The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-09-29
sEeL!so SYMPATHY.



How One OF Tho Sweetest Sentiments Of
Life IL Frequently Abused.
Among the desires that sometimes
claim satisfaction. without regard to
the happiness Of others, is that of sym
pathy. Now, OF all tho pleasures OF
life sympathy would seem to be
one OF the sweetest and purest. II
unites brethren and friends in the
closest bonds; it lifts burdens, soothes
sorrow, multiplies joys and promotes
human brotherhood. Flowing natur-
ally from warm and loving hearts into
grateful ones, 1t blesses both giver and
receiver, 1t is the living spark which
kindles all sorts OF benevolent enter
prises, builds hospitals, schools and
churches, promotes reforms, draws
men away from vice and guides them
into paths OF virtue and self-respect.
Yet this benefcent factor in human
life Is not unfrequently abused by those
who selfishly seek 1t. Not to mention
those who try to awaken 1t in others
for the sake OF the material benefit
which may come to them, there is q
large class OF people who crave 1t for
Its own sake as u sort of indulgence,
which they think they must have at
whatever cost to others. They are
never content unless some one is con-
doing with them and plying them,
and the more sympathetic pain they
can induce their friends and neighbors
to feel the better satisfied they are. So
sweet a morsel do they find this to be
that they treasure every ailment.
80 as to recount it; they dwell
upon their disappointments, their
trials. and their woes, cherishing the
memory of them to pour them into the
ears OF every willing listener, and to
compel him to feel something OF the
suffering which they so diffusely por-
tray as their own. OF course this
process leads insensibly to great exag-
geration. Such is the action OF the
mind, that whatever is dwelt upon ex-
clusively assumes magnified propor-
tions; and slight headache or other
physical discomfort. which might be
forgotten amid pressing interests. may
become almost unbearable when al
lowed to occupy all the thoughts.
Much more is this the case with mental
anxieties or troubles, and. be they
slight or severe, the habit of brooding
over them always augments their hard
ship. In recounting them to one whose
sympathy is hoped for the tendency to
fun ther exaggeration is increased, and
very often the listener is made to feel
a sympathetic pain, which is really
far greater than that which has been
inflicted for his benefit. Certainly moth
ing could injure the cause of true SYM
pathy more than such fraudulent and
mean attempts to obtain it. Its power
lies in its perfect freedom and in the
reality of the suffering which it seeks
to relieve. When it is wasted on sham
affections or drawn out by selfish
angling for it, there will always be a
reaction and IL hardening of the heart.
Much sympathy is thus crushed out of
existence that would otherwise be per.
manently active in blessing the world.
l.
sympathy in all their real and fancied
troubles are adding to the distress
of human life, instead Of to it's happi-
ness. When they meet with any good
fortune they seldom call upon others to
rejoice with them. Their joys they
are content to monopolize, but their
troubles of every kind they want to
share. With one of generous and
noble spirit it would be exactly the re-
verse. He would bury his griefs in
his own bosom, hide his pain when
ever it was possible, be mostly silent
about his diseases, his disappoint-
ments, his annoyances, his trials; but,
on the other hand, he would delight
in emphasizing all that was glad and
beautiful and bright, that others, too,
might partake of his pleasure. Mon
taigne says: II daily endeavor to
shake off that childish humor and in
humane conceit which causeth that by
our griefs and pains we ever desire to
move our friends to compassion and
sorrow for us, and with a kind OF
sympathy to condole our miseries and
passions. A man should, as much
as he can, set forth and extend his
joy; but, to the utmost OF his power,
suppress and abridge his sorrow" :"
There are enough clouds in every life
to make each generous person anxious
not to increase them by, adding his
own, but to chase them away, as far as
possible, by spreading abroad all the
sunshine that enters into his life to
cheer and bless mankind. And the
sympathy which he would not strive to
obtain, but which he was always will
ing to bcstow, will be extended free
and unasked, and he will gratefully
receive all the comfort and cheer which
it so plentifully bears.-Philadelphia
Ledger.
How They We're Colored.