The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08
EVENING CHAT
BY RUTH CAMERON

This is little talk on unnecessary
enemies. Have you any of that kind ?
Maybe you thought that all enemies
were alike.
But they aren't, by any means.
Enemies should be divided into two
cIasses-necessary enemies, of which
we have reason to be proud, and I'M
necessary enemies, of which we ought
to be thoroughly ashamed.
heard some one the other day re-
preaching a girl for saying a thought
less thing that made an enemy for her.
81 wouldn't think much of anyone
who went through life without max
ing enemies" she retorted. I think
character. The greatest people, the
men who have been in advance OF
their times have always had the most
enemies
Quite true. But not at all JUSTIN
! cation for her.
| For though to be great is to nave
enemies, to have many enemies is not
necessarily sign of greatness.
| People are often apt to confuse the
| incidentals of greatness with its in
| herent signs in this way. For m
stance, I have even known people who
were proud of their bad handwriting
because so many geniuses have been
| poor penmen-
| rs it so bad. then, to be rhisunder-
stood? Pythagoras was m1sunder-
stood. and Socrates and Jesus, ana
Luther, and Copernicus and cameo,
and Newton, and every pure and wise
spirit that ever took flesh. 10 De
great is to be misunderstood
! But he did not. mean, as so many
! impatient young people are apt 70
think that to be misunderstood is to
| be great.
The man who makes an enemy be-
cause he stands for some belief, some
principle, some reform, has right to
| be proud of that enemy, to regard him
| as one of the highest honors he has
won.
The man who makes an enemy by
reason of his honorably attained sue
cess or his we'll won position, has
right to pity that enemy as a foollsn
| cantor. self chained to the chariot
wheels of envy.
But the man who makes an enemy
because of some unkind or thoughtless
word, some neglected courtesy, some
allowed to widen into breach, should
be thoroughly ashamed and thorough
" unhappy until he has managed
somehow to undo his work
1.-THE man who hath thousand friends
Hath not a friend to spare;
And he who lad one enemy
Shall meet him everywhere,
and If that one is necessary enemy,
then he shall have reason to be more
proud every time he meets him than
he is of the thousand friendships.
But if that one is an enemy made
through carelessness or selhshness
then he shall have reason to be al
E odds with himself and discontinued
| with the thousand friends until he has
made them a thousand and one by
, winning over the enemy.
: x
{ This is the creed of tru'
Christmas giver.
: ssBy these resolutions believe I cal
make my Christmas this year hap
| | pier and better Christmas than it ha
ever been before.
st will make each individual gift
this year a gift not only of my none.
!, but also of my most careful thought
my wisest selection and best discrim
4 ination and taste.
IT will ask myself conscientiously a
D buy each gift if I am absolutely sur
. 4 am buying it because I know tn
: recipient will want it. and not in tn
least degree because I like it myself
Il IT will give, no matter what tn
: temptation, no gift that is beyon
4 what can rightfully afford; to thos
upon my Christmas list who are mucl
e more blessed with this worlds gift
: than I am Will still have the courag
= to measure my gifts by what have