South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-05
Happiness!
By Leila Rostiser

and analized. set ls as real in itself
as the air we breathe and the sun
shine we crave-a thing wholly in
tangible. yet the very essence and
necessity Of our lives
Happiness, Can you define It for
me or can any human being under
take 20 define IL for another Var
i0us poets have INDUCED in odes 20
Sd and not a few have searched dill
gently for 20 while vast numbers
have spent their entire lives IN vain
TO capture this priceless possession.
] think the inevitable conclusion we
All come 20 after we have lived long
enough. IS that in this world happi-
ness is quite indefnable. We can no
more grasp 70 than we can grasp
the sun 10 the sky or the mirroring
Of the moon fin the water True. wo
know absolutely when we possess It
even in an instant Of pure joy de-
parted hastily we feel the inter-
penetrating Of our whole being with
warmth and strength. We can see
il Fin a pale reflection shining else
where and in IT'S total absence. we.
struggling through the darkness OF
daily routine OF duty or pleasure,
learn most TO appreciate what it is
bv what f. IS not
Useless 10 deny that each one OF
us does not desire happiness ardent
Isl and that we desire for our beloved
the same exalted treasure But 7
doubt whether any woman ever
eraved g. philosophical over Il. or
conducted "a systematic search after
10. and ever attained her wish. For
happiness l7 not an end "a most of
us think who think only on the sur
face OF facts but a means an ad-
iUnct. a consequence. Therefore,
whosoever starts with "tO he
happy" az the sum and substance
Of existence. viii find that she has
made as great a mistake as the baby
who cries for the moon.
Unhappy women-the adjective IS
applied less with reference TO cir
c1mstancc than character. which IS
the only mode OF discourse possible.
There Is undoubtedly a large aver
age Of unhappiness existent among
women not merely unhappiness Of
Circumstance but permanent un-
happiness of mind-a state Of being
90 unacCountabIe as It Is irrational.
finding vent I'm those iuuumerable
faults or disposition which arise
from no inherent vice but merely
because the individual is unhappy.
Women. more than men. are liable
Tea this dreary mental eclipse Of
neither daylight nor darkness-but
twilight as IL were. A man viii be-
come wretched or morbid IL any
great misfortune overthrows him
entirely He is driven 10 insanity,
lUred 10 the terrible by-road Of sui
eide but he rarely drags on an exist
euce from year TO year. with the
'ualadies OF mind that make many
women a torment TO themselves and
a burden 90 an connected with
them
Why is this-and is it inevitable?
3 certain physiCian-a specialist OF
women has said that however un-
DoeticaI may he such a view of the
matter. assuredly the origin Of
great deal Of unfortunate mental
state lies I'm a lack OF healthy body
condition. which IN the present state
OF civilization is so far removed
from "a state Of nature. that Il can
only be kept by the knowledge and
practice of the ordinary laws OF
hygiene-generaIy the very last
knowledge that women seem TO
have. However. mental unhappi-
ness springs oftentimes from a real
foundation. OF sorrows varied be-
youd aUrmeasuring or reasoning
upon. Cf these 7 do not attempt 20
speak for words would be futile 7
only speak OF that frame Of mind
sometimes left by great trouble.
sometimes arising out Of troubles
purely imaginary or exaggerated.
The root of such pain is manifold
end can often be traced 20 the en-
tire range of personal symIathies
and attachments out Of which we
experience the sweetness and bitter
ness of the best part Of our lives.
one may see a young woman who
has outwardly speaking. every
thing ono could desire Yet who is
absolutely whitening i'm an atmos-
phere exposed 10 small iu-humors
and though safe from ill-treatment.
is daily harrassed by unconscious
Crudities which another coarser
nature might laugh at-yet they
are there and the finer nature re-
volts Charity cannot TOO frequently
call 90 mind how very difficult II is
90 be amiabIc or even commonly
agreeable when one is inwardly mis-
cradle. This fact is not usually
taken into consideration by very
worthy people who take such pains
20 make other people virtuous and
so very little 90 make them happy
1T seems 90 me that I can bear
anything except unkindness." said
a woman not long ago who no long
or young was still fascinating and
who I know had gone through seas
OF the deepest sort Of sorrow vet in
whose dark brown eyes there still
steamed a cheerfuIness OF youth
she was right: people who have the
courage 20 endure real trouble have
had their lives frozen by small un-
Iindnesses Of people with whom
they must daily associate.
Tt is a curious truth and vet
truth forced upon one by daily OBJ
servation-that IL Is not the women
who have suffered most who are the
ones dwelling IN permanent gloom
and shadow. This state is with rare
Exceptions an index Of a thoroughly
seldsh nature who usually describes
herself as being or an unhappy
temperament" Unfortunate ones
They lack the vague. fine some
thing indesCribable unattainable.
The capacity 10 enjoy the thrill OF
thankful gladness caused by the
simple things or life. The writer
knows as well a. any one that II Is
FOLLY 10 suppose that happiness IS q