Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-06-16
For the Reporter. f...
ALI for the Wan of Knowing One
Another.

HOW many tenQer "reminiscences OF
friendship have been flung to oblivio n
and forever lost, through the agency OF
bad apprehension OF Of false friends
The story of Mondel is one of interest
Poor Mondel, alas! betrayed, aban-
doned, forsaken and disappointed by
the beau-ideal of his hearts best honl-
age, through the envy and malignity of
those who could not bear to see a hap
py union consummated-a man of gen.
ius and poet-he sank to suicides
grave. Having lost his best friend, of
what account to him was life? Bat the
rupture that divorced two hearts and
forced Mondel forever from Columbia,
only illustrates the title of this article
all for the want of knowing one anoth-
er The attachment had been mutual
and Of the most friendly kind. But
enemies were restless and vigilant.-
Treachery came to their aid, and Mon
del was torn forever from the Fidus
Achates of his being Her angel smile
never more greeted him, save only
among those forms which cluster around
our midnight visions. The sequel of
the story is soon told. Mondel died Of
Prussic acid. 1t might be more prop
erly stated that he died from the effects
of well-continued conspiracy.
These reflections will lead us to ven
ture a few thoughts on the characteris-
ties Of true friendship. There is, in
deed, much in the world that passes for
friendship which has no claim to the
name. 1t is not blind devotion, with
out any regard to its real production or
ultimate aim. 1t is a soul swayed to-
wards the deserving, and is based on
the principles Of deep and sound virtue.
Pure friendship is not the creature of a
moment. 1t fourishes progressively,
and is attended by mutual respect and
a concurrence of circumstances which
forward it's maturity. 1t is an offering
of the minds best homa ge-the hearts
sincerest devotion. And as it requires
time for it's firm establishment, so, when
it finds it's home in the souls affections,
it is like the gnarled oak that throws it's
huge arms towards the skies in defiance
Of the tempest; it will remain firm to
it's purpose. Not like the angry whirl-
wind, turbulent and fiuctuating; it is
calm, determined, and never deserts an
object worthy Of its regard in the day
Of trial and adversely. It is striking
characteristic of this virtue that, while
whatever is falsely called friendship, is
detected and seen In its own repulsive
gai,b, this resplendent quality shines
the brightest. A conspicuous example
of this is witnessed in the story Of Da-
yid and Jonathan. Nor is the person.
al interest the primary and only motive
of this interesting attribute of human
ity. While it stimulates to gratitude
for the conferment of all favors, it looks
above the allurements of gain. 1t is
the voluntary love of the heart called
into exercise by the intercourses of life.
The alliances Of friendship result only
from strong and tender emotions, guild
ed by the understanding. Friendship
is also positively free from all the coarse
and debasing passions of the mind. 1t
inspires the heart with the simplicity Of
mutual confidence, and opens the ave-
nues Of free communication. 1t is the
warmth Of all aD-pervading sensibility
within the heart, and is acted out in
numberless ways. Pure and elevating,
while all mankind are not equally the
objects of its complacency, all are truly
the subjects of its impassioned benevo-
lence.
Neither is friendship confined within
the sphere of any favored class. II is
not within the halls of pride, nor the
cabinets of princes-amid emblems of
display-at the billiard-table-in "the
song and the Dance nor while listen
inc to the softest strains of melody, that
friendship springs up the most sponta-
neously. 1t cannot be superseded by
the scantiness of worldly interests Of
ten is it that profusion of worldly pos
sessions deadens the tender susceptible
tiles of the heart, and generates spir-
it of morbid selfshness, while hard for
tune, disappointment and poverty are
productive of all the finer feelings of
which the mind is capable: SO friend
ship is not dependent upon worldly
gifts nor external appearances. It's i'm
passioned influence comes from the
depths Of the heart, and is not repelled
by any obstructions where there is a
consciousness of substantial worth.
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