Evening star., 1925-01-01

Another of lifes hardest lessons
one very appropriate for considera-
tion today, Is the necessity for happt-
ness. 1t might seem there Is enough
happiness already, but there is not
what you see Is only the frothy
laughter on the surface of life.
Beneath the mirth which foams up
on the streets, in the theaters and
elsewhere, lies a vast depth of in
herited and acquired unhappiness
either ingrained or self-applied More
of US are victims than are willing
to admit.
81 want to be happy" says the
bright popular song, and that is the
conscious or unconscious cry of us
all. as we go about our work and
our play. We work that we may be
happy later, we play in order to be
fully happy now.
If we find happiness in our work
as we'll as in our play, we are
doubly blessed.
The necessity for being happy is
a lesson that many never learn, judg-
ing from the lugubrious faces one
sees on every side.
There are vinegary old ladies, and
sour old men, acid middle-aged men
and women, sour youths, sullen girls,
see them everywhere.
On street cars, on sidewalks, get
ting in and out of expensive motor
cars, in stores and private residences,
at offices and almost everywhere that
people congregate, the great tribe OF
the unhappy have place.
1t is impossible to get away from
them. If you go to the play. they
are there, and II you seek refuge in
the lowest depth of a basement grill
10, they are there before you.
There is always somebody to take
the JOY out of life,'' WAS not said
out Of nothing, or for no purpose,
IT is a saying that takes into con-
sidering, that there are far too many
unhappy people. 1t points unmis-
takably to the stern necessity for
more happiness as we go along.
That Is new year message, which,
II it could be taken to heart by me
and you and all the rest of us, would
transform this old world of ours and
make life more nearly like the ideal
of which men and angels have
dreamed.
When you think of those who are
nappy under the most adverse cir
cumstances, and then consider your
own petty woe, does it not give you
a mental start?
Why do we go around with a
crouch, when thousands are lying
unable to move in their beds? If they
manage TO keep up some semblance
of happiness. and most of them do
surely the rest of US ought to be
able TO do at least as well.
Yet, what do we see?
Here is a woman who has had
everything the world can offer. She
has a beautiful home. children grown
TO successful manhood, a wonderful
life in retrospect, with a prospect nc
less fine.
OF course. she has had the task OF
bringing children into the world, OF
rearing them, of helping them on
their way, but surely 1t ought not
to have left such mark on her
face.
There she sits, the corners of her
mouth drawn tight, unhappiness
written large over her features. Per
haps we should not judge harshly
She may be i'll. Her glands of In
job of functioning.
Yet We wonder why she cannot
muster up a bit of smile. jog her
elbow a bit, as you pass, and see
what you get A terrible look
worthy to be given to a murderer
is your reward for a simple bit OF
inadvertence.
Honestly, you feel as If you would
very much like to knock her block
off, until you recall the old saying
Remember, she is somebody