The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-10-10
CIassicsim of Washington
Doctrine Applied 10 Local Conditions
BY CHARLES A. SHARKS.

ism Whlch is generally applied to well
established patent thought or a par
ticular quality. The word is often
misused by u people, for instance
they term an ordinary sentimental
song classical" when it really calls
for deep thought, science, philosophy
and the usage of time to impart the
classic nature to anything. This is
why the Greeks are held in such high
esteem because not even time has
been able to change OF alter some of
the wise sayings of their day.
Then it will also take time to fully
prove the classicism of Booker T.
Washington's peculiar message to the
world. Notwithstanding that he is
reasonably appreciated by his con-
temporaries-his detractors al well as
his admirers, that he has many of both
is sufficient apology for the birth of
this article. as the papers are usually
full of his praise and detraction.
The latest classic hit the untram-
meled exemplar has delivered, took
place in Muskogee, Okla, during the
session of the National Negro Business
League.
In his speech he used this simple
axiom: Beautify the places you al
ready have. This, however, has been
the signal for those powerful
to let loose their fiery contents upon
the author of these words, and at
tempt humiliation of one whom they
have worn must fall as the Romans
said of Carthage. Beautify the places
you already have-is an injunction the
Negro needs every hour, and is espe-
cailly true in Kansas City when you
look around and see the thousand lit
tie improvements many could make
in their homes and in their places of
business, which, if made, would GER
tainly beautify them a hundredfold.
1t is a duty imposed upon man to
improve that which shelters and pro-
tects him. It matters not how hum
BILE this may be if the spirit of i'm
provement is carried out, the place re-
ceives the hallowed blessing which
| lOllOWS SOOu. IL we W uOl ldhS pup
er care of a simple cottage or fiat, we
certainly will not take care of a man.
sion. 1t is the same old story. Being
faithful in a few things. Any person
or family living in a great cultured
city, who shall not sweep the sidewalk
and approaches, and keep their win
dows clean (this is always the first
step do not deserve the Best in hous-
ing conditions, for it is plain that they
would not appreciate the Finest If
they had it. This goes for White and
Black.
Beautify the places you already
have. Ye that own homes. Repair
that broken fence; paint that house
plant and cultivate that flower bed;
impart an appearance of general order
and neatness everywhere; take an in
terest in street improvements, and be
a disciple of civic righteousness in the
community in which you live. Re
member the only proper way to fight
evil is with Good Works. If we have
been segregated, remember that seq
regation destroys itself and that those
who advocate it often give great ad
vantages (unconsciously) to those
segregated. For instance, there il
more social unity among Negroes il
Kansas City today than ever. We have
a business district of our own which
is playing a large part in our economic
life-something we could not boast o.
tan unarc 90 an6 on oil NaOrn racf
, Dental section which is far from be
ing bad. This consolidation mean
more than the superficial observes
generally understands. 1t means
the Negroes live together, beautif!
their homes, and solidify their aims
that they are going to gain a power t.
not only stop the encroachment of thu
Whites, but spread the wings o
Ethiopia even unto the enemy's camp
If in union there is strength, then, IL
, a community of people where there /
a reasonable Oneness of spirit, there
is nothing that can hamper that PEG
pie in improving their conditions.
There are many, many desirable
homes which Colored people W al
l live in, in Kansas City, and genera
I housing conditions are fairly good
: Then by way of preservation and i'm
provement there is classicism in wha
=, DIR. Washington says: Beautify tn
l places we already have. This will adj
r value, charm, grace and everythin.
: that really makes our abode a goo
place in which to live. By the way
i If the heads of some of u public II
: stitutions could only catch a little c
l this fire for beauty, then they woul
5 see that their. janitors would not slee
a half the time and pitch h%orseshoes tn
n other half, instead of keeping tn
buildings clean, spick and span. Gu
side banisters repaired and painte'
l the lawn well kept, window shade
!. rolled even, floors scrubbed and a gel
II eral clean-cut appearance. Who eve
Q. is guilty of this Neglect, Him hay
; l offended"
~ Criticism Answer.
e. If we truly believe in a thing we W
v proceed to demonstrate 1t in a prac
It. cal way. Men are prone to tai
Or Sides without weighing properly tn
lie which they pretend to advocate. :
as rightly champion any particular line
n. thought one must practice or live
ii This is what gives DR.. Washington
ed statements their classic turn. o
he only has to start to put them in acti