Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-08-17
COMRADESHlP.

SO StlIiiulttIuS anu 50 piedSuidDic dS
comradeship. 1t implies tie less per-
manent than that of kinship, less eX-
acting than that of friendship. less
momentous than that of marriage.
Yet ii may enter into any or all of
these relations. SweeteninS the life and
strengthening the bond. while its eX
istence may be almost independent Of
any other tie.
Among the ia, tors which combine to
form what we call good comradeship
two are prominent: first. some degree
OF similarity in taste and pursuit, and
second. sufficient congeniality TO rem
der the society of each Il mutual
pleasure. If either of these be absent,
there may be numberleSs afiinities and
alliances. but never that of comrade-
ship. Two men, for example. are part
ners in business: they are united in IA
single object, in which their interests
are alike; their hopes and fears and
solicitudes are the same; they work
together earnestly and long: yet out.
side Of this work they have no desire
for each others company, they are not
drawn together by any mutual attrac-
ton, neither possesses any charm for
the other. and although they may
agree in opinions and methods. and be
excellent partners, they never can be-
come comrades in the full sense of the
word. ON the other hand, two people
may have sincere affection for each
other. and derive much pleasure from
each others society. yet having no
common pursuit. and no taste in uni
son. they also fail TO fill the role OF
comradc. There are brothers and sis
terS. lovers and friends. husbands and
wives, affeCtionate and loyal. but who
from total dissimilarity of pursuits and
tastes. and the lack uf that imaginatil m
which is the root of sympathy. can
never be comrades To each other. Only
where these two elements combine
can this particular relation bc IN
stituted
II may exist in Il very limited or in
very expanded sense. it may he a
transient or permanent condition.
TWO men Congenial to each other. and
having even a single mutual taste. may
Crafty it together. They may fish or
hunt. botani2c or climb. explore or in
1estigate: for the time being they
prove excellent comrades. Thi, over.
they may part. each going III a scpar-
ate direction and following different
pursuits. Nor is this relation by any
means injured by its transient nature
ihc sam" possibility always remain
ing. II may ut any tim" be renewed
with fresh zest. There are friends
who may not meet for years. but when
at length hand clasps hand the spirit
"i good comradeship animates them
both. and they gladly unite in what
ever can make il practical. Some
times. also. the favoring conditions
may continue uninterruptedIy for
Years. and thus many delightful com
raIeships last through life
There is. however one thing in this
relation which is rather UNIQUE. and
mat is that it can cocNist with almost
any other. and when present will al
ways enhance the happiness which
iioWs from it. 1t was an unustlul b,,t
Il most delightful affinity that existed
between father and his Young
daughter mich caused him To call her
his little comrade." The name was a
significant one. Not only were they
bound together by patcrnal ana tiliaI
'''N' put WIG. shared tdcN other <
rambles and rides they talked and
sang and played together: they each
participated in the others glad or
serious moods. ana all this. not in a
spirit of CondeSCcnSion on his part or
OBJECT on hers. but in simple and hap
py sincerity on both. Could more of
this spirit exist among parents and
children. the niutlIal confidence and
happiness that would ensue would be a
tar better safeguard for our youth
than all the most rigid restraints that
could be devised There are many Of
Tar less disparity in years ana habits
ana tone of thought related to each
other by kinship or friendship. or even
marriage itself that closest of all ties
who lose half the joys of life by
having no comradeship with each
other. Brothers and sisters who have
constant companions in youth. grow
apart in later years: friends lose the
chief flavor of their affections by in
difference to each others cher shel
pursuits: husba nds absorbed in bust
nes. lose interest in their wives
affairs and wives. equally absorbed in
in the nursery and the Kitchen or
OutSlue engagements. forget to sym
pathize in the concerns which are all
in all to their husbands Few persons
appreciate the wealth of happiness
that they loose themselves and With
hold from those near and dear to them
by this lack of comradeship. No one
means to do this. bnt thousands
drift into it unaU ares. The necessary
division of labor is. Of course. respon-
sible for some Of it: but to far great
er extent il proceeds from thought
lessness or a selfishness which shuts
us out from the interests of one anOth-
er.
Especially is this the case in regard
to tn" pleasures and recreations which
one finds delightful, another finds ted;-
Gus and another regards with con
tempt There are some worthy people
mot 50 many now as in the days Of our
Puritan forefathers) who are conscien-
tious in the path Of duty which they Law
out for themselves: who are honest and
truthful and Industrious: who fnlhl the
relations of life as they understand
them. and who are kind to the sorrowful
l0I. .ftVI