Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-07-21
Ideal Friendship-Part 8.


lrenched in ice which with an hours heat
Dissolves to water and doth lose his form.
Shakespeare.
Friendship among mortals is often born
OF interest, and nursed and kept alive by the
hope of profit. 1t is too much made mere
commodity; thing of barter and exchange.
l spend my money at your store, and your
kindness is ELUSIVE: | use my liberty, and
deal with another, and your smile fades like
the color of plant stricken by sudden
frost. Yet the same man, with the same
virtues and faults, and the same well wisher
to yourself; wishing, however, to include
Others in my kindly feeling, having heart
large enough to hold more than one. Search
keenly your own mind, and you will see
that it was not the man you valued, but his
trade. Those who honestly despise the very
name of politician largely initiate those
shrewd manipulators by trafficking in the
hottest feelings. Their use of sacred terms
is veriest PROCLAMATION. Your good neigh
Dor could lend you money, or belriend your
interests, or divide with your need, or nurse
your sick but your friend wants to hold
you TO his heart, feel the quickening OF your
pulse when your hands and eyes meet;
wants TO realize the depth and breadth of
that mystery which makes you two in heart,
in mind, in feeling, onel Intensified and ex-
tended this is the divine idea OF marriage.
The two are one. There are no longer two
separate minds, or separate bodies there
are no distinct principles, or rights; indi-
Vidual identity is swallowed up in unity,
and existence, itself, is no longer dual but
single | am not Of course, speaking OF
what we see all around US, the actual, the
perversion, the wretched farce, the horrid
tragedy; but of Gods ordination, the decree,
the contamination, which forever makes
"twain one flesh" DemoraliZed law makers,
at the dictation and under the ever increas-
ing influence OF the male woman, legislate
TO thwart the eternal purpose, giving prop
erty rights to the so.called vile which bar the
control of her lawful husband, constituting
her the manager of her own business, while
sharing fully in all the results of his labor.
That is to say, here is a female who "loves"-
great Sir Walter Scottl-"lOves" a man well
enough to surrender to him her person, but
loves herself too well to trust him with her
property The Lord preserve all good men
from such loving womenl
CovetOusness, avarice, sell qualification,
prostitute the holy name. The divine gilt
OF beauty has been the villains snare, which,
betrayed, like the child's ruined toy with
disgust is thrown away. The momentary
amusement and wicked use have been gain
with beauty, so with wealth, and like en-
dowments, which often prove bitter curse.
While the light remained the moths fitted
about it extnguished, the insects OF an hour
were gone Any man can have sunshine
friends provided he has the means to buy
and hold them. But it behooves him to
heed the warning OF blind old Milton, when
he makes Samson Agonlstes say
Now by my own experience, not by talk,
How counterfeit a coin they are who friends
Bear in their superscrption
In prosperous days
They swarm, but in adverse withdraw their
head,
Not to be found, though sought.
What an entire reversal of conditions, as to
supply OF means, the same result of aban.
donment may be witnessed. Ia not dis
tant city, a young man inherited vast
fortune. Gambler, drinker, and whatever
else belongs to such course, he squandered
without stint upon horde of boon com
panions. Last winter, he died, quite young,
To give ecIdt TO the funeral, 1t was alleged,
every available carriage in the city was
hired. watched the long procession. -Four
or five of the vehicles were filled; all the
rest were empty. Now that debauchery
was at an end why follow the rotting corpse
to the gravep Yet that poor wretch had
counted his friends" by the score. Who
will learn? Nobody
What's the use of having friend, il you
do not use him? That is hoary saying, ut
tered oft in merriment, without thought OF
the serious application OF the idea. Uni
versally, proverbs are the product OF ex-
perience. Some particular trait, or charac-
teristic, or practice, observed In human
nature, or sequence OF its activities, whether
TO approve or to condemn, originated the
expression which fits given case. Only
the truth gains and holds permanent posses
sion of human credit Belief is created and
perpetuated because first one man, and then
another has seen, felt, realized the same
thing; the conviction spreads, gathering force
through the ages A lie is doomed TO death
from the instant it is spoken. It's career
may be long, its conquests mighty, Its vota-
ries countless; but they and it are doomed.
Emerson says, nothing will avail to keep
fact a fact. That is true of the historical,
in many instances of the physical, OF what |
is affected by progress, and the changes that |
follow upon il; but he does not apply the |
word to those eternal verties that are not |
subject to modification or destruction. II |
was ages since noted that men used the per
sons regarded by them as friends" and that |
in their serviceableness their chief merit was |
considered to lie. Exactly the reverse oc.
ours 10 case of genuine friendship. There |
is then great delcacy in accepting proffered |
services. The refined nature takes alarm
lest the image on the mind suffer deiace-
ment, and the prince throned in the heart
abase himself with the form oil a servant. |
am not willing to inflict pain, load with
burdens, ask gifts for self, from my hearts
treasure, my ideal. A less sacred one shall
meet the exigence, fulfill the need. My
fTSend is set apart 10 my love
MANY mistake an attitude like this for
false dependence. That kind of affecta-
ton must be very weak and foolish; for, IN
this world, there is no such thing as indie
pendence The ennobIing sent which
distinguishes kings is not founded on money.
That is base thing, intended Tor service.
We live in world where things are not
az the best would have them, but where our
very life is in partial subsection TO a base
rule against which we rebel. Proud spirits
and we have no interest in nor concern for
the craven-depend for purchase upon their
purse. That is considered the best friend
any man ever had in this world, when he
had 10 90 10 market; and most things In
this world are for sale IL the purse Is empty,
the proud know how 10 nerve them for de-
NAL. No whit will they surrender Of the
OF what they are, without re-
lation TO what they hdOe Strong pride
marks nature capable oil deep feeling and
great actions such as have 1t not hate the
character because they lack IL and are
themselves despised for that same lack
Poor and proud Is better than rich and
servile. Real friendship is affected by