The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-09-12
Mrs. browns Opinion.

What Is my opinion of enemiesp
One real good first-class enemy is
worth more to man or woman than
zen tender-footed friends. The indi-
vidual who does anything in this world
is bound 10 have opposition, more or
less bitter, and it may be set down as
an infallible rule, that he who has only
friends never does enough good to be
good, or enough bad to be bad. He Is
a negative quantity which has trinal
extension and nothing moro. He dis
places rs much atmosphere as man
of equal size, but the analogy ends
there. Bad enemies, malicious peo-
pie, mean, arc TO be feared, for they
are the worst kind of thieves. They
steal reputation, and reputation is
something they have no use for, them
selves, nor can they transfer 1t to any
has his usefulness, though. for Ills
enmity is so much more of a compli-
ment than his friendship. that respect
able people admire, more than ever,
the object of his abuse and spite. The
devil is tho arch enemy and he does
great mischief, but We have to have
him, for if there were no devil there
would be no divinity, and the world
would be a great mass of namby
pambyness. so utterly insipid that men
would invent sin TO give life little
tone and spice and make it endurable.
Enmity gives form and substance to
friendship, and true friendship Is tho
crown of human association.
What is my opinion of brothers being
attentive 10 their sistersp 1t has be-
como one of tho standard features Of
humor to remark about young men
being attentive to the sisters of some
other fellow, and l have never been
able to see it in the light of a compli-
ment to the young man of either side.
1t is certainly no compliment to the
young man who ncglects his own sister
for those of some other fellow, and 1t
is mono to the young man whose sisters
receive the attention of such man,
for, in the nature of things he Is going
to treat his wife as he treats his own
sisters who are careless of their BROTH
ers and give them no encouragement
to act toward them as gentlemen
should, 1 am glad to say that they are
lot ILC 4uCIO
are no women in the world who appre-
ciatc moro the attention of o young
man than sisters do of brothers. and
the average brother can, II he desires,
be an absolute monarch over his sisters.
and they never discover it. They
make the most charming slaves in the
world, and they never show tho pecu-
liar independence of the wife. be she
as much rs she may the vassal of her
heart The usages of society and hui
mainly compel a man to show certain
subservient Difference to his mother
and wife, but the sister has no such
claim. She Is his sister. and even the
common gallantry Of the stronger to
the weaker sex Is denied her on the
very ground of her relation to him.
That Is the argument at least and So
ciety to great extent recognizes it.
Therefore, il II young man throws aside
his alleged privileges and treats MS
sister as equal to his wife or mother.
and superior to any other woman, she
feels that he is the best fellow in the
world and she Is not going to give
him second place anywhere. Young
men. If you don't believe what I'm
telling you, just try it once and learn
the truth for yourself.-Merchant- Trap
eLer