The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-10-14
TERMs.J $1.00 per year. in advance
Six Months so cents.
Written for The Prison MurOr.
FRIENDSHIP.

FR1ENOSH1P.
Among nations as we'll as individuals
it is noticeable fact that the bonds
which unite each with the other con.
tain very little of the essence of true
friendship. Approximately speaking,
there is universal tendency between
the civilized countries toward mutual
understanding closely bordering upon
friendship; but it is only thin veneer,
hastily constructed for temporary &C.
commodation. Today the nations are
almost unit for peace and harmony;
commerce is carried on with volume
and extent that has never before been
equaled, and each potentate is lavishly
profuse in promises Of peace to per-
petuate this feeling of friendship that
is so advantageous to both. But be-
meath this thin crust there rankles a
feeling of jealousy and distrust of each
other that equals that of the early
frontier trader in dealing with the
natives. After smoking the pipe of
peace, each would watch the other with
vigilant eye.
This is fair comparison of the sit
uation existing between the civilized
nations of today. Each watches the
other like the eagle on the heights
watches its prey in the valley beneath.
Every perceptible change in war ar
mament or number of battleships is
noted and commented upon. The an
nexing of territory abutting their re-
spective countries is strenuously OBJ
jected to by the rest for no other reason
than that the acquisition of an island
or so increases their power and affiu-
ence as nation.
With nations so it is with individuals.
On every hand the eye may behold un-
mistakable evidences of the human
race to cultivate friendship and gain
the esteem of one another. The busi-
ness man, the professional man, the
mechanic, and even the laboring man
are each desirous of maintaining the
friendship of those whom their occu-
patton brings them in contact with.
But, as general rule, there are COM
paratively few lasting friendships
formed friendships that will equally
stand adversity as we'll as prosperity.
We all know this to be fact and that
each individual will not hesitate on
account of friendship if he can thereby
advance his social position or enrich
himself.
Bacon says that "There is little
friendship in this world This is
drawing the line rather close but nev-
ertheless we believe that this statement
is true. Take young man of good
social standing with a generous bank
account, and his friendship is eagerly
sought by both sexes. Like the dis
mantIed ship at sea, though, he is
abandoned when financial ruin engulfs
him. Notwithstanding the fact that
his former friends were wealthy and in
position to extend material assist
ance, very few feel inclined to do so.
The indiscretions he committed while
enjoying the luxuries of life, are now
magniied to such proportions as to
make him appear as one of the most
villainOus men on earth.
Friendships are usually formed on
account of the mutual advantages that
are directly or indirectly of some ben
eft to those interested. We know that
it is difficult matter to maintain a
respectable regard for one whose con-
versation and actions are incompatible
with our own. We also know that
when this friendship becomes strained
that it is much easier to criticise and
speak sneeringly of our enemy, and,
Sherlock Holmes like, detect flaws
where before appeared only the pure
gem.
We have seen by close observation
that it makes no difference how many
friends man may have, he will find
that when the day of financial ruin or
disgrace arrives, he must depend upon
his own resources and energy to over
come the difficulty. JASPER.