The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-06
Try WILLIAM ELLISD

Carried away by the glamor of con-
spicuous social service, we may over
look the simple truth that everybody
can help make this happier world
which, after all. is the goal of all the
| more pretentious efforts which most
of us feel to be beyond our ability.
The oldest grandmother in chimney
corner, and the youngest child playing
on the kitchen floor, may alike be
sweeteners of life for a circle. The
extent of the influence each may WELD
is not for him to determine, but only
! it's character. One of the songs made
popular by the Billy Sunday cam
paign is:
Brighten the corner where you are"
Do that, and perhaps wider room
than ever imagined may be frightened
also. This homely, wholesome topic
comes to remind each of us of our
obligation to make life happier and
easier and nobler for every person we
may by any means reach.
Every noble life makes all life
nobler.
An old Quaker, perhaps Stephen
Grellet, long ago wrote:
II expect to pass through this world
but once. Any good, therefore. that I
can show to any fellow creature, let
me do it now. Let me not defer or
neglect it, for shall not pass this way
again"
Two men. both cosmopolites and
| active in good works of large nature,
were talking about what life means to
| them, and one said: Il often have
seasons when I seriously distrust
whether I have justified my existence.
1 am not at all sure of being what we
refuge in two simple facts. One is
that 1 have established a Christian
home and reared a Christian family.
The other is that I have. in many
lands and at many times. made little
children smile. I have given candy
to Riddles who had never tasted candy
before; 1 have distributed little favors
to hundreds of children, and I usually
give the small newsboy extra
penny. This may seem too trivial to
mention, but when the fog of ques-
| tionings and uncertainties begins to
envelop me, in the sleepless hours of
the night, this inconSiderable form of
service is a comfort beyond words. I
| know it is worth while to make life
sweeter for little children"
The shadow of disgrace shall fall; in
stead
OF words of blame, or proof of thus and
! Let something good be said.
Forget not that no fellow being yet
May, fall so low but love may lift his
head,
Even the cheek of shame with tears is wet,
If something good be said.
No generous heart may vainly turn aside
In ways of sympathy; no soul so dead
But may awaken strong and glorified,
If something good be said.
| And SO charge We, by the thorny crown,
And by the cross on which the Saviour
bled,
And by your own souls hope of fair re-
nOwn,
Let something good be saidi
james Whitcomb Riley.
All the world is better for everyone
who is living at his best
! According to a widely-circulated
anecdote, man was imprisoned at
Ladysmith during the Boer war for
| being discourager. He made life
| harder for those who were undergo
/ ing the siege with him. AS a dissem-
inator of gloom, he was a military
menace. What a task the government
would have were it to undertake to
suppress all the discouragersI Still,
that would be sort of social SANTA
ton. The pessimist is a germ of I'M
health He is a liability, and not an
asset.
| Helpers of the world are subject to
/ the temptation to self exploitation 1t