The Red Cloud chief., 1888-09-28

SEEKING sympathy.
How Ono Of the Sweetest Sentiments Q
Lifo Is Frequently Abused.
: Among the desires that sometime
claim satisfaction. without regard Il
the happiness of others, is that of sym
pathy. Now, of all the pleasures o
life sympathy would seem to b.
one OF the sweetest and purest. 1
unites brethren and friends in thu
closest bonds: it lifts burdens, sOOthe:
sorrow. multiplies joys and promote:
human brotherhood. Flowing natur
ally from warm and loving hearts into
grateful ones. it blesses both giver and
receiver. 1t is the living spark which
kindlcs 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 bcneficent 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 com to them. there is a
large class of people who rave it for
its own sake as 4 sort of indulgence.
which they think they must have at
whatever eos: to others. They arc
eve content unless some one is cor
doing with them and plying them,
and the more sympathetic pain they
a induce their friends and neighbOrs
to feel the better satisfied they are. SO
sweet a mo-scl do they find this to be
that they treasure every ailment.
SO as 10 recount it.: they dwell
upon their disappointments. their
trials. and their woes. c%herishing tho
memory OF them to pour them into tho
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 inseIsibly TO great exaS-
geratiOn. SGcn is the action of the
mind. that whatever is dwelt upon OK
clusivciy ssunes magnified prOpOr-
tions: and a slight headache or other
physical discomfort. which might be
forgotten amid pressing interests. may
become almost uHbearable when al
lowed to occupy all the thoughts.
Much more IS this the case with mental
anXi"tici Or troubles. and. be they
sligin o.. seer. the habit of brOOding
sverth: always judgments their hard
hip. In %recounting them to one whose
sympathy is hoped for the tendency to
further eXaEgeratiOn 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 TO- his benefit. Certainly moth !
ing could iIjure the cause of true SYM
pathy more than such fraudulent and
meal attempts to obtain it. Its power
lies in its perfect freedom and in the
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 a hardening Of the heart.
Much sympathy is thus crushed out of
existence that would otherwise be per-
manentiy active in blessing the world.
who see., 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
they seldom call upon others to
with them. Their joys they
are content to monopOlize. but their
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 " bosom. hide his pain when
ever it was possible, be mostly silent
about his diseases. his disappoint-
his annOyances. his trials; but.
IN the other hand. he would delight
emphasizing all that was glad and
beautiful and bright. that others. too.
might partake OF his pleasure. Mon
says: Il daily endeavOr to
shake off that childish humor and in
humane conceit which causeth thai by
I'll SIIciS dIIu pains " cScT ucSlTc W
our friends to compassion and
for us. and with a kind Of
'yrlpa thy to cOndOle our miseries and
PASSIONS. A man should, as much
IS he can. set forth and extend his
but. to the utmost OF his power.
and abridge his sorrow"
There are enough clouds in every life
o make each generous person anxious
rot to increase them by adding his
,wn. but to chase them away. as far as
by spreading abroad all the /:
that enters into his life to
and bless mankind. And the i.
ympathy which he would not strive to
,btain, but which he was always will !
NJ to bcstow, will be extended free :
md unasked. and he will gratefully :.
all the comfort and cheer which .
t so pIentifully bears.-hi2adelpiid I,
+:
Wife and Home Maker. a
..'Th. most perfect home l ever saw Z