Norwich bulletin., 1911-04-15
THE MAN WHO TALKS

of life and then curse the tree. This leaves no doubt that the optimist is the man who sees the hope of better things in the fruit and is just abiding his time. This is a much better defi- milton than that the optimist Is the man who sees the doughnut and the pessimist the man who only sees the hole. It is a good thing that we can- not tell what is going to be always, from what is; and it is a blessed thing to have an eye of faith that beholds the promising and the beautiful in- stead of the depressing and fear creat
 ing. MT. Crouch and MT. Grump, and Mir. Glare and MT. Snob and MT. Snub were never born, for they are the crea- ton of an evil conceit; but the world could not get along without them they are examples warning men not to copy them; and most of us know g peril when we see it.
 government is the kind of men 1t pro- duces. Measured by this test, muni- cipal government in New England is imm mediately found wanting, for under it half the population is found to be asleep and a large part of the remain der somewhat dazed, This is what makes the new government by com mission idea take so; but is that like ly to produce any better men? Is it likely that system which lessens the number of men in public life and makes elections less frequent will pro- mote democracy? It has been said that those who govern most make the least noise; and the same thing may be said of those who steal most. If the only cure for democracy is more democracy then the trend of today is away from that equality of which which depends upon hattery of the people instead of upon their ability is a cheat and snare.
 You may not have thought of it, but the thing that makes life common and cheap and wretched is-youl Love attracts love, and misery misery, in this world. Like attracts like, and there is where the student is sure to find the affinities, although some peo- pie think there is no such thing or condition. If what you put into life it, what you are getting out of it cannot be very creditable to your sense or judgment: and the fuss you are making about it is humorous to an intelligent observer, of course. If you could see this you would do different, and you will soon see 1t as clear as crystal. There is no mentality more befogged than that which can see but will not. It is vanity that makes life common and cheap and wretched-not the good and the true! It is a vain ambition to want things one cannot have-it is a good ambition to aim to achieve them Get on the right side of your proposition and 1t will make to you all the difference in the world.
 You do not think this is a crazy old world If it does constantly look for things where they are not to be found, even after being told. The pursuit of happiness is one of the fool pursuits of all the ages Happiness cannot be pursued, for it is state af mind de- pendent upon your view of things, or freedom from fear and anxiety, mat CTS over which you have command; and yet, happiness will sometimes come over a person suddenly under the worst of conditions because of some unexpected good turn, just as ii mind and conditions had very little to do with it. It is really considered an impertinence to say to a person. Are you happy% This, of course, is be- cause so many are not happy. heard an old-fashioned person declare that
 happiness was just a happenstance!" What do you think of that? The way to get most happiness out of life is to set the heart upon good things. and to give as little thought as possible to such things as disturb the mind.
 There are too many people who are really ashamed to be known as eco- nomical; and a senseless practice of the present day is the aping of peo- pie Of larger means by those of less ability. It does not take long for Q person in this world to discover that appearances are among the most de- ceptive things. Too many people like to appear what they know they are not. Few people realize that to prac- tice economy, and to do 1t well, is more than accomplishment-it is an art It is true that saving money for the mere purpose of gloating over it, is a dwarfing and senseless practice; but the denying of ones self little pleas ures now to provide better advantages and greater pleasures for others later on in life is a fine and praiseworthy achievement. Do not be afraid to be prudent, for it is the imprudent who make mischief in all the walks of life.
 April is upon us and the day of bet ter things is not far off. The month was not belied by the poet who wrote When April one day, was asked whether she could make reliable weather, she laughed till she cried, and said: Bless you. I've tried, but the things will get mixed up together She has greeted us this year with cold glare; but it is likely that the hot days will come all at once, we know not how, and we shall look for shade from the heat when there is not a leaf on a bough. We get the bluet and the violet in April, and they are both symbols of promise; and the grateful robins are singing up the sun in the morning and closing the day with their sweet melody at evening. And here Is Easter in April this year the day on which the sun is said to dance. When April blows his horn it is said to be good for hay and corn This is a checkered month, but as forerunner of better and brighter days 1t will hold a warm place in the hu- man heart It is a sort of John the Baptist month-a preparer of the way
 1t is surprising how few people there are who can properly define scandal: It is telling a great deal that is not so about an acquaintance just as if you really knew that it was so. It is often the result of hearing too much and thinking too little and being too volu- ble. A bright little woman says scandal is what's said about you- news, what is said about the other fellow. Those who dote upon know ing the privacies of life seem too capa- ble of originating the why's and where flores, and when they are exchanging condolences, how they do get the real and the imaginary mixed up, It is a good thing that no one ever knows one- -hundredth part of what is being said about him in a quiet and wfis- pered way. This in condolences: How the world does exchange matter not fit to print. when heads get together, Of course, it always Jlras. and it may not be too much to say that it always will Scandal appears to be the natural pro- duct of our own acts magnifled to suit a jy1ta tod