If Joel Shomaker isn't the biggest Tacoma booster in history, I don't know who is. I came across his guest editorial, published in The News Tribune May 16, 1925, while researching the paper's coverage of the opening of the Winthrop Hotel.

My Winthrop article, part of the paper's 125th anniversary celebration, runs Sunday. Here, for your enjoyment and astonishment, is what Shomaker wrote 83 years ago for a feature called "Editorials by Readers."

Tacoma, a City of Optimism

By Joel Shomaker

Tacoma is a city of optimism. The people believe that life is worth living. They know there is more good than evil in Tacoma. The spirit of progress is in the air. It breathes upon the wheels of industry. The voice of prosperity is heard in the streets. It comes from the ships of the sea and the farms of the earth. It rings out a new dawn on the waves and in the furrows of commerce.

[More:]

The new optimism marks the beginning of a better era for humanity. It makes the crooked paths straight. The danger curves are passing in history. The open roads to success are being built on more direct lines. Those highways center in Tacoma. They connect the homes with the schools, industries and transportation facilities. So the residents of Tacoma hail with delight the sunlight of optimism.

Why is Tacoma a city of optimism? The regular order of things in Nature favor Tacoma. The site comprises one of the best harbors for the ships of the seven seas of the world. The front shores are swept by the tides of the Pacific ocean. The lawns and floral gardens are watered, shaded and protected by Mount Tacoma, the most noted mountain of this nation. Mother Nature gives freely of her healthful climate and pleasing sunshine.

The citizens of Tacoma are pleased with their city. They do not desire to trade places with any other city on earth. They are not in the swapping business. There are no uneven fringes on the border garments of the planetary system. The summers are not too hot, nor the winters too cold. Tacoma is in the right place on the map of the United States and no one desires to wipe out the dot.

Tacoma is a city of natural resources. It was built from the forests of Nature. It is known where newspapers are read as the "Lumber Capital of America," because of shipping more lumber than any other timber-cutting city. In the waters are the fishes of commerce. In the mountains are the forests, water power and scenery, all forming parts of a world wonderland. In the valleys are the farms and gardens of the last opportunity.

Tacoma is an American city. The flag of our country -- the emblem of peace, plenty and prosperity -- has a place in the hearts of all the family of Tacoma patriotic homebuilders. Because of the spirit of loyalty to country of the people, ideal site for a central training field and perfect climate and pure water, Camp Lewis was established and kept up by the nation during the World War as one of the great posts.

Tacoma is a city of homes. A majority of the families living in Tacoma own their own homes. They are listed as the best citizens. There is truth, honor and justice in the man who owns his home. He is considered a law-abiding and peace-loving member of the human race. It matters not what might be his land of nativity, the maker of a home is respected by the community. Many such men live in Tacoma.

Tacoma is a city of families. That means that there are thousands of children. They require numerous public school buildings. Scores of teachers, from almost everywhere are called into action in the schools and colleges, And the works of teachers and pupils are shown in the better city life. Pessimism has no place in the hearts or on the tongues of the children of Tacoma. Optimism drives out the spirit of evil.

Tacoma is a city of personal freedom. The people who made Tacoma were pioneers of the wild. They recognized the written and unwritten laws of humanity. They were ready to forgive and forget the sins of their brothers and sisters. On that broad foundation of human rights the city was planned and built up to its present place of financial and commercial importance in the world. Every builder takes his or her place, a free agent.

Tacoma is a city of equal rights. Woman is recognized as the equal of man. She does not hide her light under a shade. Her abilities are discovered and she is given the place of honor. Tacoma boasts of thousands of happy mothers of strong and healthy children. They keep the homes. But Tacoma finds places for women in the schools, colleges, professions, arts and industries. Tacoma is not a mere man city.

The new optimism describes Tacoma as a city of ideal American patriotism. The city builders realize that Tacoma is one of the famous ports of the Pacific. They know that Nature has assisted in the making of a great railway terminal -- where the big pine cones meet the waves of the sea -- and they are ready to shout from the housetops of praise for their old home town.

Optimism is a part of the every-day life of Tacoma people. It opens the windows of the morning and lets the light of peace shine in upon the home, office, school and factory. There are no dark spots on the moon of the evening in Tacoma. Tacoma is a city where people live 12 months in the year. That explains why the spirit of optimism moves about, in the day and the night, whispering words of cheer and confidence.

There is room in Tacoma and vicinity for many times the present population. The natural resources -- land, water and sunshine -- are everywhere in abundance. Life is still worth living. The pioneers did not take away all of the gifts of Mother Nature. The coming generation will have plenty and to spare in all things that go to make up a full measure of peace, plenty and prosperity. Such is the vision of Tacoma.

Poetry. Madness. Or something.

Care to nominate a favorite line? I kind of like, "The regular order of things in Nature favor Tacoma," and, "They are not in the swapping business."