The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-01-11
Choosing Friends.

FRIENDS should De 1eW-tnaG Is, tnOSo
whom we would retain as bosom-friends;
and they should be those on whom we
can depend, for some firm and solid
reason other than a mere sentiment,
which may be changed and altered by
more powerful motives; for any feeling
that is based on sentiment only, and has
no solid reasons to support it, must in
time altar as that fact becomes apparent.
There are few who can enter into b
deep and earnest friendship which David
so feelingly describes as between him
and Jonathan: 'Thy love to me was
wonderful, passing the love of women"
A mans duties and everyday work
would, in many cases., preclude him
from cementing friendships of so close
and sacred a character. Time or oppor-
tunity might not admit of his commune
eating and interchangihg thoughts, feel
ings, and ideas which would be neces-
sary to insure and foster them. But he
may be on terms of friendship in differ
emit stages and degrees with every fellow
creature with whom he comes in con-
tact. 1t is not too much to say that there
is some spark of goodness even in the
most degraded of our race, and, there
fore, it should be the anxious endeavor
of every one DESTROYS of obtaining friend
Lship to find the common ground of asso-
citation between himself and his fellow
man; to claim it and cherish it, and gain
a friend on that n ground, if all beside
should proclaim rather an enmity-but
which a friendly nature would be care
full not to declare in an %unfriendly way.
So in all our troubles and cares, our anx-
ieties and m~isfortunes, u pleasures.
our Joys, our successes, we would have a
multitude of sympathizing friends, and
they would be real friends in the degree
that we have thoughts in common, and
by the common tie and feeling we could
always claim them. We should not mis-
take as friends mere acquaintance OF
whom we know nothing; or familiar
faces. The chances are that there are
many whose names we do not even
know, more firmly united to us in friend
ship by the bonds of common feeling,
hopes and inspirations, than those to
whom we are accustomed to bid s'good-
morrow" True friendship is a noble
thing. and there are many instances of
its perfection.
Some one may say: But what is the
use of friendship? 1t is this the inter-
mingling of ideas and affections with
each other, which, if fully carried out,
would bind humanity with an encircling
cord, rendering wars and tumults i'm
possible, and the diffusion of the arts of
peace and domestic comfort more prac-
ticable. In the narrower sphere of in
dividuals, as Bacon says: 1T is the ease
and discharge of the fullness and SWELL
ings of the heart which passions of all
kinds cause and induce; for as there are
diseases of stoppings and ~suffocations
most dangerous to the body, so are there
also to the mind. We take medicine for
the one; but no receipt openeth the heart
like a true friend, to whom you may
impart griefs, joys. fears. hopes. suspi-
cions, counsels and whatever lies upon
the heart to Cypress it, in a kind of civil
shrift or confession" The loss of for
tune often is the forerunner of the loss
of "friends," so called, but who in real
ity are none; merely attendants on for
tune, and for whom, if we acted wisely,
we should have no other feeling except
of pity. And to guard against such dis
aster, let us remember that it is no the
the fawning professor who is most likely
to prove the {" friend in need"
Friendship real and true is that which
suffers even death for its friend; that no
hardship or trial or adversely can shake
off, using plain and outspoken admoni-
tions and warnings in prosperity. and
kind and gentle advice and assistance in
Observation-Disclosures Jr"~p1L.