Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-25
Sunday Morning Talk
The Art of Appreciation.

Once on time a lad employed In a home
of wealth and culture. much to every body's
surprise, gave up his job of running
rands and securing the brasses and de-
parted. A friend asked him why he had
acted thus. Weren't you well fed?' Yes"
Weren't you well paid?" Yes'"Weren't
you we'll treatedg' Yes" What was the
matter, them" well, I'll tell you. They
treated me well enough and it's likely that
at the next place l won't get as much
money or as comfortable a bed. But l just
wanted them to say once in while. Well
done, little joe -
beside himself. After one has done his
best over and over again, and studied 10
please in every particular he is hardly hu-
man If he does not crave bit of appre-
citation. Not that the right-minded per-
son cares for fiattery. He abnors that and
suspects the one who brings it of some
Interior designs. But appreciation is an
altogether different article from fawning
praise. 1t Is the just and accurate esti-
mate of work done and service rendered.
How many persons who receive benefits
of various kinds accept them quite as
matter of course. A friend OF mine, through
helped to secure pension for the widow of
a soldier. 1t amounted to several hundred
dollars annually and when 1 remarked.
She must have been mighty grateful to
you, my ITieHQ TGpileu With d Cynical lltlto
shrug, She never thanked me-. Is
Let there be more apprecfativeness In The
home. You'll get quicker ana more COM
plete obedience from that fine but some
times very perplexing boy of yours IL you
make him aware that you note with ap-
prevail the struggles he does make to toe
the mark, the sef-denfal he now and then
practices in order to comply with your
wishes. To bring up children in an atmo-
sphere which lacks the elements which par
entail fondness and appreciativeness con-
tribute to 1t is like putting a tender, tropi-
cal plant into the hard, cold ground on q
November day. Children In the home, pu-
pills in the school thrive and blossom into
strong and lovely characters when they
have the proper amount OF appreciation.
On the other hand, the boys and girls them
selves need to appreciate their parents, ana
it is to be feared that in this age when
parents are doing more for their children
than ever before there has not been
corresponding Increase of difference and con-
siderateness on the part OF the children
In the shop and factory there is the same
righteous demand for appreciation-not or
laziness or slipshod work. but of fidelity.
of long-continued acceptable service, of the
contribution which even the humblest work.
er is making to the success Of the concern.
Our labor problem would be nearer solu-
ton If employers oftener said: Well done,
little joe
The church is another field for the exer-
else of the art of appreciation. If your
pastor helps you. tell him so. Don't be
afraid Of spelling him. Ministers don't
spoil so easily nowadays That was
beautiful motto which a church once put
on the wall to welcome pastor returning
from long vacation, I'VE love you and
we tell you So
Let's begin this next week and be more ap-
preciative. And come to think OF 1t, 1t Is
going to be Thanksgiving week. And
wasn't the original idea of Thanksgiving
the returning of thanks to Almighty God
for his rich and manifold blessings? Yes,
%l~.S t. h. III rea rf,ol OF NO an RI
marlly to eat turkey or play foot ball that
the fathers of the Plymouth colony estab-
lshed day of Thanksgiving. 1t was that
some account might be taken of blessings
received and that due gratitude be paid
to the bountiful Oliver. And does not cour-
tesy, to say nothing now of higher con-
siderations, demand that now and then, at
least we say thank you TO God?
ID