West Night High School - Echo Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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Its claims to the First place amongst the forces impelling men onward and upward are based upon the following: In the first place, it is the basis of all true happiness in that it produces that satisfactory and health- ful unrest which urges to higher and nobler achievements. No discouragement can possibly exist in an atmosphere of optimism. The most miserable creature to himself or to his comrades is one over whom the pall 0f discouragement has fallen. This condition is so foreign to optimism that it vanishes at its ap- proach. The world of optimism has no place for those whose practice is to throw cold water. In the second place. it is the basis of all real onward movement in the physical world It is the one thing which makes progress in this department of life sure. t'Write it upon your heart, that each day is the best day of the year. This is optimism made practical. The philosophy of the full enjoyment of every happy day despite what may be coming on the morrow is one of the hardest things for many people to learn. Practice to be happy today, no matter if tomorrow is to he the most unhappy of your life. In the realm of the producer of those things that have made for the help, health and well-being of man, 0p- timism is the motive power. It led Morse to the Telegraph, Fulton to the Steamboat, Bell to the Telephone, Watt to the Steam engine, Whitney to the Cotton-gin, Wilcox t0 the Sewing-machine, Edison to the Electric- light and it is leading the Wrights and Curtis to the Aeroplane. In the third place, optimism is the basis of all true growth in the mental world or that department of activity that seeks to strengthen the mind for the good results and increase of power that come there? from. Belief in one's powers and the possibilities thereof, leads the scholar to his essay, the orator to his eloquence, the commander to his victories, the lawyer to the bench. Optimism never invests one with an overweening sense of self-importance, never breeds egotism. The great are ever the meek. The greatest eulogy pronounced over General U. S. Grant was, ltHe never underestimated himself in the hour of his trial, nor overestimated himself in the hour of his victory. Belief in their powers and the possibilities of growth made Cicero, Disraeli, Burke and Ingersoll masters in oratory; the same forces placed Beecher, Spurgeon and Moody in the front sanks of the great divines; the same sublime force sent Garrick, Kean, Booth and Murdock to leadership in the realms of dramatic art; optimism made it possible for Lincoln to strike the shackles from a race of slaves. Finally, optimism is the basis of all growth in Morals. Belief that one has reached the acme of good- ness, leads to stagnation. The good are ever growing in goodness. Movement is life. Did not one believe that on the morrow he may be better than he is today, no effort would be forthcoming. Optimism is superior to hope. Hope frequently leads to stagnation. Hope is the belief that things m1! come out right: optimism prompts one to mukv things come out right. Optimism leads ever toward the light and all true growth is so toward Optimism is the pursuit of the buffer, and the attitude which it takes is the attitude of success, as diSe tinguished from the attitude of failure. The realities of life are its successes, its dreams, its hopes, its health, its 10 ve. 31

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In literature, philosophy, religion and history we hnd the mighty witnesses of optimism. All the world's great philosophers have been lovers of God and believers in marfs inner goodness The highest thinkers of the ages. the prophets of the tribes and nations have been optimists. 4 , - The story of man's slow ascent from savagery through harbarism and self-mastery t0 Ciwhzatlon is the embodiment of the spirit of optimism! HAmerica and Optimism are synonyms. . Behold what America has done to lesson the suffering and restore the aincted to society, given slght t0 the fingers of the blind, language to the lips of the dumb. Take for example, Helen Keller, stricken deaf, dumb and blind. With that indefmable quality called grit and invincible determination, she has made herself one of the best educated Women in America and her optimism is cheering millions. ttIf you strike a thorn or rose, Keep aegoing; If it rains or if it snou'h. Keep a-going; ,Taint no use to sit and whine If the fish aint on your line, Bait your hook and try again; Keep aegoing. But where shall we find optimism? Where is it? Where is it? It is about us. It is a part of us. We see daily displays of it, Some of us even possess it and yet do not put it to the proper use. It is so easy to obtain, 50 easy to acquire, but still so few own it and still fewer use it. What does it mean? Let it be repeated that it means the desire to labor, it means unswerving diligence, it means steady and persistent toil. Without application, without arduous labor, what man has become great, what man has succeeded? Uneontroilable ambition was the cause which led Caesar t0 the foot of Pompey's statue and Napoleon to St, Helena. 'tAmbition is the embodiment of the devil and angel in one Thus we might discuss other forces that operate upon human conduct, Love, Fear, Hope, but high above and overtopping all, is Optimismgthe mainspring Of them all. It is to the rest as printing is to the arts, the art preservative of all arts. Optimism is that condition of mind which impels one to seek the bust and minimize that box! when such is attained, It might well be epitomized into the following: HGood, better, best, Let us never rest. Till our good is Pll'ttt'l', And our brttcr, best. 30

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