The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-08-30


ers hand Il TO you on a silver platter" runs
an obscure newspaper paragraph tucked away
among Others OF an inside page. That IS the
trouble with Z good many folks who have
not succeeded IN finding happiness; they are
waiting for some one TO bring Il TO them
( But happiness seldom Is reached by that
method. II Is lesson difficult to learn that
baoDiness must be achieved. He who sits
down with folded hands and waits Tor happi-
ness 10 come his way will have long and
weary wait. Happiness Is like every other
good thing every other thing worth while
IN this world. It i not attained apart from
effort; II must be earned. Happiness IS won
BY doing
( The trainers Of the declaration Of independ-
ence included among the certain inalienable
rights with which men are endowed by the
creator" the pursuit OF happiness" giving rec
IGNITION to the truth that happiness IS to b
pursued and IS not the pursuer. Happiness
tDursues no one II we have desire that hap
piness shall take up her abode with US II viii
F. be necessary Tor Us TO do more than make
the place attractive and hang out the wei
come sign. hoping that by chance she may
pass that way and discover the invitation.
Happiness does not go around looking Tor peo-
Die in that fashion. Happiness IS more or less
exacting. and has many counterfeits. Often
we are deceived and misled by the counter
feits. rnistaking what IS ephemeral Tor the
reality Happiness requires that we WOO her
diligently and assiduousy. When happiness
comes to dwell with US she gives no notice
OF her approach, neither does she announce
hef presence The story Of the angels who
came to Abraham and to Lot in the guise OF
men and were not recognized is familiar to
US. and the angel Of happiness often appears
to US 50 disguised. Therefore, we should b.
careful TO extend hospitality to any stranger
who may chance to knock at our door, for
thereby we may be privileged to entertain
the angel OF happiness unaware.
Not only IS happiness not brought to US on
a silver platter, neither is it something that
we put on from the outside, like garment.
Enjoyment Is something that we derive from
that which is outside OF and not OF US, while
happiness on the other hand, arises from
within US and has its birth in the spiritual
fiber Humanity long ago learned the lesson
that it IS more blessed 10 give than to receive;
and 50 it has realized that the truest and most
lasting happiness is to be gained in the larg-
est giving OF self in an effort to make other
| lives sweeter and brighter.
Most Of the unhappiness that we suffer is
Ichargeabie to no one but ourselves. Unhappi-
ness Tor the most part is merely egotism, an
intense concentration OF the thought upon self.
1t is the easiest thing in the world, il we
choose to think hard enough, to convince our
selves that we are misused, that destiny has
been unknd to US, that we have been given
1 but meager gifts, and that the choicest prizes
/ OF life have been awarded to others. Pursued
with the zest that we devote to this kind OF
thinking on occasions we are made OF all men
the most wretched. This is pure, unadulterat-
ed selfshness as foolish as it IS useless.
/ Selfshness and happiness cannot be yoked
together and made to do team work They
are hostile clements that will not mix. Ma
selfish person ever was really happy The
selfish enjoy kind OF counterfeit happiness
but it is the shadow and not the substance.
Elusive as happiness seems, and difficult as
it some times is to find it, it is forever within
reach Our mental attitude toward happiness
sought for wealth in many far off lands with
out success and returned to discover it in his
own back yard So do we think OF happiness
as something afar off, failing to see the op-
portunities for achieving happiness that beck
on to US daily as we go about. 1t is not nee
cssary that we should do some great deco
to achieve happiness. Happiness is as easily
achieved in simple ways, such courtesy anc
kidness prompt. We can invest our money II
ways to produce happiness, such as buying
food for hungry children, and likewise we car
reap rich returns in happiness without expendi
turc OF money. Indeed, it is 50 easy to be
happy, and opportunity for happiness is Sc
abundant that one is left to wonder why Sc
many people fail to discover it.
And now abideth faith, hope, love- these
three; but the greatest of these is love" AnC
where love is not happiness is not.