The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-10-09
LEISURE HOUR REFLECTIONS
FROM A QUIET CORNER.

- WI
1t is commendable 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 helpfulness 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 it has been
hewn to mere existence, if friend
ship, has lost its flavor, and if ones
Joy is only physical satisfaction, and
if there is no hope to make the un-
born day beautiful. The life hat 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 those in it's sphere.
1t 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 W 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
at his humble abode in the country,
and he knew that it was one that
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
pending on him to contribute his
share to its progress, not necessarily
in a financial sense, but in the way
cheney, the doing of good deeds, ant
James Smith said he would do all o.
these, to the best of his ability.
There are many persons, old ant
young, who would do well to emulate
the good example of James Smith
but they must first learn that theil
future success must be paid for by
present sacrifice, and by rigid appli
J cation through years to come, and by
long hours and hard labor.
Just now, life offers us a bill fol
something to be paid for in the fu
the years to come may find us bare
handed and with heavy hearts.
. If we would be successful in thu
future we must pay for it now, but al
far as doing wrong is concerned, life
is always ready to let an account run
for years before calling for a settle
ment. But all our successes must be
paid for in advance; they must be
paid for by hard work and long hours
constant application to whatever We
have in hand, honesty and thrift, to
gether with the determination to i'm
E prove in our work and keep abreasr
> of the times.
1t is as foolish to postpone success
, to the distant future as it is to imag
inc you must go to some distant place
to find it. The seed of success will
terminate in almost any soil, and a
almost any season. 1t all depends OF
the care given it. The place to sue
coed is here, and the time to succeed
is now, providing, though, you have
paid the price in former years.
So often we hear someone remarl
that someone else ought to hav,
thoughts above their work, or pres
ent position. 1t is very well that W.
should aspire to higher things, ant
everyone should %endeavor, no matter