South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-09-26
HOW To MAKE OUR
JOYSPAY INTEREST
BY LAURA KINGSLEY.

What do you say TO the idea OF a
| Remembrance Day. an anniversary on
| which all benefits, all blessings, all
| kindnesses, all the hundred and one
little thongs on which we ought to
look back with gratitude and happi-
ness shall be taken out from mem
ory's store room and quietly thought
over?
Can you tell me that this would not
be beneficial idea. that it would nu1
mean an increase in the sum-total OF
our happiness?
You look back upon the greatest
happiness of your life, whatever il
may be, as a perpetual sunshine dis
tribuuor, do you not? The thought of
it brings in its train other pleasant
thoughts other sunny and CHEEKY
memories, and the reflection of its
roseate glow can light up the darkest
moments of your present life.
Am / right or wrong? If l am
right-and l think l ANS there not
splendid avenue Of approach to the
Kingdom of Happiness (Which all of
us seek and so few of US find) in the
conservation of even the most trivial
happiness? Taken individually and
separately, they may not have been
very epoch making. they may not have
carried you off your feet on a unique
fiOOd-tide of joyous happiness. Such
an occasion comes but seldom to the
OF Us.
Little Joys Forgotten.
But lying behind us all, in the mo-
sale of the life-path of each one of
us, are the quiet joys, the simple bless
ingS which brought their own warm
glow at the time. but which are all too
easily forgotten when the mists and
shades of sorrow and disappointment
enfOld us in their chilly embrace.
But think what different thing our
life would become, how even the damp
mistS of present sorrow might be dis
PEELED by the sunshine of remembrance
If you set apart one day in each year
of your life for the observance of the
gratitude of memory.
We all celebrate our birthdays, do
we not. the day on which the supreme
gift of life was bestowed upon US? 1t
is right that we should make the an
niversary of our first day on earth an
occasion for rejoicing and gladnesS.
, but il is equally wrong that we should
pass by in silence the many good gifts
which have come to us since then.
1t would be impossible to celebrate
occasions for gratitude separately, but
there is no reason whv their very
abundance should be made the excuse
for ungratefuG oblivion.
AS a practical plan, how would it be
10 make our own Remembrance day
something which we can share, from
which can be radiated the sunbeams
of the past to tighten some one else's
present? Many of US. think, under
value the effect OF a friendly little
note, unexpected. and serving no prac-
teal. businesslike purpose-nothinS
more and nothing less than a CHEEKY
little message of friendship, link TO
bind together memory and today.
How TO Occupy the Day.
And how could a Remembrance day
be better occupied than in sending one
of these little messengers to every one
who has crossed our life's path at
some time or another. but who is not
in the intimate circle of frindship? L
should even like to go farther and TO
recommend to your consideration on
this day the people who are, perhaps.
but names to you. but who, in their
loneliness and isolation would well
come ioyously a surprise letter.
So | leave with you my suggestion
for a Remembrance day for quiet
time of gratitude for past happiness
and favors. Thus we can keep, in the
feverish turmoil Of modern life.
little Of the gracious quality of graft
tude. that two-fold quality which per
fumes with its sweet essences the soul
which sends it out and the soul which
receives.