The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-06-10
pamom and Pythia.

=. &c one OF the oldest Of philosophical
.s,,s,,ons whether true friendship. In
~ nsna, sense OF the word, can exist De- |
ssrean man and woman. It Is easy 70 see
tha, there must be certain elements IN sNcn
sifectIons as we are discussing not re'efso'e
.I;rec,ly to love, and yet dfstioct from an!
thing 70 be observed 10 ordinary fr'enesn,Ps
NJ men for men or women for women. IL
i,npossible for gentleman 10 DC iohu VI
woman and forget that he IS "a Reaeensn'
He carries the ga!lsntry OF all ma sIauu-
fathers in his mind and heart ane manner.
No more than Don Qnixote can ne d,Vest
himself of certain detefehce Vo"aIu cue
Cow He wesrs cloth and not iTon, car
S;as a cane instead of lance, goes
IN hat and not helmet, does
NOT know gulcs from q Jesse, plays
mon no instrument Of music, reads no TO-
,,.nces. freuuentS no tourneys-yet he Is
knight still, and kni9bsly 70 all his ways.
We wonder sometimes Whether the idea oil
the protection by the stronger Of the weaker
will ever utterly disappear from our social
arrangements. 1t shows itself in the street,
the street-car, ibe drawIiag.room to-day a.
MAINLY as il was seen OF Old in Spain or l6
Provence. As a LAST "reminiscences OF careful
manners, man still takes of his bat
10 woman. and all women, though
they NAV deny it, are pleased with the
attention. And so in q mans friendly inter.
course with ladies', fair or not fair, Is ne not,
metapboricaily spesxiDg, always taxing on
his hatc The platforms have not reformed
Us out of that pretty custom yet. But there
are so MANY pure aud innocen; pleasures out
or which the fright Of 8 great scandal may
cheat us that II seems really worth While TO
revise our iudgmen', and to inquire II here.
after we must 20 about 10 mail OF perpetual
precaution, rs courtly and stately as SIR
Charles Grandson, as apprehens!ve ana Vigl.
liant as Panels, thus making the dance OF
life one long mioute!
Now. let US at once eliminate from this dis
cussion all fools, knaves, blsckSnaros. nirts,
ravscing wolves, and silly little lambs. Let
mo mt ourselves upon our honor, and re-
member that We are responsible to God and
our own souls for our good behavior. Seye-
raj things In this age of general disbelief we
continue to beiieve'ip, and aroDg them are
the nprity Of woman and the honor Of man.
We are old-fashioned enough TO think that
not ONLY is il best TO be right ar to do right,
hut that considerable portion OF our fellow.
creatures are Of the same mind, both IN
theory and practice, so far as natural lDbrGl.
ity of will and of conscience may permit.
We have heretofore discussed the friend.
shin CT men for men. That which they
NAV entertain for women must, of course, be
modified by obvious considerations and. as
TO many matters, it must be d'vested OF eX-
IRENE familiarity. Still, we are not sure
that this does not give to it one OF its charms.
To man tired of the toll and hustle OF life's
endless collisions good woman offers a
new atmosphere, and the ministry of her
softpess and quiet, of her self.abnegatlon and
sympathy. She is outside The fields OF bat.
1Ie. She protIers change of association, and
u change for the better. Her voice, manners,
gentle ways; her wonderfully Intelligent
sympathies and CO immunity OF tastes; her fe'
mipine methods of thought, snd intultlonS
which are q perpetual surprise; her nndins
and uncoutaminated nature-all these make
her friendship such rs mans cannot be and
ought not TO be. 1t is different. but for that
reason it is not le:s but more delightful. It.
value in the economy of life is incompula
ble-it is recreation, rest, encouragement,
and stimulus. A great many OF these
honorable associations are never formed,
and many of them are reluctantly
abandoned because the world pleases to
he laxative. When shall we begin
TO have a little more confidence in the virtue,
self.respect, religion, and torbearance OF one
another! Why should Damon be forced TO
give up his pleasant evenings with Pytha
because silly people wag their heads and
look wise. and whisper: ave could an
we would" Isit, then, concluded and SET
tied that there is nothing true and honora-
BILE left on earthy If those who affirm this
did but know bali the mischief which
they are thus doing, not only to themselves
bit Others, might they not possibly stop
talking for at least quarter OF an hour?-
Netp York Tribune.