being
transcendenuy beautiful.
1t Is unnecessary TO go into the reasons
for this just now. but I wanted 10 show
you that II any one of you are proud Of
your beauty you should rather be thank
full instead that God made you fair to
look upon one should never take undue
pride I'm that which he does not himself
achieve.
I hope there are no vain members OF
our optimistic sisterhood. At any rate
that is a trait which / have yet 10 run
across I'm any of you. To indulge I'm per
sonal vanity is a deplorable waste Of
time. and am sure none Of my optimists
have time for anything OF the sort
It is obvious. however. that We cannot
altogether ignore the advantages Of OK
Of "a
should care nothing for the beauties Of
nature and show but little appreciation
for the beautiful world i'm which we live
On the contrary. we look for beauty in
everything. We want trees and flowers
and birds We dwell upon the views Of
distant mountains upon the splendors Of
the ocean. of the ever-varyinE landscapes.
the rivers. the forests. We like TO look
at beautiful pictures and sculpture and
go into ecstasies over those things which
we call artistic. but which. summed up.
are expressed I'm the one word, "beauti-
full"
When il comes to human beings, how
ever no matter how desirable beauty
may bel mean that beauty which is
apparent 10 the eye-thcre is yet another
kind Of beauty in which we set a far
greater store The man or woman whose
character is beautiful, and therefore is
lovable. makes a far better companion
than one who has only physical attrac-
tiveness
Just as the beauties OF nature fade. as
the flowers and the trees are blemished
by the icy breath of winter and swept
away by the chill winds of the north, so
does beauty wither and disappear.
You may retain a picture long after
the landscape from which il was painted
has been effaced by time, or you may
preserve a portrait of the most beautiful
woman. but at best these trophies are
but unsatisfactory limitations They are
but shadow of the substance that has
gone forever. There is no use lingering
mournfully over that which has past
and gone: this is not I'm the optimist' $
creed Therefore. the way of the opti-
mist contemplates only the cultivation
oc that form Of beauty which cannot
fade.
Character-buuding, the formation Of
traits that shall be everlasting, the splen-
did evidences of a clear conscience and a
clean mind-these are the real beauties
that all mankind should aim to possess.
In these he can take a genuine pride be
cause it is within his power 10 be the
author Of them. They are not merely ac-
Cidental; they are the result OF labor and
Of prayer.
The gnarled and defOrmed disposition
hasn't a ghost of a show with the opti-
mist. Il is too ugly. too repulsive for a
place within his range Of vision. II you
are working for the uplift, as all Of you
are, you overcome these evidences OF
anti-Optmism. Like St George Of old,
you go forth armed against the dragon
Of ugliness You kill selfshness and in
its place put the helping hand in the
place Of greed you erect generosity: for
hate you substitute love
All along the way you battle with the
ugly things. so that those who follow in
your train. those for whom you are
working, may see what il means TO be an
optimist
Ugliness fees before the optimist. In
its stead, after it has passed, you will
find beauty.
To those readers Of The Herald who
are not yet members Of the Optimist
Club I want to explain briefly its objects
and its achievements.
The club was formed over a year ago
as the result Of an expression on the part
Of certain readers Of The Herald in favor
o. banding together and working for the
principles of right living.
Lets help is the motto OF the club.
and a handsome button. 10 be worn by
the members. was made. and every one
who felt disposed to do so was invited 10
join. The result was very gratifying. and
UP to the present time we have enrolled
more than 500 members
Every Sunday the members write on a
subject which Is announced the week be-
fore. and prizes are offered for the most
representative contributions. and a great
many others are awarded honorable men
ton. The best Of these are printed on
this page every Sunday This serves not
only as an interesting feature of the Sab
bath edition Of the paper. but It enables
the various members TO get in touch with
each other. The optimist page is a forum
where a healthy and profitable exchange
of opinions is effected
Optimism is the chief object OF the
club, and during the year the growth of
optimism has been very big indeed The
members have entered upon the second
year Of the club with a great deal of en-
thusiasm pledging themselves to get new
members and do everything in their