The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-10-07
I Written for the Democrat Star.
WHAT FRIENDSHIP MEANS.

"Oh be my friend and teach me to be thine"
When we have accompliie this
we have sounded the keynoteCl fe.
Not in ambition, not in riches, not in
glory, not in pleasure, not in passion,
but in the priceless thing called
friendship lies our real advancement
and happiness.
"Oh be my friend and teach me to be thine,
Behold my spirit! Guide it. teach it, strengthen It,
Many are born to love, but few arc
born with the capacity for a perfect
friendship. Happy the soul who can
say to one other soul:
"Forevcr with my sacred kin.
My souls soul must own you,
Great souls, by instinct, to each other turn.
Demand alliance and in friendship burn
And though great souls most real.
izc this need, il is, nevertheless, Il
universal need Of the human race.
Perhaps no term has ever been more
abused than the divine term "Friend-
ship" Perhaps no people were ever
more mistaken than those who call
themselves "Friends."
When Eliza Ann drops in Of IL Mon
day morning before the house Is
straight, and informs you that your
beau was seen walking with Mary
Jane Smith last Sabbath eve, and tells
You this because IN your friend, and
don't want the town to be making
game of you; when the maiden aunt,
immaculate and specialized, adm0n-
ishcs you that your gridile cakes are
tough, in a tone that would put IA bar.
rel organ to shame, and that you are
by no means credit to the family,
supplcmenting her remarks with:
Now you know, dear, l tell you this
not because l want to be critical, but
because I'm your friend"
When your girl chum urges you to
give her your solemn word of honor on
"A stack of bibles that you won't get
mad If she tells you something, and
forthwith announces that your new
Sunday meeting gown is awfu!ly
old fashioned, and "Berlinda Haw-
kins, who is just from the city, says
you are nothing but country gawk,
finishing up in the rid way: "You
mustn't mind, dear; | only say it tC
be friendly; one is not much to blame
il the term friendship seems void OF
all its native lovclincss, aud one may
Justly, If somewhat irreverently, ex'
claim: "Deliver me from my friends
my enemies l can look to myself"
Some peoples friendship is like
dose Of Quiuine taken without the cap
sule - wholesome, necessary, wei
meant, doubtless; and a certain pre-
ventivc of the mental "big-hcad,
but inducing u sort Of shivers, meta
pllorically speaking, along the pa
tient's spine, which any one who ha'
felt the curious tingling down tin
backbone produced by some folks
friendly remarks, are apt to drca'
more than the malaria.
Friends there are, again, or rathc
so-callcd friends, who deem themselve
invested with divine right thereby
to regulate yourself and househol
,, from the amount Of paragoric to b
given to the baby, down to the nun
Der of potatoes to be cooked for dir
ner. ANY resentment Of such despol
ism On your part would be locked upo
|, by them as black ingratitudc for thel
r friendly interest, and dire lack
, appreciation OF friendly advice.
Friends there are, likewise, wi,
r come to stay; friends from up I'll
Z country who are destitute Of all thing
save babies and an appetite, and VIII
seem to think that rhe primiti'
Christian system Of 'cunmunit
4 rights" still exists, and to consid'
i their ncighbors bread and milk tho
own. Friends, these, who come
stay. Sticking plaster, itself, or WI
cox's famous porous, Is not half so I
nacious. They arrive about seven
the morning, unhitch the family co..
and not until tho evening star u a.
Inv It's best to wink them into scn'
OF the proprieties, do they pack "
bag and baggage, leaving behind the'
y a dcarth Of catablcs. after the man
: per OF the locusts Of Palestine. Friend
they sre-droppers in-with IN a6no
{ NAL capacity for preserves. Friend
who i@bibe tea 10 such quantities