Norwich bulletin., 1914-01-22
THE SUNNY SIDE OF LIFE.
Subject of Interesting Address by Joel
 B. SIocum, D.D.

The Sunny Side of Life was the sub ject of the address by Rev. Dr. Joel B. Slocum, at the Y. M. c. A. meet ing at the Cutlery Tuesday noon. Pleasing solos were rendered by Mrs. Charles Tyler Bard Dr. Slocum spoke in part as follows:-
 Life is made up of shadows and sunlight, sadness and smiles. gloom and glory. There is a shady side and a sunny side to almost everything. It may be all very well to keep on the shady side during the blazing days of summer; but in the general making up of our life's experience, we ought to cultivate the sunshine. Every cloud has it's silver lining. It is a thrilling experience and one which 1 once per sonally enjoyed; that of being upon lofty mountain and looking down up- on a storm that ragged far below. The upper surface of those clouds was bathed in the spIendors of light It seemed as though all the rainboWs that had ever been bent across the sky were now fallen into an ocean of glory. But the people who lived in the valley looked up and saw only the darkness and the storm. We some times forget that the very presence of shadows is an argument for light, Shadows, after all. are only intercept ed light.
 In our thought today, however, wish to emphasize the privileges we have of getting on the sunny side of things. But you say. there are some things that appear to be ali dark, without ray of light anywhere; and you tell me a heartbreaking story of your losses and disappointments, of sickness and death in your home; of failure in your hopes; and of desola- tion in your plans. But in the face of all that I repeat my statement and arc tO wit r7aa where in the darkness of your day fhere is a sunbeam, somewhere in your hopeless night there is a star. It is for us to find the joy that is ob- scured by suffering and realize that all things work together for good to them that love God.
 Saw Only the Dark Side.
 once knew man whose remarks in the prayer meeting always impress ed me very strongly. I was a mere boy and he was an old man. He was a man of means surrounded by the comforts of life. He had always been an industrious, hardWOrking farmer and his economy and honest toll were rewarded to the full. It seemed to everybody who knew him that there were very many reasons why he should be happy. And yet the thing that he always said when he rose in khe old village church, was, that the way was dark and that he had no light in the midst of his darkness. You see he had accustomed himselI to the idea that life is very hard and for bidding and that it is an unceasing struggle without any relief. He was living on the shady side. If only he had known it. there was a sunny side filled with warmth and blessing. He was good man and lived a good life but he was very unwise in keeping out So much light He kept a scowl be- tween his eyes when he might have had the joy of the Lord in his face
 The Bright Side.
 There was another man in that same old country village who lived in ex- actly an opposite way He had very little of this worlds goods but his face was always aglow and his heart was always warm towards his fellow men. He lived on the sunny side People for miles around knew him AaA loved him. His presence was a 3enediction. It seemed almost as though he not only lived on the sunny side. but that he gathered up the sun beams lying all around his path and scattered them far and wide among his fellow men.