The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-10-16
LEISURE HOUR REFLECTIONS
FROM a QUIET CORNER.

1t is c~ommendable TO have a long
life, but under prescribed conditions,
but a broad life, surely, is a good
thing always. There are a great many
of us who have a goodly number of
years to our credit, but with all of
these to recommend us, we can see
that we have done but very little that
really has been helpful to those around
us.
This inability of h%elpfulness is due
to many causes, and may be chiefly
attributed to illiberality on the part
of the individual. Long life can hard
ly be termed a blessing if 1t has been
hewn to mere existence, If friend
ship, has lost its flavor, and IL ones
joy is only physical satisfaction, and
IL there is no hope to make the un-
born day beautiful. The life that has
been broad and liberal in thought,
and unbiased from every viewpoint,
may end early in years, but is by
no means incomplete, having fulfilled
the mission Of life.
1t has been responsive to what is
best in life-beauty, opportunity and
to the call of nature, having been
helpful, joyful and Of use, and a
worthy example to these in its sphere.
It has loved birds and flowers, duty
and song. 1t has listened to the stars,
and to God, and to the voice of earth's
need. Such a life whenever it cul-
inmates, is complete, in comparison
to the one which stretches past the
three-score years and more, content
with its own narrowness.
Hundreds of thousands of lives are
lost to the worlds usefulness, because
so many people are too narrow in
. their thought and views to think for
the best, and to see things just as they
should.
When James Smith came to the
city to begin his carer the thought
/. foremost in his mind was to deal
fairly with all whom he came in con
tact and to conduct himself In such
a way as to demand the same treat
:. ment of others.
This was a policy he had adopted
j, at his humble abode in the country
and he knew that it was nj thai
must be carried out, go where he may
' if he ever wished to be successful
Naturally there were many tempta
lions offered him for wasting time
but he knew that the world was de
Epending on him to contribute hi
share to it's progress, not necessaril.
in a financial sense, but in the wa,
of honesty, the best thought, prof
cheney, the doing of good deeds, an,
James Smith said he would do all O
these, to the best of his ability.
There are many persons, old an
young, who would do well to emulat
the good example of James Smith
but they must first learn that thei
future success must be paid for b
i present sacrifice, and by rigid appl
Y cation through years to come, and b
long hours and hard labor.
Just now, life offers us a bill 70
something to be paid for in the fl
ture, we may refuse to pay for it, bu
Z the years to come may find us bare
handed and with heavy hearts.
Y. II we would be successful in tn
future we must pay for it now, but a
far as doing wrong is concerned. lf
is always ready to let an account ru
] for years before calling for a settle
ment. But all our successes must b
] paid for in advance; they must b
paid for by ,hard work and long hours
constant application to whatever W
have in hand, honesty and thrift, t.
+. gether with the determination to in
ie prove in our work and keep abreas
p of the times.
IS 1t is as foolish to postpone success
$, to the distant future as it is to imat
v inc you must go to some distant plac
to find it. The seed of success wi
terminate in almost any soil, and a
. almost any season. 1t all depends o
the care given it. The place to SUI
/ coed is here, and the time to succe
: is now, providing, though, you hav
: paid the price in former years.
So often we hear someone remar
that someone else ought to hav
thoughts above their work, or pre-
ent position. 1t is very well that W
should aspire to higher things, an
everyone should e%ndeavor, no matte