New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-08
FRIENDSHIP---ITS VIRTUES.
A SERMON TO THE STUDENTS AT vAssAR
PRESIDENT cALDwELL's ANALYsIs-THE WEAKNESS
OF sENTIMRNTAIIsM.

PRESIDENT CALDWELLS ANALY51S-THE WEAKNESS
OF sENTIMrNTALrsM.
PoUGHKEEPsIE, June 1.-THE Baccalaureate
sermon preached at yassar College this morning by
President Caldwell. His text Proverbs xvii II;
" Iron sharpeneth iron a sharpeneth the coun-
tenance OF his friend" Among other things he said:
Human civilizations very much product OF the hui
man hand. And in its way the human face quite as
wonderful. 1t is the attractive, the striking
the significant part of the human person. The hand
shows intelligence in its The face shows 1t In its
look. The hand is dexterous. The face is moral. The
beauty intelligence, spirituality sweetness OF the coun-
enance compensate for deormity elsewhere Out OF it,
and through 1t the soul radiates II is not simply so
many square inches Of the body II Is the expression OF
mind. In It we tho man woman and though 1t
may mask character sometimes IL Is generally revea-
ton OF what is within. II the front and open portal,
the public and central space. where always look to
find person. It's scowls and smiles, its bushes, Its
tears placidty disturbance tell what Is within
What the human face would be, what expression II
would in entire solitude, If it never looked upon
another face, II II felt the sight OF another, we
hardly know Iron sharpens iron II is the touch. the
rubbing together, the magnetism OF congenh and re-
spOnsiye looks the min Cling and delighted contact OF
human beings with each other which make much OF
the profit and JOY OF life.
Of friendship shall speak to-day. The praise Of
friendship autedates these Proverbs Of solomon,
and has been spoken by poets and moralsts in all times
II seems to belong its intense and heroic types
to other people and times and perhaps to the ancient
world rather than the modern. Some races seem more
capable of it, OF its imprisoned and absorbing exhi-
billions. 1t seems to be difficult in the moro COM
pick relations Of modern life 1t requires earlier and
less conventional OF society. Such attachments as
those of David and Jonathan, Hester and Pyades
Achilles and Patrocus. Nisus and Earyalus in the
ninth Eneii, belong to simpler times than ours
And yet the lyric poem Of tho nineteenth century
is such commcmoratOn OF friendship is such an elegy
over a friend deaf his prime" as all the
earlier literature OF the world does not contain.
In prasng TIA virtue do forget the Of solitude
mischief of much society. OF Difference anu de-
pendence For the formation Of character OF opinions,
must retire haDtutlly into the company OF his own
thoughts aud fall back upon himself He may suffer from
for counsel for support. even for SYMPATHY 49,
This is the OF friendship. Il duplicates life. 1t an
nexes other being to 1t mulplies existence. We
I've in other lives. and "a many as We nave friends III
and divides Joys and sorrows. Lord Bacon says: One
thing Ia most admirable, which Ia, that this communl-
clng himself To his friend WORKS two contrary et-
frcts, redoubeth joys and cuteth grefs In half
For there nparteth his JOYS to hs friend put
he enioyeth the more, and man that imparteth his
for stimulus AMI for restraint we'll II helps Keep the
balance for us both by avce aud by example by checK
aud 10y impulse. We lind both check ana inspiration
In our Friendships We see IN our iIiend second sell
lie without words Influences uS fOr we ASH no" enis
aud that Will seem 10 him. l know there may DC
friendship in evil though cannot last long or 90 very
deep. But friendship ia gooI qmckenS tne virtue Oh
both parties our friend becomes not only our inspector
example. lie becomes an argument 10 All klus
OF goodness For we feel that what OF IL We nave may
become his byl participation and excitement And
y Ts ssaS We seek Everything good for both
says Jeremy Taylor: Friendship Ia tie alloy OF our
SORROWS the PASSIONS the discharge or our
Oppres ions the sanctuary to our ca ahites te co-
Ne or Of our doubts the clarity OF minds, the enls
Of thoughts, the exercise ana Improvements Vi
Truth is the foundation of all intercourse between
l. Is the necessary cement OF socleti'
without certain OF it society would be inpos,l-
be- ana would fee from each other In dstrusI Orny
IN self-
by euuence called society, and under it, conven-
tonacs under polite aud fair guise- that duplcy,
nslucerfy find cover Not that ciVll manners
and crtty OF speech and social Difference not the
necessary oil of thr machinery Not tht II we are
have society at all there must not be poehess In to
manner whatever may IA the heart But simplicity,
and sincerity and GOOD faith and courage or one, con-
yctions word. truth between people whenever they
brought together wherever mana, or hearts touen
each other. in whatever hOspltaltles III Whatever
relations. need not disturb The ORDER or the
pleasure OF society," but be really ia Vitll co
he sion "A well a. sweet and durable charm Better
Vanished precn>ioB, and polite lhslhcerily ah"
Friendship Is too delicate a thing be sifted in
sieve and pat undrI microscope. IL lives by gcneros-
y and too precise weighing OF virtues ana faults
It cannot insist upon perfection, or - dsapponted
and waues IL loses It's and charm when friend
SUBJECTS friend to much criticism ami does not gem
uuC Npltiued To- confidence aud charty. MY Tlenu
most excellent and precious not because ne
- altogether but because he my friend And yet
Is A weakness OF many friendships, ana not un-
known within these walls. There sentimental and
romantic friendships. which are like the early dew very
g,ttrrtug and very cvanrscent. S.ntmentallsm any
thing is weakness. And friendship must nave time as
well 10 season and rpcn IT, says ArisOte IL requires
moreover time ani habit The proyerj is rue which says
people hardly know each other Wen before nav
ug together bushels OF SALT Fora true riehdship
wakes when a ntlmenta aud rOniintlc ono wanes IL
grows with knowledge aud strengthens ITSELF with
offices or mutual trust and help.