Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1898-08-11
By MARGARET HANNIs.

NHE was quite girl, anu sue ldAAeu
y yery enthusiastically to a lot of
other girls about "Platonic friendship"
That is an old theme-yes, ever since
the DAYS of Plato himself men and
women have discussed it; particularly
women. You will find that it is true,
if YOU stop a moment to think about
II. that men do not talk much about this
sort of regard for each other-between
men and women, | mean. Plato's great
est number of converts are women.
You will also find that the man who
talks most about Platonic friendship
has been educated along that line, or has
first had the notion put into his head
by a woman.
But to return to the girl who one
dav talked to a lot of other girls about
this sort of friendship.
All the other girls listened to her In
tently. She was a superior sort OF girl
1t is only such a one that can attract
the attention of other girls. She was
"co-ed," which made her all the more
interesting to the other girls who were
not "co-eds,' but thought what love
". Jolly thing it must be to be one
The "co-ed" girl was bright and
broiny and healthy. She had studied
as hard as any student who was not
bnrdened with trailing skirts ard be-
ruf1cd bodices, and many times had car
ried off honors that these same other
students. minus the referred-to badges
Of fcmiuinity, envied her. Her cheeks
boomed and her eyes sparkled and sh'
was good to look upon. With all he
ability and little out of the ordinar,
advantages, she was not masculine
Had she been, that would have spolle'
II all, As it was, she was very charm
ing advocate Of poor old Plato's philos
opny. She could reckon her "Platonlc
friends in goodly numbers, for thes
admirers of the "co-ed" girl told then
selves that it was long way troI
. being unpleasant, even this sort OF PM
osophicaily regulated devotion to tn
[ scored"
r Rut there was one out of all this nun
n her that, had Mr.. Plato been about, b
o would have shaken his head over an
4 said: "Mv dear child, far from stiel
n ing close to my teachings, and thu
4 keeping away from that wicked lit
a Cupid's way, you are getting nearer an
7 nearer to the danger and further awf
!. from what I would have" But Pla
II was not about. Lo! he had been dei
n these many years-before there w
such a thing thought of as a "co-e'
- girl. And so the girl never knew UNI
! but this is getting ahead of the stoT
- To this very particular "PlatoI
e" friend" "co-ed" told more of her atfal
than she did to any of the rest. Th
said over and over to themselves and
- each other that they were the most &C
q genial and mattcr-of-fact friends In
~ world. At least the "co-ed" girl 81
this unhesitatingly. She seemed
d have been the first to discover h
y "matter-of-fact" they were. And tn
II YOU know, the man on whom she Il
isbed this particular friendship fell
lg with her way Of thinking. Didn't
s., know from the first they were only T
"a tonic friends%" Well, don't know
think he admired the 'co-ed" girl VI
m much and felt little chill when phil
q ophy was brought to bear in the CT
But after the manner of men he t.
H his cue from the woman. Women
the leaders of men in matters OF
and friendship.
They talked of love and marria
\ and did not blush. When two are s
Young and do this, then Cupid gath
ND his arrows, let fall disappoir
ter or two, and seeks a spot WI
two say nothing Of marriage II
there is a ring ready to plight a Il
with. And so the scored" girl and
y man were never to be lovers.
coed" girl was quite sure that
tonic friendship was not only posi-
but ideal.
This was some time ago. The y
. have passed by. adding much to
coed" girls store Of knowledge,
adding also to her store Of womanlir
Her particular Platonic friend has n
failed. Even Plato himself must
been pleased TO see aman so much
his own heart.
There came a day when the man :
~ far away. Before parting be and
coed" girl talked it all over
happy they had been together fl
many years. and that if she, the 'cc
- girl. needed him, the Platonic frier
any time, that she must send for
g snd that he would come TO her, his
- lie sister" from the ends Of the e
- There was not even a good-by XII
wish there had bcsn--for though L
6aSs 1.ght properly Be- q part Of PA
2 T e.. friendship. this nrs Is even more
ti's- ticai thar The ors!nwhich Platota'
AGO r cannot lie said Of rs o. ths pr