The Evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1917-1920, 1919-07-29
WHICH?

fling his feet behind nm, ne carries
a cane and his head is bent almost
to the level of his stomach; his clothes
are old and his hat and shoes sadly
out of repair; his long gray hair is
unkempt, and the lines on his face re-
veal story of lifetime of hard
ships. He is but step from the
grave. d.
Not far behind comes another man,
between 25 and 80 years old, with a
slow, listless gait. His arms hang at
his sides like pieces of rope. His
clothes look as if they had been slept
in; the toes of his shoes are battered
up, and his straw hat is dirty. He
needs a shave. He looks worried.
A fat, jovial fellow with smile
at the corners of his mouth and in his
eyes elbows his way between several
persons. He looks self-satisfied. His
complexion is that of good health. His
clothes are carelessly worn, and the
edge of his lips is stained with to-
bacco juice.
Above the heads of the others is
seen tall, gaunt man with a power
full frame not well filled. He has
strong face with pleasant lines; deep
set eyes and a straight mouth. The
nose is pinched an dlarge. He walks
with a slow easy stride and looks
straight ahead. It's the type of man
who gets what he wants, but usually
at a great price.
This man looks like clerk; short
rapid step; too much Importance in
the swing of the arms; clean-shaven
pleasant face; eyes shifting contin-
ually, but does not give impression of
seeing anything; clothes good.
Here comes a statue; woman OF
about thirty; her walk is so peculiar
that she does not seem to be walking
arms rigid at her sides and no move
ment to the hips, her skirt hardly
11Si ioll 10 oOhS uP IA u
huge plain knot on top of her head,
but her ears are small. Her face is
without line and she has hair on her
upper lip; her shifting eyes are timid
and half-apologetic smile is on her
mouth. The world has been cruel
to her, her spirit is nearly broken.
Here's sight that makes the young
bachelors laugh, and sometimes think:
medium-sized, sharp, stooping-shoul-
dered man pushing a baby carriage
with twins. Friend wife, dominant
looking person, is walking slightly
behind with a small child on either
side. This is proof of the fact that
every man is not master in his own
home.
The proprietor of store on the
same corner steps out. His business
cares are with him, on him and all
over him. The small patches of hair
over his temples are still dark. The
skin is stretched over his cheek
bones. He twists his watch chain
nervously.
The proprietor of another nearby
store steps out. He appears prosper
Gus, healthy and fat He takes long,
deep breath and looks up and down
the street. He smiles as customer
comes up, and opens the door for her.
And SO they come and go; some
happy, some sad; this one slow and
that one fast; one on top and the
other down and out. Which are you?
If you haven't been tried, which do
want to be? Is your environment
mastering you, or are you mastering
yourself? Do you see bright visions
ahead of you, or are you plodder?
Do you think or do others think for
you?
The successful men in business to-
day are those who think for them
selves. Their knowledge was acquired
either by experience or by education.
But experience is a hard master
master who gives no second chance.
You either win or lose. Which would
you prefer: four years in college, or
twenty years in experience? Do you
acquire much polish being knocked
around, or do you become hardened
and brittle and look upon the world
as an enemy?
Education is sure road to success
for those who recognize the fact. An
education is worth any price, for it
pays returns a thousand times over,
not only in wealth, but in the broader
outlook upon life and in culture
ITO be or not to be, that is the
question"