The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-10-05
p III II T. NJ LOG Y.
ADHESIVENESS.

ADHtolN LNESS
Friendship: the Social feeling: love oil
Society: desire and ability to form at
( tachments, congregate, associate, WIS.,
il and entertain friends, sc.
IF man had been created lonely, un-
social, solitary being, nearly half his
faculties, having nothing to excite them
to action, would have lain dormant, and
the balance have been but feebIy exer-
cised The activity of every faculty in
one, naturally eXcites The same faculty
in those around him. Hence, without
the element of Friendship, to bring man
kind together into associations, neighbour
hoods, families, SC. they could have had
no opportunity for the exercise of Lam
guage, Ambition, Imitation, and many
other faculties, and little for that of
Kindness, Justice, &c.; and all the re-
mander would have been far less eff
cient and p!easurable than now. With
out this arrangement, partnerships,
and those public and private works which
require the combined labor and resources
of more than one individual for their COM
pleton, would have remained unknown,
and the selfish propensities have render
ed all men Ishmaelites; turning every
mans hand against his neighbor, render
ing each most hateful to all; kindling
rising jeaousies, animosities, &C., into
burning flames, and Tor ever bIotting out
the pleasant smile of glowing friendship
the cordial greeting of old associates
the hearty shake of the hand, and that
silent flow of perpetual happiness which
springs from being in the company Of
those we like.
This faculty casts into the shade the
modern ceremony Of fol NAL introductions,
and WAITING for the last call to be return
ed, or letter answered. 1t should be in
constant action, and therefore, lonely
travellers should while away their tedious
hours by opening at once the portals of
their hearts, engaging freelv in CONVEX
sation, and scraping acquaintance at
first sight. Still, intimate friendships
should be formed judisiops'y; for, it is
most powerful means of intellectual and
moral elevation or degradation. Young
people in particular, (though they should
form speaking acquaintance and pass
ing friendships readily, to which they are
strongly predisposed,) should, neverthe-
less, be careful how they make conf
dants and bosom friends.
The youmg form attachments much
more readily than those who are older,
partly because the latter become harden
ed by frequent disappointments in finding
supposed friends unfaithful, and partly
because they have been longer separated
from the friends Of their youth. This
bunting of the fine, glowing feelings Of
friendship, is certainly most unfortunate.
Friendship should be regarded as most
Sacred and never to be trified with. Do
almost any thing else sooner than violate
this feeling; and let friends bear and
forbear much, at least, until they are Ger
tain that supposed injury or unjust re-
mark was premediated; and then, when
friendship is thus violated, think no more
of your former friend, not even enough
to nate him. Dwell not upon the inju-
ries done to you, but banish them as you
do him from your mind, and let him be
to you as though you had never known
him; for, dcella"g upon broken faith only
still farther lacerates and blunts or sears
the feeling Of genuine friendship. New
er form friendships where there is any
danger of their being broken, and never
break them unless the occasion is most
aggravating and Intentionally given; but
rather let friends try to make up little
differences as soon as possible.
These remarks apply with redoubled
power to members of the same familg.-
Let parents cultivate affection for one
another in their children, and let broth
ers and sisters separate as little as pos
sibIe, correspond much, and never allow
a breach to be made in their attachments.
Add continually new fuel to the old fire
of family friendship. Let tho right of
hospitality be extended more often than
it now is, and let friends entertain friends