The Washington herald., 1915-08-27
"AH. Right /"
By JOHN d. BARRY.

/
There is in large city man who cannot get
work. He often goes hungry. To relieve his hun
ger he can do two things. He can beg and he can
| steal.
| If he is caught begging, he will be imprisoned.
If he is caught stealing. he will be imprisoned.
If he neither begs nor steals, he will suffer.
Have you ever gone for long hours at a stretch
without eating?
| Most of us have, and most of us remember how
ravenous we have been when at last we have found
food within our reach.
| Mark Twain tells Of going to a santarium in
Germany to be treated for severe indigestion.
| The shrewd old German doctor in charge had
the humorist taken to a room and instructed to go
to bed.
For hours and hours Mark Twain lay in bed
He began to wonder what the times for eating
were in that institution.
Then he began to wonder if they had any times
for eating
He became ferocious.
| He demanded food.
But he didn't get it.
The German doctor kept Mark Twain without
| food so long that even to that very humorous
mind the situation ceased to be a joke.
Finally the doctor allowed his patient to take
little nourishment, a very little.
Mark Twain pounced upon it wolhshly.
He had forgotten about his indigestion.
In those moments of extreme hunger when that
man who is forbidden either to beg steal thinks
about society he must be in a very dangerous
dition.
We allow thousands and thousands of people to
get into that dangerous condition-nen, women
and children.
With this fact in mind it is by easy
to say, "Alrs right with the world"
But there those who declare ought to
say it whether it's true or untrue.
They think that just saying "Alls right with the
world" helps to make the world right.
pessimism.
1t is the optimism that sits down, holds its
hands, and smiles.
Meanwhile, the house may be burning.
But this particular optimist doesn't see He is
absorbed in smiling.
Now optimism is beautiful thing-when back.
ed by reason and courage.
But without reason and courage it becomes a
preposterous, aabby thing.
1t ceases really to be optimism.
1t is weakness, maudlin and fatuous.
There is far better optimism working its way
through the world just now
/ have heard it called by various names.
Judge Lindsey calls it the New Justice.
This name is about good any of the names.
In the New Justice we can find what seems to
ME the best expression of optimism.
1t frankly recognizes the evil conditions that
prevail in the world today and it strives cheerfully
hopefully and energetcally to call the attention
of the world to these conditions and to change
these conditions to better conditions.
Until short time ago the New Justice had not
earned the right to be identified with optimism.
1t showed a disposition to smte evil-doers, to
hold them up to public contumely, to add to the
enmity that, in life is so powerful force for the
creating of evil
Now it is taking far wholesome and
stimulating attitude. 1t is blaming not men, but
conditions 1t is getting down to the weaknesses
of human nature. In its desire to help it includes
all men, even those once classed as ev-doers.
1t is bringing to the world wonderful message
the message that the good of men is not achieved
by mems preying another Selling advan-
tages from one another, but by opening up oppor-
tunities for ALL by spreading the spirit of unselfsh
ness and service.
The New Justice is by no means merely senti-
mental 1t is practical, too 1t shows that its
spirit leads not to loss, but to gain; not to the
keeping back of the world from its resources
but to the releasing of the worlds full riches in
cluding the riches it has so long lost by burying
marvellous possibilities Of character and power in
the depths of ignorance and poverty.
With the present conditions in mind it is pre-
posterous for any of us to say. "All's right with
the world"
But it is possible to say something infinitely
finer "All may yet be right with the world"
And today we can say these words with
hope than they could ever have been said before.
For the movement has started. The spirit of the
New Justice is abroad, seeking fulfllment through
appealing both to the hearts and to the minds of
men.
1t may not be reality in your time or mine.
1t may not be reality for many generations to
come.
But it is thing worth striving for through gen.
Grafton after generation.
h.I H.. ,ol :o,