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.

oy o, ~ FOhDES BUSINESS EoltoT'
Have you ever been riding in a 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 eheerfully, we
are apt to become self-centered and
self satisfied, apt to become obliVious
to the darkness round about, to do
little real thinking.
A touch of adversely has uses
il acts as a moral tonic. It broad
ems our sympathes. II enriohes our
understanding. It brings us nearer
the great mass of our struggling TEL
low nnortals.
When Queen Alexandra Of Eng
land was being married, the officlat-
ing 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 only could
she DC one of them, and win their
love.
This moralizlne is prompted by
yesterdays national holiday. May II
not be that, il we knew all, we would
be thankful for some of the things
that are not ordinarily accounted
blessings? Is il not possible that out
of temporary affliction 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 ciesrer?
One year ago, in writing about
Thanksgiving, enumerated eighteen
matters over which there was occa-
sion for gratitude. find that not
more than half of the number can
he 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 months
has reached $545, 100000, new max
nnun.
Domestic trade has risen to new
heights in almost every direction" II
was remarked last year. To-day it is
sliding downhilI 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 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
B raised to a higher plane" can be said
very truthfully this year. The prog
ress in this direction, indeed, has
been one of the notable achieve
ments of 1918.
With abundant reason, too, II can
be repeated that politics is cleaner
at this moment than America has
known il 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 countrys railroads, after a
period Of not always unmerited chas-
tisement, are now receiving fair con-
siderstion at the hands of the pub
lie and are disposed to give the pub
lie q 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 criminology, notable
progress has been achieved during the
last twelve months.
The rich, in increasing numbers,
are taking thought for the poor
And the income tax is tending to
equalze matters trifle.
mployers-corporate and indi =
ViduaI-are devoting more attention
to the well-beine Of their employees
In short, "the brotherhood of man
is less of an airy theory and more OF
a recognized reality than ever before
Am ! my brothers keeper?" is not
quite so often asked with dersion.
Progress in the United States dur
ing 1918 has been most conspicuous
in matters of the heart, the mind ano
the spirit--in ethics-than in things
material. Which, however, is not ar
undiluted misfortune.
Empty stomachs can not be ex-
peeted to feel that way And il be
hooVes all in places of power TO see
TO il that empty stomaohs are moi
more numerous than need be.