The Washington herald., 1911-01-08


sacramental and divine. The secret Of
happiness is to be found in the habitual
emphasis Of pleasant things. 1t Is Gods
world. He is continually doing the best
He can for us. and in the very darkest
hour Of life happiness and tranquility
are still possible M. J. MOOR
TT is easy enough to be pleasant
When life goes along like a song.
But the man worth while
Is the man with smile
When everything goes dead wrong.
Optimism is not only helpful and really
necessary to our lives when everything
! seems bright around us, but it's more
practical use is realized in its full value
when sadness and gloom fall upon us.
Was it not for this optimistic power how
|. few of us would ever smile or pass
CHEEKY word to our distressed neighbor.
So by being members of this great and
grand club We come in closer contact
with this good optimistic influence which
can never be realized by remaining on
the hopeless bench.
ROsALIE B. McGRATH.
L. Optimism is the ability to see good in
all things and by love and kindness to
develop that good. 1t is faith in ones
self-faith that enables its possessor to
greet adversely and sorrow with a brave
smile and say. This is for my good" 1t
is faith in ones fellow-man that remains
unshaken through many disillusions. 1t
is charity for the weaknesses Of others.
1t is pity for the fallen and extends the
hand by which they may rise. 1t is SYM
pathy for the sorrowing and comfort and
help for the afflicted. 1t is faith, hope,
charity. and love, those things which
He especially commended unto us. 1t is
another name for the Golden Rule.
FRANK J. OROURkE
The meaning of optimism is indeed very
broad. Its teachings are in harmony
with the teachings of Christ and 1 may
even venture to say that one would cease
to exist without the other, for when we
practice optimsm-doing all that lies in
our power to remedy a suffering world,
taxing ourselves to the utmost in endeav-
oring to aid the sufferers and making
this happier place in which man may
ive-we are then practicing the virtues
of Christianity as well as the virtues of
optimism, for the two go hand in hand.
How beautiful it is to speak and to
hear spoken kind words of cheer. to see
done and to do little deeds of kindness,
What a wonderful influence they give to
the Optimist, what a star they add to
the crown of optimism, Each day that
begins each day that ends finds the
world awakening more and more to the
true meaning of optimism. and she is
slowly becoming converted to the worthy
cause which is being so nobiy conducted
by this club HARRY W. BRIMEI.
Optimism means nature to press on. to
surmount the rocky hills. to climb boldly
over all torrents. For he who fails is he
who feebly creeps: he who wins is he
who dares the fire and battle. Therefore.
through the ebon halls of night hew
down a passage that leads to victory of
another day. Press on. my brother. II
your feet falter twice or thrice: if they
slip and stumble, try all the harder to
press on, for that which you SO much
dread to meet will surely fly. If fortune
plays you false to-day. tomorrow she
will be true. for who she sinks to-day to-
morrow she may eXalt. EXpel the old in
life. take up the new. as it is the wis
dom of the hour. Shake the follies past
and gone: then to weakness strength
will succeed and power from frailty
spring. Therefore press on and reach
the goal and gain the prize and wear the
crown. Faint not. for to the steadfast
soul comes success born of perseverance.
ITO thine own self be true and keep
Thy mind from sloth. thy heart from
soil.
Press on and thou shall surely reap
A heavenly harvest for thy toll
HELEN T. DOGGY.
Optimism means to turn about and
leave all gloomy doubts and fears be-
hind and to go forward with the deter
mination to always look for and expect
the best, and to know and feel that ulti-
mately good will predominant over evil.
''Then, o my soul. be ne'er afraid:
On Him who thee and all things made
Do thou all calmly rest.
Whate'e may come, where'er We go.
Our Father in the heavens must know
In all things what is best
Mrs W. f. HALLECk.
Optimism is true appreciation of life.
its duties. its responsibilities, its possi-
bilities. 1t means a right conception of
the fatherhood of God the brotherhood
of man, and is a realization of our indi-
vidual part in Gods great plan of exist
ence. 1t is loving service. patient endur-
ance. and the assurance that death is a
continuance of our existence and the be-
ginning of an eternity Of progress.
Robert Browning describes an optimist
in the following lines:
"One who never turns his back,
But marched straight forward:
Never doubted clouds would break,
Never dreamed though right were
worsted.
Wrong would triumph:
Held we fall to rise, are baff1ed to fight
better
Sleep to wake.
Mira ISABEL o. PRICE
Blessed be the gospel Of optimism that
is growing and spreading everywhere. for
optimism. which is chronic good cheer, is
contagious. The books, the stage, even
the advertisements. suggest and glow
with it. Optimism might be termed the
synonym of happiness. which is just a
habit that. once acquired, grows like a
Joyous weed and flourishes in all kinds
of weather. regardless Of environment
am conditions. 1t grows from getting
the proper focus on life. the cultivation
of a right mental attitude. And right
mental attitude is simply what st. Paul
called being transformed by the renew
ing of your mind
The real OPTIMISM. pure and simple, Is
sanity of living, the philosophy OF har-
mony with all things, people. and con-
ditions. 1t is practical idealism, which
makes Of life a joy, not a solemn duty.
1t rejoices in the world as an inexhaust-
ible school, a page each day for a new
lesson in experience and embodiment.
ligion. whose creed. IL there be one, is
just kindness and service. Surely no
one can be consistently happy and Sc
renely balanced who is not, first of all. |
true to himself. which In the highest |