The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-02-12
LEISURE HOUR REFLECTIONS
FROM A QUIET CORNER.
(By Dennis S. Thompson.)

The spirit of work is more general
and more strenuously active now than
ver before in the worlds history.
The work never gets done, and it is
rarely that we take any rest, because
whenever we go, we carry our bust
ness with us. If it is to church, to
school, or to business meeting or to
social functions, it is the same thing;
we go with our pockets full of bust.
ness. The hammer rings constantly,
because everyone that is contributing
to the worlds progress, have their
hands more than full.
The world is brim full of needs. If
we do Jul share each day to alleviate
these needs, we will not have much
time to give to other that are not
worth while. The strenuous spirit pre-
walls in every walk of life, and the
person now who says they have time
and some to spare, is not doing very
much. 1t would appear from the great
throngs that we encounter each day,
that there would be plenty of people
to carry forward the worlds work in
such a systematic manner that every
one would have lots of leisure time.
But each year brings added RESPONSE
bilities to the doors of the nation; to
the doors of the citizen added
responsibilities, and new problems are
coming up from time to time, that re-
quire intelligence and tact in the solv-
ing thereof.
The progress of the human race
from the viewpoint of intellectually,
in the last few centuries, have been
very gratifying, but it has not pro-
crossed accordingly in moral stature.
1t would seem that as the people &C
quired education and became cultured
that the moral standard would ma
turally be raised, but on the contrary,
we cannot deny the fact that immor-
atty has kept pace with all the pro-
gress that has been made. Naturally,
many will refute this statement, but
if we care to consult the criminal
records of the country we can easily
convince ourselves. This condition
AAo OSNL AOu6AN obOul AlOuSh NnC
failure of the children having done for
them in the home, what necessarily
ought to be done, and because OF the
white-washing later given them by the
school, church and society. The fact
of the matter is, we have been doing
too much white-washing, and now we
are raising a great hubbub to get some
of it off.
Now the cry is for more workers to
help with the task of remeding the
situation; the various Christian Asso-
Citations, the welfare associations and
church auxiliaries, community, and
kindred organizations all have their
hands full. The work to be done in
connection with these -llied organiza-
tions is a problem for consideration
and yet there is much good being &C.
complished each year. But it is diff.
cult to get workers, because everyone
just wants only their own cares to be
burdened with.
1t matters very little in what line
of endeavor the work is, the anne rule
oPBiCo W an AhC 4SM must DCdh lnC
brunit of the battle. In all of the large
churches, and all charitable organiza-
tions a few must direct the work and
supply the means to keep them alive,
that is the spiritual and financial
strength. But under our present sys-
ten we cannot hope for much relief
at the best; the day system of shams
and white-washing have been worked
up to such a high pitch that the whole
structure viii be weakened when we
set ourselves to the task of changing
matters.
Only Christianity now, can bring
about a change. What is needed most
in the home, the church, the school,
and every other place, is, that peo-
pie be taught the principals of every
day practical, Christian living, which
must. to ecu positive results, be-
gin in the home with the child.
Churches are too busy looking after
the financial end; the school curricu-
Ium is SO burdensome that one cannot
ind time to instruct the people con