The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-06-20
KEEP FRIENDS.
Make as Many New Ones as You
Possibly Can.

4USSlVIy Ndus
ELLA Wheeler Wilcox has written
many bright and true things, both in
prose and poetry. Here is one of her
best, which lately appeared in the
Cincinnati Enquirer:
DO not be a tyrant over your
friends, and do not for one instant
submit to petty tyranny of your
friends guised under the mask of great
devotion. a social favorite in a
western town, Il woman of position
and means, contided her troubles to
me one day.
Il have a coZy home,' she said,
''where l can entertain only few
friends at a time. My dining room is
small, and l never like to ask more
than four or five people at one time.
My little entertainments are simple,
and intended only to keep alive the
social interests of life. to cement old
ties and create some new ones; for
have learned that unless we make
new friends as we so along we are
by and by very lonely. as the mile
stones by the wayside mark the
graves of old friends
well, instead of ccmenting old ties
of friendship. l seem to be in con-
tinual hot water. Friends who hear
of my last entertainment, lunch. din
der, breakfast or musical. to which
they We're not invited. are grieved or
angry, even if they were present at
the one preceding it. or are already
asked to the one to follow. 1t seems
so unreasonable.
ut is because they are so fond Of
me, am told; but such an expression
of love is very annoying, l must con-
fess'
Now. this woman's experience is
typical of that of many another. She
should ignore the attitude her
"friends" take, and go serenely upon
her way.
1t is self-love-vanity-
which is wounded in these people
not love or friendship.
The real friend understands, and
does not need explanations of such oc-
currences.
The real friend is not Jealous" not
suspicious" not sensitive" upon
small provocation.
Jealousy exists over and over i'll a
thousand hateful forms in people who
are incapable of love. Some of the
most narrow-minded, cold-hearted and
unloving people ever knew have been
reservoirs of jealousy.
The people capable of deep, broad,
abiding friendship are never Jealous.
They would feel an insult or an in
tended hurt, of course, but they are
not looking for injuries and Sights
continually 1t is curious thing that
people of great conceit are vet Oft
times wholly lacking in that self
respect which makes an individual
realize that his place i'll his friends
life cannot be usurped or filled by an
other.
No one can be your friend just
what YOU are. Some one may be as
much iii another way, but not your
way. and YOU could not fill that others
place if you tried.
Ii your dearest friend We're to drop
all other friends to please you. You
could not fill their places-yOu could
only fill your own.
Just as if you took all the books OH
a shelf in library save one-that
book would not fill the vacant places;
or if you pulled up all the flowers i'll
the garden save one-the one remain
ING would be only itself.
Fill your own place in your friends
lifc-.,nd fill it we'll. But do not at
tempt to dominate her other Friends
ships. nor allow another to dominate
or interfere in your life.
There is nothing worthy or noble i'll
such a feeling. and it needs crushing
ont wherever it is found-in yourself
~>fh