The Washington herald., 1910-11-20

when we get tie backward vision OF
life is there aught fore beautiful there
than the memory Of the trysting place
where friend breathed 10 friend his in
most hopes. his fears? Can We not 're-
member how, with dear friend, we
planned the future? Alas! that the plans
should have so far fallen short Is there
not something sacred in such memories?
and do they not even in moments of our
deepest dependency, serve TO uplitt as
and to give US courage to face the I'M
known future?
What a thrill goes straight TO a mans
heart at the hand-clasp of a friend In
the eyes Of a friend one may see shining
the light of that love that passeth I'M
derstanding-an beautiful and JeEder and
with something of divinity in it, The
knowledge that one has just one real
friend is enough 10 arm him against most
OF the rs and misfortunes Of this life.
for In the heart of friendship there is a
perfect refuge, a tower of strength, and
deep we'll of sympathy. And Emerson
says the final word:
o friend my bosom said,
Through thee alone the sSY is arched
Through thee the is red:
Al things through thee take nober fonn,
And look beyond the earth,
The mill-round Of fate appears
4 aIn-path IN thy WORTH
Ne. too thy nobleness has taught
To master my DESPAIR;
The fountains Of my hidden life
Are through thy friendship fair.
have awarded the two prizes for to-
DAYS contest to Cora c. Staples, or En-
lentOn, Pa, and Lawrence c. WidmayeT.
sos S street northwest. Their contribu-
tons follow;
The inestImable worth and charm Of
friendship lies IN the relief II offers 10
the incessant strain and friction of or
binary intercourse. "A crowd" writes
Lord Bacon, lis not company. Faces are
only a gallery of pictures and talk but
a tinkling cymbal. where there is no
love" Ia this noisy, crowded solitude
our lives are spent Each IA his own
more or less unsympathetle environment
IS hampered by an imperfect understand
ing of those about him. and by their
continual misconceptions of himself.
This is a necessary condition Of life, If
life IS TO be one long discipline for
strength and character. But what re-
freshInent and repose TO find, here and
there. a friend one whose thoughts. feel
ings sympathies. ideals. eccentricities,
are In unison with our own: To IT, I'M
derstoOd. in spite of our blunderings; TO
be believed in. IN spite OF our failures
and weaknesses; 10 communicate, with
out fear OF rdicule or discouragement.
our little strivings toward ideals. too
lofty. perhaps for actual attainment: 10
be rated higher than we feel we deserve;
TO have expected of US something better
than we dare TO hope from ourselves.
This is the friendship which Emerson
calls the sweetness Of life which
Cicero says is TO be preferred above al
other earthly possessions.
But the possession of any precious
thing involves respol sibility for its
proper care. The delicate flower, neg
lected. withers IN the heat or is chOked
by thOrns. The exquisite vase cannot
he turned to sordid uses without impair
ing its beauty. If We let fall the costly
gem, the treasure OF lifetime. 10 grasp
at some newer, Shower trinket, very
probably We may never regain the treas
uTe.
IF you have a friend worth loving,
love him; yes, and let him know that
you love him" Such IS Lord Bacon S
advice Sincerity and tenderness are the
duties of friend 10 friend. To make in
timacy an excuse for rudeness or neg
lect shows nature too coarse TO sus-
tein the flower OF friendship. There is
seldom reason or excuse for wounding a
friend because intimate knowledge OF
his nature makes IL possible 10 avoid
what is liable 10 hurt him. Remember
our friends. like ourselves. have Sights
enough to hear from the world; with
us they should be secure Of having their
feelings respected.
Cicero tells us that some men can un-
derstand nothing 10 be good save what
is profitable; and therefore, with their
friends, as with cattle, they especially
love those from whom they hope 20 gain
advantage Such men cannot know the
true value of friendship, which is pre-
cious "of Itself and for itself" Oven II
they chance 10 win worthy friends, they
inevitably wear out affection and forfeit
respect. Thus friendship-like the por-
eelain urn IN boorish hands-ls defaced
or utterly shattered.
Finally, let us take heed not TO allow
familiarity 10 blunt our appreciation Of
the treasure we hold. We must discOur-
age in ourselves the banefu habit OF
dwelling upon the faults of our friends
TO assume a sharply critical attitude
toward those we love and who love u.s.
Is abOninable. Not tho most exalted
human soul viii show fiawless under
this merciless searehlight test-much less
our poor little selves. To permit this mis-
cradle fault 10 grow upon us. is to make
friendship. Rather. be humbly grateful
for the affection of a true friend and
diligently strive TO appreciate and TO de-
serve it,
Friendship, from its very nature, is
necessarily rare. Society is made up OF
innumerable combinations OF qualities In
each a man may find certain points OF
sympathy: single notes that Vibrate tC
tones In himself. But rarely can he hope
10 meet with a nature so tuned as Il
chime with his own in a full chord OF
harmony CORA c. STAPLES.
The words friend and friendship are
so very greatly abused IN these latter
days! You hear one say, "a friend told
me -" "A friend wrote so and so.
Have you met my friend. Miss -?'
when more frequently than otherwise
twas only an acquaintance with whom
he or sht had been thrown for a shOrt
space OF time. perhaps on some summer
outing, and IN whose company a few
days, or maybe weeks, were whiled away
very pleasantly.
oh" YOU say, "of course, II not enc.
mics. then friends" such, In a gen
eral, lax sense. Is the use of the WORD
] grant, but, ali! What depth of mean
ing in the words friend, friendship il
lileil uueal, inner SlBhlhcauOn-
What can be more ennObling than sueI
feelings existing between people as tht
friendship Of David and Jonathan, Of
Damon and Pythias? Say you these are
or the paste Nay, believe me, in thi,
twentieth century with all It's hurry aaC
hustle, there are friends equally true
and loyal Their names may not b,
blazOned abroad 10 the world but ii
the quiet, everyday affairs OF this busy
life there may be found many cases OF