The Washington herald., 1911-01-01
By THE OPTIMIST.

more than at other times. Always, I
think. we should cultivate the habit OF
being social, living less for ourselves and
more for others, but 1t should be re-
membered that it takes more than a
mere willingness to do this-it needs
preparation and understanding on our
side.
To do our full duty in this regard de-
mands that We cultivate within our
selves those God-given qualities of SYM
pathy. without which true sociability is
a mockery and hollow thing. For to
be truly social is not to be constrained
by our own grievances. and troubles. and
fears. but rather to be the more moved
by the sufferings and fears of others.
As the German poet Richter said:
In . life where not only foIlies, but woes also
ones. an aching heart for every bleeding one and =
gentle hand that shall in sad sympathy hold the
heavy chalioe Of sorruw for the poor man who must
drain it. and shall slowly nise it to his lips
It is only by having this ready SYM
pat}ry with the trials and tribulations Of
others that we can attain anything o.
the tue socability. without which life is
bound to be dreary and miserable. The
social instinct is strong within most Of
US, and fain would We crafty it, but
some of US, lacking sympathy with
others wonder in vain why it is thai
tie human brotherhood does not respond
to the overtures our souls make. Said
Addison:
half the misery of human life might be extin-
Suished would men alleviate the general they
lie under BY mutual Offices Of compassion, benevo-
lence. and humanity.
N hot ;s-,
to us clearly the duty that we, who feel
the need of spreading the sunshine of
optimism, as Riley says
As thick as butter on country bread
have undertaken. 1t is to open our
hearts and minds to the needs of others;
to shut down hard on our own disap-
pointmentS and griefS. and to lend a
willing ear to the griefs of others. This
is the highest form of which sociability
is capable; this is the road that leads
to a life that is largely compact Of
sweetness and light.
We have some members of The Wash
fnston Herald Optimist Club who live so
far away from Washington that they can
not get the announcement of the subject
always, and so to accommodate these l
shall announce it not only on the We'd
nesday. ten days before the Sunday on
which the subject appears. but also, as
now, on the Sunday. The subject for
next Sunday. then, is one that should
come very near to all of us. 1t is:
The Meaning Of Optimism.
I have hoped that this would bring out
from many members an expression as to
what optimism means to them
The two prizes in the Socability contest
are awarded to Henson s. Hicks. Pan
American Union, and to Louis Weinber-
ger. %S New York avenue northwest, to
whom checks Of S will be mailed
THE PRIZE WINNERS
AS each nation is dependent. one upon
the other, 1t is no less SO with individuals
for mo man liveth unto himself"
In proportion as the spirit of true op-
tlmism takes root in the hearts of man.
KIND, even so in proportion are the
weights of selfishness lifted from the
wings of universal love and fellowship.
The world has enough Of bitter in il, We
should abide our time casting sweets into
its cup. Just smile or kind word is
sometimes as a lifeline thrown some
drowning soul. The world needs that
sympathy which speaks by action and not
mere words, breeding mutual interest,
mutual welfare and aid. only then can We
rise as one man to that height where the
atmosphere of brotherly love reigns su-
preme, where heart speaks silently to
heart and soul communes with soul
HENSON B. HICKS.
we are too apt to confuse the term
sociability with socially Too often the
latter epitomizes white lights. a polished
ballroom, the clank of glasses-unnatural
means not only joyousness and merri-
ment in all innocent forms but-what
may appear trifling although really count
ing for more than outward effect-such
py effects as a smile of cheer a nod OF
genuine welcome, handshalle of warmth.
a sincere inquiry as to the health OF q
loved one. Words and deeds such as these
act like a tonic on the mind of a person.
leaving IN their wake a trace of the fra
grant perfume of Love-
True sociability means hospitaIitv and
charity. 1t means sympathy and ten
derness. 1t means mercy and faith. 1t
means friendship and sacrifice
Let our socially then be not unminpled
with its sociability, and our sociabilitv
not devoid of its socially
LOUIS wE1NBERGER.
HONORABLE MENTION.
AS mind is the lever of all things so
sociability. other things being equal, is
the sculptor of the destiny of man on
this plane of action. The time when an
erudite man. with little social propensity,
could succeed. in the fullest sense of
that word has been relegated to the
past. The world of to-day demands Of
those who seek its favor a bright and
cheerful smile. cordiality, affability 1t
awards first prize to the man who is a
clever mixer the man who can as
sociate with poor and rich, with the in
fiuential. and with the meek and low
ly;" the man who can ''mix' with all
these classes in the same kindly and
chummy manner. to him is applied the
most esteemable of all titIes-"a jolly
good fellow" He is permitted to pluck
the 'fairest flower of any community;
and he is besieged with f1attering offers
OF high off1ces. The ''plums'' are his for
the asking, and frequently they are
forced upon him.
As an exemplification of a man whose
social propensity has carved his des-
tiny, Theodore Roosevelt is in the lime
light. This man Of wonderful personal
ity, sociability developed, still is dear tc
the heart of the American. And why?
In the company of a cowboy. he is as a
cowboy; in the midst Of the miners, he
is Is a miner; with every class. he Is as
one OF that class. As result. he has
been honored with the highest Gift Of