The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-13


Wrinkles.
1t is really a great blessing that we
cannot possibly know all the selfish
ness and little miserable traits of our
friends and acquaintance. The bliss
of ignorance is rather more to be de-
sired on this score than most others.
1t is such a comfort to be unshaken
in our belief in their infallibility, all
though of course most of us have a
Keen enough realization of our own
shortcomings to preclude too harsh
judgment on others. While it is pain
fully true that friendship is based
largely on an exchange of goods. it is
not the less an unpleasant revelation
when this fact is made too apparent.
Isn't it largely because of the wound
inflicted on our self conceit? We dis
like to discover that we have been
loved because of being a sort of social
lever or business promoter. or respect
ability voucher, or metaphorical mer-
ry-go-round for our friends. We are
not comfortable after making the dis
covery that they have a canny regard
for the carriage rides, the pleasant
entertainments, the little influence or
the small gifts we can bestow, and how
very unw!se it is for our friends to
admit to their friends that such is the
case, for we are certain to hear about
1t sooner or later and how pessimistic
1t does make us, to he sure. The mod
ern definition of gratitude is, you know,
"a lively sense of things hoped for"
but if only people would manage to
better conceal their appreciation of
this rendering we should all be so
much happier But they just won't.
There is always somebody to whom
they confess. I'VE don't care much
about him, you know, but then he's in
a position where he can do us a world
of good in the way of influence, and
OF course we must look out for our in
terests," or 1--WE daren't offend her,
you see, because she might do some
thing, write us up, or forget to praise
us, or go to encouraging our rivals, or
make us regret it in some way"
Isn't it horrid, and doesn't il cause
you to wish you had never thought Of
everything out of the world and had
given nothing in return? And just then
when this sort of mood begins to make
you perfectly wretched you suddenly
remember the dear, gentle, noble
friends you know are true, who would
love you just the same whether you
had or had not anything but love to
give in return, who honestly believe
that everything you say or do is just
too smart for anything, and whose
presence you always leave with a feel
ing that you must simply go home and
pat your own head with self approval.
Then you are glad you are alive after
all, decide that it is pretty nice world,
and it is good to be in it, Then the
memory of the others who may have
been after the loaves and fishes doesn't
leave as bad a taste in your mouth as
you feared it would, and as you
recall the small kindness you have
been able to do toward them, the
very remembrance of those kind
nesses is rather pleasant. You don't
regret the afternoon which you had
intended to spend in much needed
rest, but which instead you devoted to
hurrying about town endeavoring to
enlist interest in a struggling young
woman. even If she did afterward la
ment bitterly and speak harshly of you
because you tried to give a similar as
sistance to another young woman
equally deserving. 1t was exhibiting
much assurance on her part to imag-
inc she held the copyright for all your
good offices, and she was an ungrate-
full little Ounce, to be sure, but you did
take considerable pleasure'in the small
effort needed at the time and the
thought still warns your heart. You
don't absolutely regret the CHEEKY
smiles you used to bestoW on some
body, whom you afterward heard had
wronged you in thought and word.
The smile was for the friend you be-
lieved to be true. You do not feel that
you would take back the kindly praise
you once paid to the person who has
always misjudged you and regarded
you with disapproval. Your spoken
appreciation was delivered with JUS
tice. You don't even grieve to remem-
ber that you said kind things OF one
who was not at all worthy, and you
can actually laugh over the remarks
repeated to you by some enterprising
llltill W NllS NiltNN liidl u lduy SOu udu
always admired to an irrational de-
gree, had declared that you never wear
a gown that hangs well in the back.
Oh what a very dreary ard-tacky
world it would be If we really had to
believe that all our sweet, lovely dolls
are stuffed with sawdust, and care no
more for us than for the other people
who smile and give them tender lit
tie pats of affection.
Now / didn't start to say this at
all. What ! did intend to write and
know you are dying to read, is that a
pretty girl whose neck wasn't a Joy
forever has been trying the massage
treatment recommended in this col
umn three weeks ago and already she
comes to me with song of victory, for
the bones are miraculously disappear
ing. Fact, ! told you so / knew II
all the time and could rame you sew
eral other cases, only they beg me to
keep still and allow them to astonish
their friends at the first big dance.
Then, too, was intending to give a
great deal of good advice on wrinkles,
not wrinkles in the face, but other
kinds, and there were several ques-
tions to answer regarding the hands,
but, dear me, there have been so much
religion and so many more important
things TO look after this week that