OCR Text |
Show The Splendid Optimist. Scolt Ilond, a rich Arkansas planter, plant-er, said, at the recent convent ion of the Nationul Negro Iluslness league, In New Yoik: "Tho open places nro the places for you, the farm lands. Yi u won't bo sick out there, and the ground will love you like a brother. "I am un optimist for my farm brother. I know ho tnu-it succeed. And any argument you bring against bis success I can answer optimistically. optimistical-ly. In fact, I'm like Calhoun Washington, Wash-ington, who said bravely, ie matter what misfortune happened, 'Well, it might have been worse.' "Put tho deacon thought he'd get the best of tho optimist. Calhoun, and ho he said to him one day: ; " '1 bad a dreadful dream last I night. I thought I saw the bad place, j There w as a great lake of boiling, blazing pitch, and we all were swim-iming swim-iming In It you and I, and all our jfi lends. And when we'd get iiear tho I shore and try to climb out, Imps w ith horns und talis would Juh redhot : pitchforks Into our faces.' i " 'Well, well,' said Calhoun, llo thought a moment, then le' added; j ! Hut It might have bet n worse, eh?' j i " 'How might It have been worse, you fool?' shouted the deacon angrily. " 'Why,' said Calhoun, 'it mii;ht have been true.' " Lcuisvllle 'Iltii. s. |