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. 4, 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 obllVious
TO the darkness round about, to do
little real thinking.
A touch of adversely has uses.
II acts as a moral tonic, It broad =
ems our sympathies. It enrichss our
understanding 1t brings us nearer
the great mass of our struggling fell
low n1ortals.
When Queen Alexandra Of Eng
land was being married, the officlst-
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
a fair share of sorrow, for then only
could her heart beat in unison with
those of her people, then only could
she pc one of them, and win their
love.
This morsIizing is prompted by
yesterdays national holiday. May Il
not be that. if 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 affection good VIII
come? That out of depression will
come better kind Of prosperity?
May not the dimmine OF the light
Of prosperity enable US to see
farther and elearer7
One year ago, in writing about
Thanksgiving, | enumerated eighteen
matters over which there was oces
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 oven better this year
our export balance for ten months
has reached $545,00o,ooo, new max
imun,
Domestic trade has risen to new
-. -.
was remarked last year. To day It is
sliding downhil and may not stop
sliding for some time.
Il 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
next few months.
That business ethics have been
raised to higher plane" can be said
very truthfuIly this year. The prog
refs in this direction, indeed, has
heeh one of the notable achieve
ments of 1918.
With abundant reason, too, Il can
be repeated that politics is cleaner
at this moment than America has
known il in decades" True, one
or two conspicuous oharatans are
still exercising an evil influence at
WASHINGTON, but the splendid fight
made by New York for political de-
cenoy is inspiring and full of prom
Use.
The country's railroads, after a
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 genuine
Roadway is a 1912 comment that can
be reiterated without qualification.
In science, in medicine, in surgery
in sociology, in eriminology, 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
equallze matters tritle.
Employ and midi
vidual-are devotins 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 Keeper is not
cutie so often asked with derision.
Progress IN the United States dur
ING 1918 has been most conspicuous
n matters of the heart, the mind AND
the spirit-in ethics-than in things
material. Which, however. is not. ar
urdjiuted misfortune.
Empty stomachs can not be ex.
nectod to feel that way And Il be
hooves all n places Of power TO see
to 4 that empty stomachs are not
more numerous than need be.