The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-15
Contentment and Superstition
BY
MARY CHAMPION

The other day l learnt q new gos.
pei. l was presenting my photograph
to friend. and he disappointed me
| by picking out a position I much dis
liked. | demurred at his choice, say
ing that 1 looked SO smugly self
satisfied.
He looked across at me with wide
opened eyes. But. why shouldn't you
be satisfied" he asked with emphasis
This seemed to me to open up quite
an Interesting range of thought, so we
settled down to talk the matter out.
Smugness We both abhorred. that was
one point settled, but satisfaction, my
friend maintained. was something very
different.
Surely It is better TO be satisfied
that YOU are just so good and no worse.
than to be so possessed with the mis-
cradle sinner" frame OF mind es to
paralyze efforts and depress the out
look.
Being satisfied that we have striven.
and met with some slight measure Of
success is very fsr-removed dear read
erse, from the attitude of the Phari-
see who thanked God that he was not
as other men were
We are not. In this sense. concern
ed with others. and we make no com
PARSONS. We are thinkful that we
have succeeded even SO far--that, In
spite OF stumblings, we are conscious
that we maintain our stand. and VIC
take fresh heart to go forward
We taste the glory of going on
with a courageous gaity OF mind.
Is ii not an insult to our Maker to
be forever depreciating ourselves?
Have YOU thought Of the question from
that point OF view?
This creed. II you consider 1t fairly,
is pleasant gospel Of content--a
content that means to make for still
greater hardness Of satisfaction in the
future. and a content, believe me,
that has nothing whatever to do with
empty vanity or self-conceit.
Thinking along these lines. we began
to discuss such subjects as Fatalism.
and to compare notes OH tho turnings
of fortunes wheel.
We are not all. by any means. as
brave as King Alfonso OF Spain. who
when he was inspecting the relics at
the Cathedral of Oviedo, was told that
"A certain small casket must not be
touched. for anyone opening II would
die Immediately. VERY WELL" was the
young Alfonso's gay, response. Il will
open IT,"
Many OF us have little cheerful
approximations which we regard al
most with affection.
girl 7 know has met with luck.
more than once. upon her birthday.
She gained n post which widened
her career and frightened her out
look in many ways. BRINGING her
withal the joys of affectionate and
loyal friendships--and the decisive
wire on that occasion reached her
on her birthday; much later on a
change became necessary and she
made application for another post,
more lucrative and bringing with 1t
even more congeniai work.
This girl had a mother whom she
tdollzed. who was more to her than
life Itself. Imagine, then. her Joy
when she was summoned to the first
interview In connection with that new
post, upon her mothers birthday!
Fortune, she felt. was smiling once
more. And what delight, when the
much longed for post was hers, 10 tell
that dear mother. living weak and I'll
in the bedroom where her days are
passed (for she is one OF the dear in
valids who sweeten life for the fight
erst OF the summons that came on
the dear ones birthday and to exult
over this pretty coincidence.
A man friend Of mine treasures a
name that has brought him luck
through life. 1t was the surname of
tiit man WHO gave nun MS utHI lOD.
Al every step towards advancement
there has been some man in power
o. the same name. and what makes
tn. superstition dearest of all, 1t was
his wifes name before she took his.
/ am not preaching fatalism. far
from 1t. The girl. l have mentioned
did not say. "Oh. I'm sure to get 1t.
because Of that lucky birthday" She
strove her hardest, and when there
were complications she concentrated
her mind. found the best way Of over
coming them, and, indeed. Just firmly
grasped one Of the seokes of fortune 8
wheel and gave 1t good push around