The Happy People

Southland Times, Issue 19823, 20 March 1926, Page 23

The Happy People

n'bo are the happiest people? Ah’ that is rather a difficult question to answer. Some will insu*t that it is the wealthy, who have no weary never-ending struggle of “making ends meet," of making a penny go as far as tuppence, and of thinking and scheming how that penny is to be spent. Others will tell you, that health is the greatest gift the Gods can bestow on us mortals, while many people believe that onlv by passing through the Gate of Knowledge,'the Land of Happine* may "Money is the root of all evil," says a old proverb and equally true is the wellknown saying "Envy is the root of all unhappiness.’’ Once, down our way, there lived two women, who although their homes were side-by-side, lived totally different lives. One was the hard-working mother of a large family of growing boys. Her life was not an easy one. Baking, scrubbing, cooking and darning took up her time I so that she had little enough rest or amuse ments. But the other was wealthy and childless, living in a pretty home, surrounded by every luxury, and with nothing to do but enjoy herself. Very often the mother would say to me. “Why should she have | all that money. It isn’t fair. She has no children to take up her time. AU she does is enjoy herself’’ and she would thus think enviously, of her neighbour’s happy and comfortable life. Yet, do you know, when once I called on the latter, I found her gazing with wistful eyes out on her neighbour's lawn, where two of the boys were indulging in a friendly scrap. And j she told me earnestly that she would give aU her wealth to posses healthv handsome boys such as her neighbour’s were. Thus these two women spent their lives envying : each other, and neither realised just how lucky she was. A famous film star, Mary Pickford, once said "Envy is the cause of more unhappiness than anything else in the : world. Slim women envy plump, dark women envy fair, etc., and no one seems ! to realise that she has in reality, a lot to be thankful for.” There are some people who always look on the dark side of things. They always find something to “grump” about, and there are others just the opposite Pollyannan, the immortal heroine of the Glad Books, could never be unhappy for long. "There's always something nice happening every day,” she said joyously. “Only people never seem to find it out.” What a pity there are not a few more Polyannas A dear old lady whom I knew taught me the wav to true happiness. She said that's going to help you through a lonely old age. It isn’t the pretty frocks nor the beaiL. you once bad tha.a go,ng to count so much, as the thought of an hour welllived, and a deed weU done Always strive will reap your reward. The Path of Duty true happiness. “Remember, Whatsoever’ thy hand findeth to do, do with thy might." And I believe her. How could I do anything else when I saw her, a beautiful —2/6 and 4 marks to Cousin Gladys Stimpson il4 • 20 Sydney Street, North Invercargill. "What a perfectly lovely day," I exclaimed. as the sun peeped invitingly through my window one early Spring morning. “What a pity to lie in bed while all nature seems alive.” So I determined to get up and go for a walk. The bush walk is my favourite and as I approahed the leafy bowers over the pathway a little feathered songster clearly and sweetly carrolling somewhere up in the giant tree tops hailed my arrival to this fairyland. Vainly did I gaze into the leafy arches to obtain a view of the singer. I knew that somewhere a little creature was singing with its whole heart, of the glad and beautiful morning. —2/6 and 4 marks to Cousin Dvmpna O'Brien (10) Te W T ae Wae. —Prise.— I think the unselfish people are the happiest. Their lives are so full of loving sympathy and service for others, that they have no time to feel bored. Happy themselves, they spread joy around them. Happy people are always welcome, so their joy, not only goa» forward to cheer the suffering and sorrowing, but is reflected back to themselves. Some of the happiest people are those who cultivate the grace of thankfulness. “Joy is the grace we say to God. ’ Some people are always joyously counting their blessings, while others are discontentedly looking for more favours. I think those who have just enough to live comfortably on are happier than the very wealthy. Great riches bring grave responsibilities and a temptation to out-do our mates in foolish spending. Hard work and good health help greatly toward keep—2/6 and 4 marks to Cousin James Betting (101 "Terry Hill,” Woodlands. —Highly Commended.—

A great many people think themselves perfectly happy and it is no easy matter I to draw a dividing line and place one person as the happiest in the world. There are | such a variety of ways of being happy; for one person may be miserable in the same place that another is at the height of happiness. What then is necessary to happiness? The first essential is contentment. But what class of people in general are the happiest. One at once thinks of the large class of rich people. Are they happy ? Some are, it is true, but as a general rule wealth brings unhappiness. The rich man is either thinking of ways to accumulate more wealth, or how to spend 1 his money to secure his longed for happiness. . Then there is the great ambitious class. Is a man or woman who is always looking years ahead to some future event, always striving, toiling, worrying to rise to a lofty height or seeing nothing beyond his or her own interests—is that person per- I fectly happy? No, generally he is not. Year after year the goal glitters in the him happiness. Those who reach their j goal may be contented and happy but, 1 even then, many are still disatiafied. pleasure loving. But if their giddy excitement is taken away from them for a minute they become miserable and think Who then are happy? I think the greatest happiness is found in the poorer classes, where wealth does not worry, where excitement does not crowd out the innocent pleasures of life. But even this is not happiness to some people. Therefore happiness must have something that may apply to the exceptions of most of these classes. This is it. Of whatever rank or age in life they may be if they have plently to keep them occupied, if they are not self centered but delight in helping ©there, if they are not selfish, but make up their mind to enjoy and be contented with their life whatever it may be—then they are really hapnv —2 marks to Cousin Millicent Broadbent ' 14) a Compton Road, Trafalgar, Inver—Highly Commended.— Who are the happiest people? I wonder! There are such lots and lota of different sorts of people in this funny big world of ours, that it is hard io lay ones finger on one particular section of people and say, “These are the happiest and most satisfied happiness that make different sors of people glad, too. Then again, we all have our sorrows and disappointments, which I think are very wise inventions, aa they help to teach

us to appreciate our pleasures more. A person who has had much sorrow and trouble is generally happiest in the end, while a person who has few sorrows takes them to heart and makes more out of them. Thus, sorrow creates happiness,

Happiness depends a great deal on circumstances. The man of moderate means makes his happiness, and enjoys it. A well-to-do man buys his happiness, and is dissatisfied with it. A generous person gives happiness and rejoices in it. I wonder who is happiest ? I think I know who.

A person of moderate means, with a generous nature, who knows how to laugh and enjoy being alive, and who rejoices in sharing his happiness with others, w’ho are not so fortunate. Someone who looks for, and finds, all the sunshine in the world, I but doesn’t seem to notice the clouds. I Though there are lots of people like this in the world, we could do with a few 7 more to help gladden the lives of many poor unfortunates, who are sad or unhappy. To quote the words of Martin Tupper:— “Happiness is a roadside flower growing on the highway of usefulness.” —2 marks to Cousin Eileen Jaquiery (16) 21 George Street, North Invercargill, i ss mftwyapoinmrdflutaoinhrdlu oin aww w —Highly Commended — We see by studying the world and its human life, who are really the happiest people. It is not always riches that bring happiness, as among the less fortunate, and honest working people are to be found the happiest of homes. A man, who goes to his daily work is happy and contented, and when at night he, with an easy mind, returns. the dear ones at home have comforts awaiting him, while fireside pleasures are I very sweet to him. [ The real happiness for anybody lies in doing a good turn for others and sacrificing their pleasures to a certain extent, for the good of others, as unselfishness brings hapI piness and those whose clear conscience bids them shine and glow, like a flower that grows in peaceful content, are the persons that happiness dwells upon, while those whose conscience is stained, live in desolate misery, knowing nothing of the pleasure that honesty and contentment brings. Think of the happiness in England alone, of the thousands of children, who through the kindness and thoughtfulness of the late Dr Barnado, are living in comfort, who otherwise would have been destitute, and without homes. What a contented I mind he must have had, when in later life his thoughts would go back to the care and up bringing of many unhappy lives, whose beaming faces, through him, tell of the happy times, they have, through his unselfishness. As Dr Barnado’s adage was, I "Do unto others as you would they should do unto you,” which proves that true hap- | piness lies in self-sacrifice and helping those in need. —2 marks to Cousin Doris Henderson, (14), 164 Melbourne Street. North Invercargill. —Highly Commended — The happiest people are these who do good deeds and help others. A bright and smiling face is a sure sign of a loving and contented heart. If one does all the good one can, in helping others and so giving them happiness one is also amongst the happiest people on the earth. i Now. let me tell you of two little girls, l>oth of the same family. Their names were j Lily and Nellie Stone. Although the two children were sisters with the same mother and father they were so different in nature that they were strangers. Lily had a bright and sunny nature, and was always helping I others and doing good wherever she went, while her bright smiling face would cheer one only to see it. Nellie, sad to say, was j just the opposite. She would go about grumbling over everything; nothing seemed to please her while she would do anyI thing to tease and annoy the younger children. If Lily went into the nursery, there were shouts of joy from the children, while if Nellie were to enter there was no receplion for her, and the children were quiet. Naturally this annoyed Nellie, but she never once put the blame on herself but always onto the smaller ones or Lily. She would snatch Teddie’s blocks away or pinch Joan on the face until Lily would beg her to leave rhe children alone. Then up would fame Nellie’s temper. “It’s all your fault,” she would cry, "you puj the children against me.” "No, dear, I don’t,” Lily would say, "why don’t you try and be a little kinder to them and then they will love to have you here too.” "I can see very well, I am not wanted here.” stormed Nellie, and out she would go, giving the door a bang as she went through it while Lily would sigh and do her best to make the little ones I ' -c-t Nellie’s cruelty. Even if Nellie went ■ the yard the animals would slink i / y out of her sight, while when Lily api neared they would scamper around her with i pleasure. Now who do you think was the j happiest of these two girls, Lily with her I bright and sunny nature and her smiling face, or Nellie, with her grumbling and bad temper and a scowling face. Well, I think we will all agree the Laly was the I happiest. —2 marks to Cousin Elsie Amos, (12), Mabel Bush. —Highly Commended.— Many people have pondered this quesI tion over and found no definite answer. It

is thought that children are the happiest people. No worry or wordly troubles on their little shoulders. Happy and free they play, with no thought of the morrow unless it be to play some new game. Yet even these have their troubles, petty ones surely, yet still troubles. Mother says they must not touch the fire which looks so pretty and would be ever so nice to poke and play with. Green apples—how is one to tell whether they are ripe or not, they all have the same delicious taste. Then they are just playing some exciting game and mother says it is time for bed. Oh just a little j little while longer. No! mother is firm and off the unwilling tots must go. For some the dark holds unreasoning fear and terrible bogies and fearsome animals are conjured up in the active little brains until at last they fall asleep. Some say schooldays are the best and [happiest. No this cannot be. They are all very well to look’ back on when only the best and happiest times are remembered. People look at and envy the well-to-do. Yet there is no reason to. These people have all they want and are not yet contented. Others go to the other extreme and say I poor people are the happiest. Poor, but amIbitious, hoping to do great things some time but unable to for want of means. Perhaps in the end they may attain their goal but j too late to enjoy it as they once would have. They cannot be the happiest people. A coral isle with smooth white sandy beach on which the long lines of breakers throw themselves. Farther back the graceful palm trees wave in the wind. In a clearing surrounded by tropical trees, some laden with golden fruit, stand a fejv native huts. Pretty dark skinned girls play and deck themselves with the beautiful wild flowers which grow in such'profusion, while older women prepare the meal for the hunting party. Happiness is contentment and these people are cnotented. Perhaps they are the happiest people. Kipling says the Japanese are. Living in their beautiful land of cherry blossom even watched by the warm sun, industrious and—happy. Yet perhaps there is no need to go so far away ? Hidden away in some remote countryplaces is where the happiest people dwell. Some people living in a busy town would perhaps laugh at them, while others more understanding would perhaps wish to be one of them. These blunt yet happy people have their troubles too but they do not worry and fret over them. They live their own quiet lives and thoroughly enjoy their homely pleasures. They do not often visit the towns, going only when necessary, preferring the quiet of the country.

Sunday is their meeting day, when after church, they stand round in groups talking of their various doings and the news of the neighbourhood, before driving off home. These are a hard working, yet contented people and surely the happiest. —2 marks to Cousin Daisy Ward, (15), Awarua Plains. (

—Highly Commended— Which people are the happiest? Well, it is hard, very hard, to say. Yet, are not the people who are happy, the ones who help others, the ones who give u pthings to others? Yes, undoubtedly so. How many people, striving after wealth think that it will bring happiness, and how many are bitterly disappointed when, after gaining it they find nothing but a shallow, artificial, life awaiting them. No real happiness. Friends? Oh, yes they have plenty of friends, but of how much value are they? None! The so-called friend could be more appropriately called acquaintances. Some, probably, are real friends, but how many? Very few. Who could be happy, really happy, in such company, with no real friends, with whom to share joys and sorrows ? Many, many poor people, living in humble cottages, are far richer than kings living in palaces. How can that be? Why, the poor have friends who do not associate with them for what they can get, but for real, true friendship’s sake. True friendship brings happiness. Those who make some sacrifice, giving up something to do someone else a good turn, are not they happy, too? Afterwards they can look back with pleasure and say, “I’m glad I did that. It helped them such a lot!” and they are content and happy. They think not of themselves but others. To bring happiness to others is to bring happiness to oneself. What of those who go out of their way to help others? It may cause them some slight inconvenience at the time, but what of that ? They have rendered help and they are happy. The people, who have clear consciences, who have done nothing wrong, are happy. These are the happy ones, not those who lead a life of pleasure. Not those who dress in fine clothes and ride in motor-cars. Not those who lead sheltered lives, but those who have true friends. Those who have weathered the storms of life. Those who have found happiness in self-sacrifice and helping others. —2 marks to Cousin Eileen Mclntosh, (15), 59 Ness Street, Invercargill. —Commended. — The working people are by far the happiest people, for the thought of their many duties occupy their minds and crowd out all worries and cares. Many people may be heard to remark, "Oh! if I were only rich, how happy I would be,” but they are making a great mistake. Some rich people are happy no doubt but the majority are not. They seldom do any work and are for ever complaining about even the smallest things, that a busy person would never notice and the least little thing worries them. Now the working or poorer people are working earl" and late and seldom have time to worn 7 or fret and are therefore, by far the happiest and contented people. —1 mark to Cousin Cathleen Larner, (14), “Avoca,” Wyndham. —Commended.—* "Oh! what a world to live in,” was the cry of a discontented girl many years ago. Iler name was Mary Jones. She wanted so many beautiful things that her mother and father were unable to pay for. Besides,

there were others in the family to be provided for. She looked along the "Wanteds” in the paper and saw that some firm was wanting a girl in the showroom. Her mother and father thought it would be the best thing that could happen to her if she applied for the position and got it. She applied for the position and happened to be fortunate in getting it. She had to go to the place the next day and start work, so she packed her clothes that night. She started off in the going by train to the city. Having no relatives to stay with she had to board with strangers. After a few weeks she had saved a few pounds she bought some of the things she wanted. When she saved more she spent it in the same way. One thing Mary’s friends did not like about her, was that she always had a worried and discontented look on her face. One day she told her friend, "The more I spend the more I want to spend. I am never happy, yet I have a sister' at home and she is always happy. She has to get up at 5 o’clock in the morning, milk 10 cows, and take the milk to the factory. When she comes home she helps mother with the housework. At night again she takes off her clothes, gets into her milking togs and sings as she goes for the cows. She is never wanting anything yet she is always happy. How could I be happy living that life? How is it that I am not happy living this life?”

In five years Mary married a handsome gentleman. So she thought. They went away to Paris to live for a while, leading a very gay life. One morning she woke up to find her husband a drunkard. How she wished she had been like her sister always happy and doing deeds for the benefit of

Shortly afterwards Mary’s husband met with an accident. He was send to the hospital where the doctor said that there was no hope for him. He died in a few days leaving an unhappy, discontented widow.

The sister was sent for at once. This was a grand chance for Mary to say "How is it you are happy?” The sister said with a smile, “ Because I have always thought of others and never looked forward to the morrow. Did what was to be done in the one day and made the best of life.” I am glad to say that Mary turned over a new leaf and was always happy ever afterwards. —1 mark to Cousin Ella Campbell, (12), Oreti Plains.