The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-01-01

IF every year we could root out one vice we
would sooner become perfect men" Impotence
Is at the root of many defeats. 1t is customary
nowadays to sheer at tho virtue for which the
name of Job is synonymous, but those who say
that patience is the virtue Of an ass or a ~beggar's
virtue are not SO wise % the Spanish proyerb-
maker, who said:
"Patience! and shuttle the cards" Most people
shuttle the cards eagerly -nough, but the patience
is lacking. Seeking to grasp the stars at a bound
they fall back to the earth.
And so, if people at he commencement of a
New Year adjusted their desires in accordance
with their abilities, and instead of signing for the
unattainable made the very most OF the oppor-
tunities vouchsafed to them, one would hear less
OF broken resolutions and wasted lives.
DO the duty which lies nearest to thee which
thou knowest to be a duty said Carlyle. THY
second duty will already have become clearer"
The Turning of New Leaves.
Good resolutions have almost gone out Of fash
ion. On the last night Of the year we no longer
sit down to review our past lives and resolve to
be better and wiser" than we haye been in the
past. 1T is of no use making resolutions. | never
can keep them" is the plea that is usually prof
fered. This is a mistake. however. 1t is com.
mendable to resolve Ian alarm clock helping one)
to get up half an hour earlier than usual in the
morning, even though it results-as, alas! 1t too
often does-in one getting up half an hour later.
1t is what one aspires to be that counts.
II people could live more in the present It
would help them enormously In the keeping of
good resolutions. So many people persist in be-
ing just a little ahead all the time.
tomorrow they say, I'VE will reform" but
the tomorrow of their imaginings never dawns.
Ancient and modern philosophers have agreed
as to the dangers Of procrastination. Such wide
ly diverse people as Horace, the Latin poet who
nourished in 65 B.. c., and pushful persons who
flourish Exceedingly at the present day, join
issue In this particular.
Who begins. possesses half the deed" saws
Horace. ~
Dare to be wise; make a commencement"
DO 1t now" is the curt command of the mod
ern apostle of Hustle" Again, Horace saws "Jf
you are ignoran. how to live Alright, give place
to those who have learn ID the lesson"
Get on or get out says a manikin, following
IN more concentrated. If less courteous language
the same line of thought on a somewhat lower
plane The one was concerned with the things
OF the soul and the spirit: the other with worldly
advancement There are some who contend that
Rhe TWO cannot go together, but If Gas has been
contended by many men of wisdom) what a man
is f OF more importance than what he has n ,a
we'll to make spiritual advancement as the wears
go by.\n we have not made progress, we have
gone BABY. The soul never stands still. Time has
no Terror FOR those who have learned wisdom
Pass thou, wild heart.
Pa wind heart of youth that still
h.Hast half a mind to stay.
81 grow too old a comrade;
Let US part,
Pass thou away.
Some people drag the folIies and immaturitie,
of youth into old age. There is wisdom in ad.
justing oneself to time. to profit by past expert.
ences. and to acquire that Eense OF proportion