Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1922-12-08
From The Study Desk

"These are days when it is difficult
to look facts in the face and be an OPP
timist" 1t was a well-known student
OF modern life who was speaking, and
| the remark was not thoughtleSs nor
hastily spoken 1t was the result of
rather unusual opportunity for obser-
walton of current affairs, and repre-
scented an honest attempt to analyze
facts as experience presented them
Doubtless most people will agree with
the speaker-it is a bit difficult today
to be an optimist.
Optimism, says the Dictionary, is
the doctrine that the universe is tend
ing toward a better state" When one
considers the present situation of Eu-
rope it is a bit hard to imagine Condi-
tions there as fitting the demands of
this definition though if we are to be-
leve all we read and hear we may well
imagine that things could hardly be
much worse and therefore progress i'll
any direction might we'll be toward a
better state" None-the-less sober re-
Election reveals the fact that things
might be much worse, even in Europe
But after all it is a question if Opt
mism is the great need of the time
There are embarrassments for the OPP
timist-
'Twixt optimist and pessmist
The difference is quite droll
The optimist the doughnut sees,
The pessimist the hole.
| But oftentimes your Optimist
! Would give his very soul
If, in his stomach, he could change
That doughnut for the hole
Certainly it is not pessimism that
will get the world along Whether we
accept the definition of the Dictionary
which assures us that pessimism is that
"theorv which regards the world and
life as essentially evil" or if we accept
the less drastic definition of the wag
who declares that a pessimist is a man
who wears both belt and suspenders
there is no help for the world in either
view. Life contains enough of evil
we all know, but we are to Overcome
evil with good" As for caution, GER
tain amount is always COmmendable
and certainly just now the world
might suffer considerably by over
hasty action on the part of any one of
number of persons. And yet perhaps
this troubled world needs nothing
quite so much as wise, timely action
There is no help for us in peSsimism.
The Student recalls a certain color
ed philosopher in Georgia who was ac-
tr,g,, 20, l.. e., Il
what as follows Use no optimist, and
l sure is no pessimist; | reckon | must
be a possumst." Those of us who
knew the old darkey's fondness for
possum were quite certain of the ac-
CuraCy of his self-characterization We
used to laugh at his quaint way of
putting it, but after all it is possible
that his idea is capable of an interpre-
tation worthy our consideration for
if the Student remembers his Latin
correctly "possum' as a classic verb is
translated 81 am able" 1t is quite
possible that in its present plight the
| "pOssumst," the man who is able, is of
! more real help than either optimist or
pessimist.
Think of the present almost unhm-
tied opportunities for useful service
open to the successful poSsumist- "the
man who is able actually solving the
Near East problem, or bringing har-
mony and lasting peace to troubled
Europe! In all departments of life
the true possumist has a welcome
awaiting him think of the satisfaction
of confronting the pessimst respon-
sible for the Burlington Free Press
recent TRADE on the Alcoholic Wetness
of Addison County with the substan-
tial achievements of some man who is
able to bring boot-leggers to terms
and to compel respect for law in the
Champlain Valley For, after all, it
Is precisely the widespread lack of re-
spect for law which makes it partic-
ularly difficult in these days to be an
optimist.