Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-10-07
APLATONIC FRIENDSHIP
BY MARGARET HANNlS.
CHE was quite a girl, and she talked

[ L was quite girl, anu Snc tdlhcb
y very 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 II; particularly
women. You will find that il is true,
if you stop a moment to think about
il, that men do not talk much about this
sort of regard for each other-between
men and women, l 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 10 return TO the girl who one
day talked to a lot of other girls about
This sort OF friendship.
All the other girls listened 10 her in
tently. She was a superior sort Of girl
II is only such a one that can attract
the attention of other girls. She was
a coed" which made her all the more
interesting 10 the other girls who were
not "co-eds," but thought what a love
". Jolly thing il must be 10 be one.
The "co-ed" girl was bright and
brainy and healthy. She had studied
as hard as any student who was not
burdened with trailing skirts and be-
ruflled bodices, and many times had car
ried off honors that these same other
students. minus the referrcd-to badges
OF fcmininity, envied her. Her checks
bloomed and her eyes sparkled and she
was good 10 look upon. With all her
ability and little out of the ordinary
advantages. she was not masculine.
Had she been, that would have spoiled
ii all. As il was. She was very charm
ing advocate Of poor old Plato's philos-
ophy. She could reckon her "Platcnic'
friends in goodly numbers, for these
admirers of the coed girl told them
selves that il was long way from
being unpleasant. even this sort Of phil
osophically regulated devotion to the
"co-ed."
But there was one out OF all this num-
Der that, had Mr.. Plato been about, he
would have shaken his head over and
said: "My dear child, far from stick
ing close TO my teachings. and thus
keeping away from that wicked little
Cupid's way, you are getting nearer and
nearer 10 the danger and further away
from what l would have But Plato
was not about. Lo. he had been dead
these many years-before there was
such thing thought Of as coed
girl And so the girl never knew until
but this is getting ahead of the story.
To this very particular "Platonic
friend" "co-ed" told more OF her affairs
than she did 70 any of the rest. They
said over and over 20 themselves and 10
each other that they were the most con-
genial and mattcr-of-fact friends in the
world. At least the "cO-Cd' girl said
this unhesitatingly. She seemed 20
have been the first 70 discover how
"matter-of-fact" they we're And then,
YOU know, the man on whom she Law
ished this particular friendship fell in
with her way of thinking. Didn't he
know from the first they were only 'Pla-
tonic friends?'" Well, don't know. I
think he admired the "co-ed" girl very
much and felt little chill when philos-
ophy was brought 20 bear in the case.
But after the manner Of men he took
his cue from the woman. Women are
the leaders of men in matters OF love
and friendship.
They talked OF love and marriage,
and did not blush. When two are still
young and do this, then Cupid gathers
up his arrows, let fall a disappointed
ter or two, and seeks a spot where
two say nothing of marriage until
there is a ring ready 10 plight a troth
with. And so the "co-ed" girl and the
man were never TO be lovers. The
coed" girl was quite sure that Pla-
tonic friendship was not only possible,
but ideal.
This was some time ago. The years
have passed by. adding much 10 the
"co-ed" girls store Of knowledge, but
adding also TO her store Of womanliness.
Her particular Platonic friend has never
failed. Even Plato himself must have
been pleased 10 see man so much after
his own heart.
There came day when the man went
far away. Before parting he and the
"co-ed" girl talked it all overflow
happy they had been together for so
many years, and that il she. the "co-ed"
girl, needed him, the Platonic friend. at
any time, that she must send for him,
snd that he would come 10 her. his Tit
tie sister" from the ends Of the Garth.
There was not even n good-bv kiss
wish there had bcen-for though kisses
might properly be n part Of Platonic
friendship this age is even more prac-
teal than the ein which Platotaught.
II cannot be said OF MS Of the preRept