Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net CHEERFULNESS AS A LIFE POWER BY ORISON SWETT MARDEN Author of "Pushing to the Front," "The Secret of Achievement," etc.; and Editor of "Success." Tenth Thousand New York Thomas Y. Crowell & Company Publishers Copyright, 1899 By Orison Swett Marden A FOREWORD. The soul-consuming and friction-wearing tendency of this hurrying, grasping, competing age is the excuse for this booklet. Is it not an absolute necessity to get rid of all irritants, of everything which worries and frets, and which brings discord into so many lives? Cheerfulness has a wonderful lubricating power. It lengthens the life of human machinery, as lubricants lengthen the life of inert machinery. Life's delicate bearings should not be carelessly ground away for mere lack of oil. What is needed is a habit of cheerfulness, to enjoy every day as we go along; not to fret and stew all the week, and then expect to make up for it Sunday or on some holiday. It is not a question of mirth so much as of cheerfulness; not alone that which accompanies laughter, but serenity,--a calm, sweet soul-contentment and inward peace. Are there not multitudes of people who have the "blues," who yet wish well to their neighbors? They would say kind words and make the world happier--but they "haven't the time." To lead them to look on the sunny side of things, and to take a little time every day to speak pleasant words, is the message of the hour. THE AUTHOR. In the preparation of these pages, amid the daily demands of journalistic work, the author has been assisted by Mr. E. P. Tenney, of Cambridge. TABLE OF CONTENTS. I. WHAT VANDERBILT PAID FOR TWELVE LAUGHS 7 THE LAUGH CURE 9 A CHEAP MEDICINE 13 WHY DON'T YOU LAUGH? 14 II. THE CURE FOR AMERICANITIS 16 A WORRYING WOMAN 19 OUR HAWAIIAN PARADISE 22 A WEATHER BREEDER 24 "WHAT IS AN OPTIMIST?" 27 LIVING UP THANKSGIVING AVENUE 29 III. OILING YOUR BUSINESS MACHINERY 31 SINGING AT YOUR WORK 33 GOOD HUMOR 35 "LE DIABLE EST MORT" 38 IV. TAKING YOUR FUN EVERY DAY AS YOU DO YOUR WORK 42 UNWORKED JOY MINES 44 THE QUEEN OF THE WORLD 45