Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-07-13
Value ueofFrfends.

Our enjoyment in this world is very
much determined by our friendships. -
No Individual is happy who does not
possess friends. He may become Cree
sus-rich, hold the title to many houses
and grounds, carry on an extensive
trade, and order regiments Of eBlpt0yes
to do his bidding, and without friends
he will be a discontented, comfortless
man. Our Maker designed that friend
ships should be a great source of pleas
ure. Whoever does not enjoy that
pleasure falls short of the destiny which
God intended for him. g There is moth
ing, /" wrote M0nfaigne, ''to which ma
ture seems 50 much to have inclined us
as to society," Meander ofOld declared
sshim to be happy that had the good
fortune to meet with but the shadow o
a friend" Aristotle used to say that
'tgood Legislators have more respect to
friendship than to justice" Without
friends, says Bacon, 'sthe world is but a
wilderness, No recipe openethf the
heart but a true friend, toswhom you
may inpart griefs, joys, fears, hopes,
suspicious c0unselS,, and whatever
ieth upon the heart to oppress it. No
man imparteth- his joys to his friend,
but he iOyeth the more; and no man
imparteth his griefs to his friend, but
he grieveth the less. Friendship ma
keith, indeed, a fair day in the affec-
tions, from storm and tempests; bat it
maketh daylight in the understanding,
out of darkness and confusion oftho'ts." !"
And in another connection, Bacon OBJ
serves: s'The best way to represent to
life the manifold uses of friendship, is
to cast and see how many things there
are which man cannot do himself; and
then it will appear that itwas sparing
speech of the ancients to say, that a
friend is another himself; for that a
friend is far more than himself" No
two men were placed in positions
where they could better appreciate the
value of true friendship than Montaigne
and Bacon. They have written from
experience. ragraST .sYit9a.u5ai b.
By how much we withdraw ourselves
from the companionship and sympathy
of our, race, by so much are we liable to
become selfish and morose. Profound
melancholy did not settle upon Cha
teaubriand until he had wholly retired
from the world. After shutting him
self up so long in his walden shanty,"
it is not surprising that Thoreau should
have come to speak of his fellow-men
as vulgar mortals, and sour on human
ity generally. No one must expect to
obtain happiness by withdrawing him
selfinto his library or absorbing himself
wholly in business or professional pur-
suits. They will, of course, furnish
some enjoyment, but not of that order
which comes from a heart in sympathy
with those about him. ,.roT lfTsj-e n
When adyersitys and trials come,
then friends, as SO many know by expe-
rience, perform offices which no money
can secure. They are as balm to the
wounded breast, and bear up the faint
ing soul through Affections. Words of
solace fall from their lips, and they are
to us more precious than Jewels. 1t
should, therefore, be the aim of all per-
sons entering upon life to, make for
themselves circle of true friends, not
acquaintance who will drop you when
adversely comes, but fast, stauneh
friends, who will stand by you come
what may. Intimate relations should
be. established with those neighbors
whose companionship will beagreeable
and beneficial, and every opportunity
should be improved for bringing about
the era of good feeling which ought to
prevail in neighborhoeds and settle
ments. rs -lre sif, q. .7-,br fri-,5 Ifrrff