Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1902-05-01
SINGER FRIENDSHIP.
Something Ttscr and Deeper Than
the Mere Etshange Of social or
Busins BE- CourtesIes.

There is no ri in the English lam
! guage which I Oftencr misused an
misconstrued ban that Of friend"
The definitions given by the diction-
aries are broad, nd cover many phases
of social intercpurse, yet precedence
is Invariably give 20 a relation where
genuine affectiob Is the underlying
motive, and il is j. that especial sense
that the word aufeals 20 us There is
in this earthly III Of ours no gift we
can receive which compares with that
Of sincere friendSbip ON the part OF
| others, or of and her even, for our
selves. The man pr woman who can
rest secure In thclpossession of even
| one disinterested friend, one who will
love and trust and serve and defend,
however appearance may be against
one, is rich indeed, And life should hold
for such a never filling source of
strength and inspiration, writes Eliza
beth Robbins Berry n Boston Budget.
To be what our frhnd believes us TO
be, and strive 20 achifye that Of which
he thinks us capable, is the best pos
sible impetus, and how strong we are
even when generally Misunderstood
and blamed, with ourhighest motives
misconstrued, and our best efforts
proved OF no avail-vhat a sense OF
satisfaction we experience, in the
thought that the one friend under
stands, approves, sympathizes.
IL Is sometimes n little difficult for
time 10 distinguish the false friend
from the true. When all is moving
smoothly, when fortune smiles upon
us, when our efforts are successful,
and we have gained the applause of
the multitude, then friends co flock
about us, and our cup Of happiness
seems for q time 10 be full. But the
day of adversely comes, ones star OF
popular favoritism wanes, and all ones
acts are doubted, and we seem to be
left almost alone, save for the one in
dividual whose friendship shines forth
as does a diamond Of wondrous purity
from an unrelieved background OF
sable velvet.
IL may be said that all persons do not
possess even one such friend. and such
statement Is. no doubt, true. Such
friendship cannot be made 10 order.
There must be capability OF re-
Spouse to such a noble sentiment in
one who would inspire II, and true
friendship is largely intuitiye. Some
one has said that the genuine friend
is discovered, not made, and the state
t. r. l.. sv.4 4 l.
predestined by Complementary quail
ties Of mind and heart TO become
friends, there comes n day Of meeting,
and soul responds TO soul instirctively,
without the preliminary Of gradual ac-
quaintance or the exchange OF social
credentials.
Sex plays no part in the highest
form of friendship. IL may exist be.
tween man and man, or woman and
woman, or between those OF opposite
sex. The biographies Of many men
who have achieved positions ~ RAJ.
hence show that the friendship of
some woman Of superior character
and attainment was n source of in
spiration and encouragement, and
that. too. oftentimes. without any ad.
mixture OF sentiment. Many women.
too. owe their mental and spiritual
awakening 20 some male friend who
discovered in them capabilities Of
which they were themselves UNI.
aware.
Even love itself depends for per-
petuity upon having a strong founda-
ton of sterling friendship. Friend
ship is love without it's wings" When
a man and woman elect to spend their
lives together, there must be some
thing stronger than mere attraction
II hey would avoid disaster Physical
charms will fade, and when the roman
tic glamour becomes a thing OF the
past. and the realities Of life must be
faced, without sentiment or disguise,
only the sincerest ard most reliable
Of friendship will bear the strain sue
cessfully. The happiest homes are
those where husband and wife cooper
ate heartily in all that concerns the
best welfare Of each, where they are
comrades, supporters, friends.