Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-28
ADVERSELY SEEN
AS BLESSING
BY FORBES
Lack Of National Prosperity Will
Allow People Generally to
See More Clearly.

BY 3. c. FORBES, Business Editor
Have you ever been riding in car
or a train of an evening when the
lights went out? While the lights
were shining brightly you could see
nothing outside. But the moment
the car became dark, you could bet
ter see through the windows.
When prosperity shines, when
everything goes along cheerfully, we
are apt to become self centered and
self satisfied, apt to become obiiVious
10 the darkness round about, to do
little real thinking.
A touch of adversely has uses
il acts as a moral tonic. 1t broad
ems our sympathies. It enriehes our
understanding. 1t brings US nearer
the great mass of our struggling fell
low mortaIs.
When Queen Alexandra of Eng
land was being married, the officiat-
ina minister shocked some people by
expressing the hope, not that her
life would be all sunshine and happi-
ness, but that she would encounter
fair share of sorrow, for then only
could her heart beat in unison with
those of her people, then on ~ could
she DE one of them, and win their
love.
This moralizing is prompted by
Yesterdays national holiday. May it
not be that, if we knew all, we would
be thankful for some of the things
that are not ordinarily accounted
blessings? Is it not possible that out
of temporary affiction good will
come? That out OF depression viii
come better kind Of prosperity?
MAY not the dimming of the light
Of prosperity enable us to see
farther and clearer?
One year ago, in writing about
Thanksgiving, enumerated eighteen
matters over which there was oeca-
sion for gratitude. find that not
more than half of the number can
be discussed in quite the same strain
TO day.
Our crops last year broke all rec
ords. They do not do so this year
Our foreign trade then passed the
four billion mark for the first time
Il has, done even better this year
our export balance for ten month:
has reached $545, 100000, new max
mum.
Domestic trade has risen 10 new
heights in almost every direction i
was remarked last year. To" day It II
sliding downhll and may not STOP
sliding for some time.
1t can not be repeated this yeaI
that Labor is fully employed at the
best wages ever paid in any settled
country. In the United States nc
able bodied men need be without
work" Perhaps quarter of mil
lion have been thrown idle of late
and the indications are that this tota
will be terribly swelled during the
next few months.
That business ethics have beer
raised 10 a higher plane" can be sale
very truthfully this year. The prog
ress in this direction, indeed, hal
been one of the notable achieve
nnents of 1918.
With abundant reason, too, IL car
be repeated that politics is cleaner
at this moment than America hal
known it in decades" True, on,
or two conspicuous charatsns arr
still exercising an evil influence a
Washington, but the splendid fgh
made by New York for political de
eency is inspiring and full OF prom
Use.
The country's railroads. after ;
period of not always unmerlted chas
tisement, are now receiving fair con
sideration at the hands of the pub
lie and are disposed to give the pub
lie a squarer deal.
Democracy has met eenuin
Roadway" is a 1912 comment that cal
be reiterated without qualification.
In science, in medicine, in surgery
in sociology, in orininoloey, notabl
progress has been achieved during tn
last twelve months.
The rich, in increasing number.
are taking thought for the poor
And the income tax is tending L
equalize matters tritle.
Employers-corporate and ind
Vdual-are deVoting more attention
to the we'll being of their employees
n short, the brotherhood of man
is less of an airy theory and more o
a recognized reality than ever before
Am ! my brothers keeper? is no
quite so often asked with derision.
Progress in the United States dur
ing 1918 has been most conspicuou
in matters OF the heart, the mind an
the spirit-in ethios-than in thing
material Which, however, is not a
undluted misfortune.
Empty stomachs can not be es
pected to feel that way And II be
hooves all in places Of power to Sc
to il that empty somachs are nc
more numerous than need be.