Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-05

under the sun? The human affections
are pretty old. The drama of life grips
us so hard that it is the despair of the
theatrical manager who seeks a play that
VIII have a continuous run for a thou
sandth part of the time 1t has been hold
ing the attention of the world. Yet this
lie drama Is the same thing over and
over again-birth and marriage and
death, love and hate, ambition and de.
spair, with Hope holding a torch above
to light our entrances and our exits. The
o'd.fashioned things are the only real
ones. When hear that a book has been
bought by a hundred thousand persons
take off my hat to the author, for
know that he or she has succeeded in get.
ting pretty close to life as It Is. and as
we wish 1t to be. This Is why ! admire
Temple Bailey and her latest book.
Mistress Anne do not like to
prophesy. but. begging DR.. McFabre's
pardon, | would be willing to wager a
postage stamp against a peanut that
1t will be more popu ar than Contrary
Mary"
What is it all about?" Ames asked.
Mistress Anne herself is constantly
keeping before her a remark she heard
when she was a little girl that life is
what we make it,"
"Humph." said Ames SILLY plati-
tude"
"Platitude, perhaps" said McFab.,
but pot silly. With Gods help we ,ai.
make of ourselves what we will. Not
materially perhaps but morally and
spiritually"
Yes" once more The Lady inter.
rupted. 1--WE can find happiness, too. If
not in the way we had hoped, neverthe
less we can find it,
THAT is what Mistress Anne found"
said l. "She is the daughter of an old
Southern family that has lost its money
and she has to earn living teaching
school. Remembering that life is what
we make it, she does her best to serve
those about her. Love comes, but
when it seems hopeless she still remem
bers her motto and continues to give
herself uncomplainingly to those who
need her. She helps many people, and at
last finds happiness in the 'ove of a man
who has felt with her the call to service
lie might have been a great surgeon in
New York, but he prefers to be a country
doctor in the Maryland town of his an
cestors, where such skill as he possesses
is needed. 1t is an optimistic book"
Optimism is only blindness circulated
the Harvard pessimist little proud OF
his impromptu epigram.
You are wrong there, my boy. said
McFabre. Optimism is only another
name for faith in God"
A murmured assent came from The
Lady in the rocking chair.
when l read of the young doctor
needing the call of the village of his
ancestors" I,went on. II could not helr
thinking of the baccaulaureate address
Of President 'rnomas to the graduating
class of Midulebury College up in Yer
mont a few years to. He was goot
enough to send me printed copy of 1t
He told the young men that the sa,vatior
of America depended on the salvation Of
the country, and that it was the dut,
of educated men to go into the country
villages as teachers, lawyers, doctors
farmers and merchants, and there becom,
centers of light to show the way. wa.
gratified to learn that several youns
graduates Immediately volunteered fo
this kind of service. Miss Bailey's booi
viii do the same kind Of missionary work
Yet, Ames, if you are looking for