The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1920-02-28
LEISURE HOUR REFLECTIONS
FROM A QUIET CORNER.
BY Dennis s. Thompson.

- DNAAA ~ hNSAB'SAs
The workshop of character is every.
day life. The %uneventful and com
monplace hour is where the battle is
won or lost. Thank God for a new
truth, a beautiful idea, a glowing e
perience, but remember that unless
we bring it down to the ground and
teach it to walk with feet, work with
hands, and stand the strain of daily
life, we have worse than lost tive
have been hurt by it. A new light
in our heart makes an occasion-an
occasion is an opportunity--not for
building a tabernacle and feeling
thankful and looking back for a
blessed memory, but for shedding
the new light on the old path and
doing old duties with new inspira-
ton. The life is the child
of the common day lived in an un.
common way. One of the country's
leading merchants in addressing an
audience of young men, nee said:
Whatever may be your business in
life, my young friends, whether it be
in professional, mercantile, or me-
chanical pursuits, remember this:
that which you earnestly desire, will
doubtless come to you" This may
be considered a strong statement,
certainly, but it is one founded upon
the possibilities of the human char
Nacter. That which men earnestly de-
sire they labor to secure, and through
strong. preserving efforts, come the
realization of their wishes. The de-
sire that does not lead to action is
imperfect, but the desire that has the
strength of determination to conquer
is the one that wins.
The resolute mind knows no impos-
sibilities. Obstacles may come up, to
be sure, but the determined spirit
does not acknowledge that they are
insuperable. No difficulty is so try
and earnest, persistent effort the
man or woman of character will de
pend for success To each person,
duty comes daily, presenting to
everyone a cOuntenance more or less
forbidding. Often the right has the
appearance of a severe taskmasteT
and the wrong smiles much more be-
ing. but that there is a possibility
bewitchingly. The world may point to
evil and call it good, and friends
may offer their protests against a
course that conscience plainly pro-
nounce right. But duty never
waivers. 1t is true it sometimes
brings apparent impossibilities with
it, but whether these come in the ma.
ture of physical infirmities, inconve.
nience or u~npopularity, they must be
met. Then it is that the impossible
puts IN possibility, and found to be
merely brazen images chained by the
pathway of life.
The present year will probably
show a favorable increase in new
business enterprises, the o~utgrowth
of Negro brain, effort and finance.
Greater Kansas City will no doubt
come in for her share, as the Ne.
groes are catching the business spirit
and beginning to realize that they are
not white and have not come to the
point where conditions and necessity
alike demand more business for ouT
people, conducted by our people. The
Negro must take notice of the fact,
however, that no business is bust
ness, unless, conducted upon strictly
business principles. The white man
is courteous to a dog if he thinks he
has a dollar to spend, likewise the
Negro must not forget. that courtesy
is a valuable asset in the business
world. If the Negro is going to sell
groceries he must keep his store
clean and keep a general stock OF
staple goods and fresh meats and
vegetables, be courteous and do not
keep mustomers waiting -unnecessar
lily. The stockholders of business
concerns should not come to their
stores to transact their business
while the customers stand around
waiting to be served. The directors
meeting should consider all matters
having to do with the management
and conduct of business. There is
no mistake but that Negroes car sue
cessfully conduct any kind of bust
ness, and be %patronized by Negroes
who are glad to pay for what they
get. One great drawback to many