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

BY B. c. FORBES, Business Editor
Have you ever been riding in car
or 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 eneerfuIIy, we
are apt to become self oentered and
self satisfied, apt to become obliVious
TO the darkness round about. to do
little real thinking.
A touch Of adversely has uses.
it acts as moral tonic. 1t broad
ems our sympathies. 1t enriches our
understanding It brings US nearer
the great mass Of our struggling tel
Vow nortals.
When Queen Alexandra Of Eng
land was being married, the offieIat-
ina minister shocked some people by
expressing the hope, not that her
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 only could
she be one of them, and win their
love.
This moraIzing is prompted by
yesterdays national holiday. May i
not be that il we knew all, we would
he thankful for some OF the things
that are not ordinarily accounted
blessings? Is it not possible that out
of temporary affIiction good Will
come? That out Of depression will
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 ooca-
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.
II has done even better this year
cur export balance for ten months
has reached $545, 100000, new max
lmunn.
Domestic trade has risen to new
heights in almost every direction" it
was remarked last year. To-day it is
sliding downhil and may not stop
sliding for some time.
II can not be repeated this year
that Labor is fully employed at the
best WAGES ever paid in any settled
country In the United States no
able bodied men need be without
work" Perhaps a quarter of a mil
lion have been thrown idle of late,
and the indications are that this total
will be terribly swelled during the
next few months.
That business ethics have been
raised to a higher plane" can be said
very truthfuliy this year The prog
ress in this direction, indeed, has
heen one Of the notable achieve
ments OF 1918.
With abundant reason, too, it can
be repeated that politics is cleaner
at this moment than America has
known it in decades" True, one
or two conspicuous charatans are
still exercising an evil influence at
Washington, but the splendid fight
made by New York for political de-
cency is inspiring and full Of prom
Use.
The country's railroads, after a
period of not always unmerted chas-
tlsenent are now receiving fair con-
S'deration al the hands of the pub
lie and are disposed to give the pub
lie squarer deal,
Democracy has met genuine
Roadway" is a 1912 comment that can
be reiterated without qualification.
In science, in medicine, in surgery
in sociology, IN crminology, notable
progress has been achieved during the
last twelve months.
The rich, in increasing numbers
Nsre taking thought for the poor
And the income tax is tending to
euualze matters trlfle.
Employ and indi-
vidual-are devoting more attention
TO the we'll being of their employees
In short, the brotherhood of man
is less Of an airy theory and more Of
recognized reality than ever before
Am ! my brothers keeper2" is not
quite so often asked with derision.
Progress in the United States dur
ING 1918 has been most conspicuous
in matters Of the heart, the mind anc
the spirit-in ethics-thsn in thing.
material Which, however is not an
undiuted misfortune.
Empty Stomachs can not be eK'
pscted to feel that way. And It be
hooves all in places OF power to Sc,
10 It that empty stcmachs are mo-
more numerous than need be.