Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-19
MITTELDORFER'S 21z east Broad street.

| Just that sort OF society IL we ara so,t
| of eating and drinking and smoking ara
| idling, we Will draw around US friends
| congenial and after our minds; pot com.
! panions, trencher friends Il wa
are wholly given TO trade and mon.y.
making, that style will run with us
And so down to tho lowest grades. whsre
manhood is hardly distinguish able from
| the brute; the level OF mere sensualI,v
And our low fellowships fence u, n
| to a range OF Ideas and tastes and wall
of those OF n higher and better STYLE
We are slaves 20 our surroundings.
Social gatherings. crowds. clubs ana
associations, breathe the same moral
and intellectual atmosphere, aeknoV'.
edge the Same conventonalities man
ners, and habits, words and Language
and social laws A common opinion and
fashion controls them. individuality
and self-respect are quenched. The
heart and mind are liveried and drilled
a la mode like the dress. The esprit du
corps of clubs and crowds and gather
ings of ambition and pleasure Is TO.
much TO brag OF.
Ideal friendship that contemplates true
life soon finds that its principles and
ideas are not 10 be had out In the mar
lSet or bought over the counter or IN the
declaration of independence, certain
assertion OF individual rights a certain
withdrawal from the crowd is necessary.
II sounds a little high 90 say:
I will not jump with the common spir-
its, or rank me with the barbarous null
titude.
That means only: I can't run with
crowds. crowd IS a crowd no matter
how II is made up; whether II be ~
kings or cardinals, congressman or row
dies; society people or palmer sort And
the bigger the crowd the lower and
commoner the average Of taste and
character and sense.
The great philosopher says: A man o,
understanding separateth himself, and
seeketh and intermeddleth with all wis
dom. And he who desires tho highest
and purest character will find himself
for awhile almost alone, and generally
antagonized. Blessed, indeed, are they
who find companions IN the pursuit OF
the very best things.-of divine truth
and human virtue. The idle world IS
very ready 20 catch and mark such as
after it's own style and brand them as
its own. besmirch them with IT'S folles,
and paint and poison and asphyxiate
and kill them with its honOrs and bland
ishments.
True friendships and high and honors-
BILE companionships owe their lives 20
their separation from the idle crowd.
Their communion and fellowship AMI
sweet intercourse IS on the high places
Of the earth; not the ambitious and
valnglorlous heights of science or phi
losophy, or the lofty levces OF fancy or
Imagination; but along the strong and
everlasting and royal highways OF truth
and GinparitU and devotion.
The highest, truest. and best literature
has its gardens and fountains and high
levels. that are full Of delight in which
honorable natures in common enjoyment
and pure sympathy enjoy light and lt3
and one another. as in a little paradise
In these little words o. sentiment, IN me
clear light Of truth, IN a springume ST.
warm and fragrant with pure and hon
est affection, and glttering with bright
thoughts, what trysung-place OF
friendship, what n communion OF saints.
or this style are all the best achieve
ments OF high classic literature. Pc
lures, statues, poetry, and prose are
trysting-places for high and h1norao.s
souls. They enjoy one another, IN me
common enjoyment OF excellent things.
Such enjoyment is on the way to Wof-
ship-the communion OF saints. KING
Solomon's love song pointed heaven"arH'
"a garden enclosed. n spring shut up
a fountain sealed. Thy plants az an
orchard Of pomegranites, with p.eashh.
fruits; camphor with spikcn2rd; spike
nard and saffron; calamus and CHINA
mon, with all trees OF frankincensa
myrrh and aloes, with all the cMti
spices. fountain Of gardens, a wen
OF living waters, and streams from l.e-
banon. Awake. north wind, and come
thou south. and blow upon my garden
that the spices thereof may flow OUT
And more splendid still is 81. Pal.s
level: We are come 10 Ut. Zion. 70
the City Of the Living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and 10 an innumerable com
pany OF angels. 20 the general Assembly
and church OF hrst-born. which gre
written in Heaven, and TO God tho judge
OF all, and 70 the spirits OF just men
made perfect
Evidently these are heights and Levels
for heads and hearts TO aspire AFTER
even within the horizon OF time