Life — January 15, 1903 — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

TwO VIEWS. N Optimist and a Pessimist met at a crossroads. The Optimist w dark, sombre clothes. would have known by his ap- pearance who he v * For,” sid he, I don’t need to advertise my self. Lam the real thing.” The Pessimist, on the other hand, was giddy in the extreme, and flashed afar with brilliancy “For,” sighed he, ® my appearance only serves to make me more melancholy. It dressed in No one constant reminder that all is vanity Said the Optimist to the Pessimist : My friend, L have never been able to understand your peculiar point of view, and I am intensely curious to know why we differ so radically on all subjects. The only way we can determine that,” said the Pessimist, “is to go along together, and [ think Ican easily convince you that I am right.” “Heaven forbid!"’ exclaimed the Optimist. ‘On the contrary, I shall be only too glad of the opportunity to bring you aronnd to my side. Ina beautiful world like this, I hate to think that any one can be so unhappy as you are : nd so they journeyed along to- gether. . « * . T was not long before they came “es to a house where two lovers ‘Sy were spooning. ‘Now, here,” said the Pes- simist, ‘is an excellent exam- ple of what I mean. Just gaze upon this sickening sight. This fellow is kissing this girl, and promis- ing her all sorts of things that he cannot fulfill. She is drinking in every word and believing him. By and by they will get married, and wake up out of their dream. Ignorant of their ultimate fate, of the trouble and trial and agony that await them, they moon ay their time in hopeless disregard of the consequences. Did you ever see two such fools?” AS. WV The lau “My boy," he replied, “you don't know what you are talking about. Those two people are not only su- premely happy at present, but I see absolutely no reason why they shouldn’t keep it up. They are fitted for each other, and you kuow the real love, which undoubtedly possesses them both, never di Instead of waking up out of a dream, as you insinuate, they will develop greater possibilities for happiness all the time. IT know it! Iam sure of it!” Optimist laughed a cheery HEY passed on to a church, where in silence for a while they observed the people going in to worship. “Doubtless,” sneered the Pessimist, “you will be prepared to uphold this sort of thing, when you must know these poor fools are worrying them- selves to death over something that they don’t know anything about. If there is anything at all hereafter, I am convinced that it must be a Heil, for I have never yet seen any one who, judged consistently by the dogma of religion, didn't deserve to go there. They are right in calling themselves miserable sinners.” “Your peculiar notions,” said the Optimist, “should not go unchallenged, Why, I cannot imagine a happier con- dition than that of these people. So sure are they of a joyous immortality, that the things of this world, even if they are termed trials by some, sit so on them as to have no effect. So far from believing what you say about a Hell, I am thoroughly con- vinced that if there isanything needed in this beautiful world to make it any more beautiful, it lies in the ble assurance that a Heaven aw in the next one.” They came soon to the house of a my nate. “LT have purposely,” remarked the ssimist, ‘brought you around this » because I want to show you, if it is possible to get a grain of reason into your head, the most striking ex- ample of your so-called happiness. Now, here is a man, who, from the standpoint of this world, is enjoying himself. And yet, see how truly mis- erable he is, He is so restless that he cannot stopa moment. He is bothered continually by cranks who want his. nd he works like a slave all the time trying to take care of and in= crease it. He is not only unhappy now, but he has absolutely nothing to look forward to, because nothing left to enjoy.” “Nonsense !"’ exclaimed the Opti- mist. ‘* Youamause me greatly, Iseo you belong to that misguided crew who think just because he has money he cannot enjoy himself. In the first place, this man has achieved what the majority of men would sell their souls for. This in itself is a source of last- ing pleasure and satisfaction to him, Then his money doesn't bother him nearly so much as you imagine. He has power, which is a supreme joy, and he is envied by every one, secretly or otherwise, which is no small thing. Not only this, but he really does a lot of good, which makes him all the hap- pier when he reflects t he isenabled to do so by his own ability. No, sir! You are mistaken !’” “Well,”’ said the Pessimist, ‘if it is impossible to convince you in this case, at least come with me to the slums, and Til show you enongh.”” money, there is misery HEN they had ar- rived the the Pes- simist said: what do you Did you ever fore? Isn't it terrible? What hope is there for these poor wretches? There is no reason for me to dilate upon their despair. Just look at them yourself. It ought ‘o be enough. “You poor old wet blanket,” cheer- ily replied the Optimist. “Don't you know, in the first place, that things are never so bad as they look? These people are not miserable. Clothes don’t make the man. It is true that comicbooks.com