The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-29
SEEKING SYMPArnv
How One of the Sweetest Sentjmo,.. =,
Life Is Frequently Abused


Among the desires that Sometimes
claim satisfaction, without regard ~
the happiness of others, is that of svm-
pathy. Now, of all the pleasures Of
life sympathy would seem to he
one of the sweetest and purest II
unites brethren and friends in the
closest bonds; it lifts burdens. sootbes
sorrow, multiplies joys and promotes
human brotherhood. Flowing nat,,r-
ally from warm and loving hearts into
grateful ones, it blesses both giyer 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-resnect
Yet this benefcent factor in human
life is not unfrequently abused by those
who selishly seek it. Not to mention
those who try to awaken it in others
for the sake of the material benefit
which may come to them, there is a
large class of people who crave il for
its own sake as 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 pitying them,
and the more sympathetic paE%S--f
can induce their friends and neigbon
to feel the better satisfied they ae. So
sweet a morsel do they find thistO be
that they treasure every ament,
so as to recount it; they dwell
upon their disappointment, their
trials, and their woes, cherishg the
memory Of them to pour themnto the
ears of every willing listener and to
compel him to feel something of the
suffering which they so diffusly pOr-
tray as their own. OF coue this
process leads insensibly to gret exag-
geratiOn. Such is the actor of the
mind, that whatever is dwelt uon eX-
clusively assumes magnifed 0ropor-
tions; and a slight headache c other
physical discomfort. which night be
forgotten amid pressing interets, may
become almost unbearable uen al
lowed to occupy all the tbughts.
Much more is this the case witlmental
anXieties or troubles, and, e they
slight or severe, the habit of tooding
over them always aIgments thar hard
ship. In recounting them to on whose
sympathy is hoped for the tenency to
fun ther eXaggeration is increaed, and
very often the listener is mad to feel
sympathetic pain, which really
far greater than that which hs been
inflicted for his benefit. Certaily moth
ing could iniure the cause of the sym
pathy more than such fraudulent and
mean attempts to obtain it. 1t power
lies in its perfect freedom ana in the
reality of the suffering whichit seeks
to relieve. When it is wasted N sham
Affections or drawn out by selfish
angling for it, there will always be a
reaction and a hardening of the heart
Much sympathy is thus crushed out o.
existence that would otherwise 'ug's e
manently active in blessing the woiG
Those who seek in this way for
sympathy in all their real and fancied
troubles are adding to the distress
of human life, instead of to its 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 a 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. y 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 ne would not stive to
obtain, but which he was always will
ing to bestow, will be extendeaS1Tes
and unasked, and he will gratefully
receive all the comfort and cheer which
it so plentifully bears. -PbiLadelphta
Ledger.
Wife and Home Maker.
GTTba moot 1arfact borna I o..