PESSIMISTS AND OPTIMISTS.
By T.
THE words "pessimist" and "optimist" are often used in public speaking these days, and quite as frequently do they find their way into the public prints. And many people are found asking what these words mean. In answering them, perhaps the easiest way would be to simply refer them to the dictionary, but even in this enlightened nineteenth century it is not every one who can always have one of these quite necessary books constantly at his elbow. Then if one should go to the dictionary would he, after all, find the correct definition of those words? Indeed, it is to be doubted whether any dictionary is sufficiently modern in its definition of terms to tell the facts as they really are in regard to the use of the words "pessimist" and "optimist." According to the actual use of the words, leaving all dictionaries out of the question, a pessimist is one who sees the evil that is coming upon this world and is plainly telling the people about it. He is not telling of some imaginary thing that he thinks may possibly cause trouble, neither does he look through a diseased imagination at good things and see nothing in them but evil and distress. He is looking straight at actual facts, and he sees things as they are, and has the courage to tell what dangers are hanging over us by the brittlest threads, even tho myriad voices all about him are crying out, "Pessimist!" An "optimist," on the other hand, is one who hears the faithful warnings but does not wish to be disturbed. He feels comfortable where he is, and does not wish to be moved by the thrilling facts that a clear-sighted brother is seeking to hold before him in order that he may see his danger and escape. And so he falls back upon the old, worn-out refrain of, "Pessimist, pessimist, pessimist," and imagines that he is all safe, while in reality his danger is only obscured by the murky atmosphere that he persists in binding about his vision. As you walk by his side along the street and call his attention to the gilded saloons and the thousands of homes and millions of men and women that are being ruined, he says: "O you pessimistic fellow! I am an optimist." And of course he imagines that his little bombastic speech has settled the whole difficulty. Call his attention to the brothels, to the open vice, and to the evidence also of the more hidden pollutions that are sweeping the world into the whirlpool of lust, and all he can say is: "Pessimism, pessimism! Why, don't you see I am an optimist?" Speak to him of the gigantic trusts and other combines of wealth that are being formed; call his attention to these superhuman manifestations of greed; let him see the startling facts in regard to the revolutionary and rioting spirit that is being stirred up because of it, and he still insists upon telling you that you are a "pessimist" and he is an "optimist." And so you might go through the list of ills and evils that are so manifest and so intense and dark in their forebodings of dire calamity and distress; you might show him the grim visage of the assassin, all bespattered with blood; you might lead him into the dark chambers of political corruption and fraud; you might show him the powerless, the apathetic, the worldly, and selfish condition of the professed church in these times; but none of these things would change his refrain. He would still meet every fact with his little one-word song of "pessimist, pessimist, pessimist." There are doubtless some who are so morbid that they can see nothing straight who truly ought to be classed as pessimists. But there are many times more who are priding themselves on their optimism, but who are nevertheless the worst deluded people on earth. If a man is standing in the midst of a burning building he will not save himself by shutting his eyes to the flames and saying that he is too optimistic to believe that all this fine building will burn. The thing for him to do is to recognize facts and get out of danger. To simply shout, "Peace," when there is neither peace nor safety will save no one, but will all the more surely drown him in destruction.