Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-07-21

ana ms was 1t: she wouId'Nvrite to th'
Platonic friend; she wou6i tell hin
how much she needed him. She did no.
care if he did "read between the lines
she rather hoped he would Why
shouldn't he guess what was really true
that she loved him? She knew that
he would not be sorry to know that she
did, for didn't she now realize how re.
luctantly he agreed that Platonic
friendship was altogether delightful
and that often there was n sort of sad
ness in his voice when he talked of their
future plans that were always separate
The "co-ed" girl for the first time In
months sang a blithe little air as she
sealed up her letter and took it to the
post Office. Before she dropped in she
asked for any letter that might have
come for her. There was one and it
said:
"My Dear Little Sister: When I come
home-which will be shortly will
bring with me one of the dearest girls
in the world. I say one of the dearest,
for you know have always regarded
you, and always shall, as peer among
women. Knowing you, has changed
for me the world of women. 1 have told
my wife that is to be all about you, and
she is prepared to think rs much of you
as do" ETC., etc.
The "co-ed" girl did not mail the let
ter she had written. She did not cry
when she got home. She folded the let
ter, with the one that she had sealed so
happily, and slipped it away. Thenshe
sat down and wrote another letter Of
hopes and good wishes for another
woman's future happiness. u will not
disappoint him. she said 81 was the
one who taught him to think as he did.
I changed the world of women for
him. That means that he once did not
believe that women could be true, and
brave and modest. Though may never
know the best of his love, I will never
lose his respect"
How do I know this story? The
"co-ed" girl told it to me herself, with
a little catch in her voice, but brave
light in her eyes. Why de I tell it?
Certainly not to prove that the belief
of wise old philosopher was all based
on thin air, for friendship such as he adj
vocated lived and fourshcd and will
live and flourish always. But it will not
thrive in every soil. To bear the perfect
fruit that Plato hoped for it, the soil
must be especially prepared, and that
is of the sort made up entirely Of Ger
tain circumstances. Plant the seed of
Platonic friendship in a heart that is
nel previously occupied and there is
bound to sproutup nothing in the world
but n crop Of ordinary, old-fashioned
love that is too commonplace to be asso-
cjated with philosophy.
Plato may be blamed for bringing
about much pnhappiness, but all have
nor been unhappy who have adopted his
philosophy. There have been men and
women the world over whose friend
ship has been SO strang and unselfsh
that the gods themselves might have
been capable of none more perfect. i
would be quite as unhappy state Of af-
fairs to have such friendships impos-
sible as it would be to rob the world
of ali such but these, No, do not tell
the 'co-cda girls story TO prove that
Plato was wrong. Wiser than ! have
pointed out the errors Of his philosophy
long years before this, and yet some
how it has not been killed, or suffered
very materially for its faulty and seapy
side being shown. Itch the storY-Wcll.
I tell il because know there are many
other women Ike the "co-ed" girl Tho
make the mistake OF thinking there are
higher things In the world than just
loving and being loved, only to wake
and find that after nj the rievFraet nay
feel lonely, particularly II The Clever
est" happen TO be women. Friendship
and love are excellent companions.
Where it Is possible to combine the two,
earth's ideality is added to,
The "co-ed" girl has not been over
whelmcG hy hcr mistake. She smiles
and says that now She is equipped TO be
the best Platonic friend in the world;
that she Is sure she can neYef make the
mistake again of confounding love and
friendship, And the man that she loved,
and who down in the depths of his
he0rt-though he does net know il
cares more for her than for any other
woman, is happy with his dear, unin-
tellectual little wife, and still talks over
his affairs With the "co-ed" girl, believ-
ing il is as "fellow never could with
his wife" Yet you could, my dear PA
tonic-friendship man, if your wife was
the right ssrt, apd the :ico-ed" girl
would have been that you. But Cupid
and philosophy invariably make a
acknowledgements Tannis, in ST. Louis
Republic.