The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-02-13

v sOnnets to the British peO-
pie in the early part of. the1
eighteenth century, he dedicated this
admirable sentiment to friendship:
IA generous friendship no cold
medium knows,
Burns with one love, with one
resentment glOws."
On down thru the dark vista of the
ages poets have immortslized the glO-
ries of friendship; it has been sung by
sougsters, written of by essayists, and
preached Of by philosophers and the
clergy for thousands of years. CoHfu-
cius expatiated on its;power, and Jesus
the Christ exalted it on pinnacle to
which the human race is ever striving !
to attain. "Love thy neighbor as thy
self," is the quintessence of steadfast.
answering friendship; and SO long as
the world endures the foregoing senti-
ment will echo among the archieves of
mems minds. NhyY Because it rep
reaents what is just and honorable in
the lives of the greatest and the mean
est of us.
The ancient Spartans were noted for
their supremacy in the art of war, and
to speak of Sparta without mention
ing her noted lswgiver, Lycurgus, is
sacrilegiOus. But Sparta was also fa-
NOUS for her philosophers, her states
men, and her learned scholars. Altho
iieved in. the value of friendship -us
strongly as any race of people that
ever cultivated the peaceful arts of q
pastoral life. Chilo, one. of Sparta's
eminent sons, contributed this jewel to
&he laurel wreath entwined about the
brow of friendship: "Let your friend
ship be more conspicuous in adversely
than in prosperity" All, what q mag
nifceut sentiment! 1t is SO cOura-
xeOasIy expressed that the Spartan
davor still ciings to it. 1t is in adj
versity that friendship performs its
most exalted offices, for it is then,
amid the frowns of the rabble and the
accusing demonstration of .enemies,
that one needs true friends. I'm
doubtedly Chilo had experienced the
cruel pangs of adversely and knew the
value of aifriend in such crisis. Ad.
versity is the acid that not only tests
our metal, but tests the bonds OF
friendship as nothing else can.
We all have friends. We could not
be happy without them. Who has not
admired the fidelity aud absolute con
fidence which Damon had in his frlenc
Pythiasp Their loyalty towards eact
other 10 the admiration of the world
and it symbolizes the superlative de
gree of friendship. 1t was not char
acterizsd BY treachery on the part o
either; nor was each trying to under
mine the prestige of the other when
ever they had slight misunderstood
ing. No matter whether they .wer
together or separate their friendsl.i
was juet the same. The same is tru
OF the friendship that existed betwee
Alexander the Great and his teacher
companion, and friend, Aristotl'
While Alexander was following tn
strenuous life in Asia and signing fl
more worlds to conquer, he never fOl
got his friend who remained behint
Aristotle was;a great lover of nature
and as Alexander travelled hither an
thither, he aiways managed to discove
some unknown bug or flower wit
which to delight the gentle heart {
Aristotle, who valued more high
such testimonials of Alexander's frien'
ship than if he had conferred upo
him the chief command Of his invinc
bic army.
II there were no friendshipssin tn
world there would be no con6denc
and If there was no confidence the
would be Q radical adjustment in Il
commerciafworld. The basic prime
pies of society are founded upon Il
mutual and harmonious relations
each of its units. Destroy this unitil
bond and chaos would take plae
The nations Of the world, like Il
aborigines of old, would be at "
with each other. Yes, there must
friendships in this world between n