The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1920-03-06
LEISURE HOUR REFLECTIONS
FROM A QUIET CORNER.
BY Dennis S. Thompson.

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 ex-
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 o~ccasion-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, once 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 ome to YOU This may
be considered 4 strong statement,
certainly. but it is one founded upon
the possibilities of the human char
acter. 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 Il 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
i~nsuperable. No difficulty is so try.
and earnest, persistent effort the
man or woman Of character will de
pend for success. To each person
duty daily. presenting to
everyone a c~ountenance more or less
f%orbidding. Often the right has the
appearance OF a severe taskmastel
) and the wrong smiles much more be
ing, but that there is a possibility
bewitChingly. The world may point t
= evil and call il good, and friends
/ may offer their protests against
course that conscience plainly pro
S ounce right. But duty neye
[ waivers. 1t is true il sometime
brings apparent impossibilities witt
it, but whether these come in the ma
ture Of physical infirmities, inconve
nience or u~npopularity, they must b
met. Then it is that the impossible
puts on possibility, and found to b
merely brazen images chained by tn
pathway of life.
. The present year will probabl
I show 4 favorable increase in me-
business enterprises, the outgrowt
of Negro brain, effort and financ,
Greater Kansas City will no dout
come in for her share, as the N
groeS are catching the business spir
and beginning to realize hat they al
not white and have not come to II
point where conditions and necessit
alike demand more business for OIL
people, conducted by our people. TIL
Negro must take notice of the fac
however. that no business is bus
ness, unless, conducted upon strict
business principles. The white ma
is courteous to a dog if he thinks b
has a dollar to spend, likewise tn
Negro aus not forget, that courtes
is a valuable asset in the bushes
world. If the Negro is going TO Sc
groceries he must keep his stoI
clean and keep a general stock
staple goods and fresh meats an
vegetables, be courteous and do NJ
keep mustomers waiting u~nnecessa
lily. The stockholders OF busine!
> concerns should not come to the
= stores to transact their bushes
while the customers stand arour
waiting to be served. The director
meeting should consider all matter