Brave Life, I hold, is something more than driving upward to the peak;
Than smashing madly through the strong, and crashing onward through the
weak;
I hold the man who makes his fight against the raw game’s crushing odds
Is braver than his brothers are who hold the favor of the gods.

On by the sky line, faint and vague, in that Far Country all must know,
No laurel crown of fame may wait beyond the sunset’s glow;
But life has given me the chance to train and serve within the fold,
To meet the test—­and be prepared for all the endless years may hold.

Grantland Rice.

From “The Sportlight.”

A SONG OF TO-MORROW

A night’s sleep and a new day—­these are excellent things to look forward to when one is weary or in trouble.

  Li’l bit er trouble,
    Honey, fer terday;
  Yander come Termorrer—­
    Shine it all away!

  Rainy Sky is sayin’,
    “Dis’ll never do! 
  Fetch dem rainbow ribbons,
    En I’ll dress in blue!”

Frank L. Stanton.

From “The Atlanta Constitution.”

THE GLAD SONG

Gladness begins with the first person, with you.  But it may spread far, like the ripples when you toss a stone in the water.

  Sing a song, sing a song,
  Ring the glad-bells all along;
  Smile at him who frowns at you,
  He will smile and then they’re two.

  Laugh a bit, laugh a bit,
  Folks will soon be catching it,
  Can’t resist a happy face;
  World will be a merry place.

  Laugh a Bit and Sing a Song,
  Where they are there’s nothing wrong;
  Joy will dance the whole world through,
  But it must begin with you.

Joseph Morris.

PAINTING THE LILY

Many people are not content to let well enough alone, but spoil what they have by striving for an unnecessary and foolish improvement.  If they have a rich title, they try to ornament it still further; if they have refined gold, they try to gild it; if they have a lily, they try to paint it into still purer color.

  Therefore, to be possessed with double pomp,
  To guard a title that was rich before,
  To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
  To throw a perfume on the violet,
  To smooth the ice, or add another hue
  Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light
  To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,
  Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.

William Shakespeare.

A PRETTY GOOD WORLD

The world has its faults, but few of us would give it up till we have to.