Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1893-06-09
..FRIENDsHIP."
say NAupE sHuFELT.-

j. ,disinterested fri endship, Is q bright
sfua SA1isting none 81. s.:he Sdokc Of ashncss:
Friendship based entirely on sell, ends in deser-
ton the moment the selfish ends nre accom-
plished. Some one has said, "Whosoever Is
delighted In solitude Is either wild beast or .
8God." It is true that natural and secret
dislike and aversion to society resembles some
what the nature Of the savage beast; but 1t Is
doubtful whether 1t Is at all . characteristic OF
the divine nature: except it proceed not out of
pleasure in solitude, but out OF love and desire
70 sequester mans self for higher CONVERSE
ton. We cannot conceive how far solitude
extends for o crowd is not company and faces
are but gallery of pictures, and talk but
tinkling cymbal where there Is no love. See
the love of voltaire and Frederick the Great,t the
former man Of knowledge and understanding,
the latter man Of little culture, yet their
hearts were bound together with the silken
cord of friendship. No one can be happy with
out friend and no one con know what friends
he has until he is unhappy. The principal fruit
of friendship Is the ease and discharge OF the
fullness and swelling OF the heart which pos
sions cause. You may take flower OF sulphur
for the lungs, castoreum for the brain, but no
receipt will open the heart, but true friend to
whom you NAV impart your joys. griefs, fears,
hope and suspicious and whatever lies heavy up
on the heart to oppress it into confession. You
have seen how monarchs court the friendship
of their subjects, and even purchase 1t at the
hazard OF their own safety and greatness Is
there o more thrilling example Of love and
friendship than that which existed between
Damon and Pythias: You cannot gather the
fruits until you are capable. There Is true
enjoyment in that friendship which has its
source in the innocence and uprightness of o
true heart. Such pleasures do greatly sWeeten
life, easing it from many bitter burden. A
sympathizing heart finds an echo In sympathiz-
ing bosoms that brings back cheering music to
the spirit OF the lovliest The communicating
OF mans self to friend is admirable and has two
contrary effects, 1t redoubles joys and cuts
griefs into halves. II you impart your joys to
Q friend you feel happier, and II you tell your
griefs you relieve the burdened heart Of part of
its sorrow. The second fruits OF friendship
are more healthful and sovereign for the under
standing, as the first is for the affection Ifyour
mind is filed with many thoughts and wit II
you have friend to communicate with you,
you can toss your thoughts moreeasily and you
can see how they look when turned into words.
You become wiser yourself, so does your friend.
Themistocles said to the king Of Persia, 'that
speech was like the cloth Of Arras opened and
put abroad. So imagery does appear in figure
and in thought they lie but as in packs. You
might Us well he n statue rs to suffer your
thoughts to pass into smother. The proverb,
s.Dry light is even best" is like the knowledge
one person receives from another. 1t is dried
and purer than that which comes from your
own understanding and judgement There Is
as much difference between the counsels OF
friend and that which you can give ourself, as
thereis between the counsel of friend and
fatterer There is no such flatterer as q mans
self and there is no remedy so good as the liberty
of friend. Friendship is like an apple, it grows
better as it ripens. The love OF Romeo anc
Juliet elevated their souls, so can friendship
elevate two hearts. Friends who happily walk
the same path cheer and strengthen each other,
share their joys and divide their burdens.
oh, that friendship. that true loving friendship,
Trusting, confiding, communion 1t brings;
1t cheers up the soul, it gladdens the heart,
Aud drives away sorrows on magical wings.