Evening star., 1940-04-21

WHE other day ran into friend whom l had not
seen in ten years. We had gone to high school
- together, and got to talking about old times,
about the dreams had dreamed when were in
school and of what the past decade had done to our
ambitious plans.
He had been able to stay in school, working toward
the realization of his dreams long after had fallen by
the wayside But finally he too, had to give up the
career he had planned And because his defeat had been
more recent and had overtaken him when he was
almost in sight of hts goal, suppose it was natural
for him feel bitterness that has already left
Still incuraby optimistic, aren't you?" he said to
me- and his expression added: You still haven't dis
covered the uglness in life and learned to face realities
have seen that attitude in another friend who
planned to become doctor but who is now clerk IN
hardware store and in still another who had dreamed
all his life of becoming lawyer but who works in
overalls beside me in an industrial plant.
My old high-schoo friend knew something OF the
weather through which had Travelled. He knew of my
boyhood in family of twelve children on a Georgia
farm that was burdened with guies and mortgage OF
my Joy at graduation great that it snothered all
consciousness of the shiny three earold serge suit
which wore when was handed my diploma; of hopes
for part time work and loan to pay college expenses
then 1890 81 32 fve-cent cotton boil
weevils, no money to be borrowed, no jobs - the
dreams of boyhood shattered Finally job at $l3 a
week and the accumulation of wife, boy, hospital
bills and instalnent payments that swallowed up each
wage raise.
And still confirmed optimst?
Why not? I'm only twenty seven, I'm healthy, i have
job home Cts rented, but it's home), and have
afutue in the greatest country in the world. didn't
get the college education that thought would need to
make life worth while but have acquired experience
and philosophy that college would not have given me-
And know that regardless of my age or occupation.
every day offers a new opportunity for getting an
education I'm not saying that I'm glad didn't go to
college, but since could not think would be stupid
to let this handicap blind to the experiences have
enjoyed or detract from the opportunities ahead ome
PROBABLY have just as much reason for grouchy
attitude toward life has the average pessimist or
cynic And such an attitude might give me certain
morbid satisfaction i should be able to dodge the
blame for not being what wanted to be- for not having
what dreamed of possessing. But the cost of that
satisfaction would be too great 1t would give me only
contempt for the present and it would kill my hopes tor
the future think it much more sensible to be honest
with myself to consider not only the bad breaks have
had, but to compare them withn good fortunes. And
it is out of such practical consideration of my position
in e the problems face and my chances for success
that my optimism has been born: IQ IH~ " j
Being wage earner*. / could easily become bitter
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