The Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1910-1917, 1911-10-30

ali consolation SOlaCe IN mine
affliction." A word. look pres
sure of the hand. all tell of it, so
that whoever is in sorrow or pain
may know that her neighbor sympa
thizes with her woe Much speech
is not needed, for sympathy speaks
with tongue OF its own; and cur
iously enough it is a virtue that it
is difficult to counterfeit The peo-
pie who. having no conception of
your feelings. desire 10 appear sym
pathetic invariably betray the fact
that their sympathy is from the lips
only. You may think of such per
sons as kindly intentiOned and as de
sirous of showing you consideration.
but YOU know beyond peradventure
that their sympthy is only one IF
kindness. and that they have no
real understanding If your situa
ton. Are they TO blame? In meas
ure yes; for while sympathy cannot
Dt lIlilidltu IT tdlt w lulllNdl'N. 10y
endeavoring to put ourselves in our
neighbours place by honestly C0nsid
ering the temperament and tempta-
tons of others, by observing and
weighing surroundings. by trying to
appreciate physical woes which We
have never been compelled TO eX-
perience-by doing these things We
will broaden our minds and form in
our hearts the bond of sympathy that
joins friends together as with a
chain of iron.
We are too prone to reserve all
our sympathieS for the sorrows of
our friends; We suffer its sweetness
only to hover about those bereaved
or afflicted. whereas it should per
wade every phase OF our daily life.
Seine great happiness has come to
your dear friend can you not sym
pathize as sincerely with her in her
JOY as you would had she been cast
down with grief? Your loving com
panion who has so long been an in
valid has at last regained her health
can you not rejoice in her rejoic-
ing with as true sympathy as you
would have felt had you been called
upon to regret her failing health?
We are roo greedy of our virtues.
boarding them to ourselves instead
of using them so that while doing
good to others they may benefit us
with their generous and natural eX
pansion.
The sympathetic woman is loved
by all who know her. She is not
of necessity the woman who is given
to much speaking, but she can feel
intensely for others. The children
know by intuition that she is inter
ested in their toys and books; the
young women know that the Ito
them important question of a new
gown or dance or some slight mis-
understanding with a fianCe will re
ceive from her most thoughtful con-
Sideration and call forth a wise sug
getion; and every friend of such
woman. both great and small. feels
that she may be turned to as con
fidant and that the tale of JOY or
grief will not be honored with indif-
ference and will certainly be listen
ed to with secresy.
Have YOU never met sympathetic
man? He is the one in whose arms
the baby never cries, to whom every
stray dog is willing to go and with
whom woman feels physically and
morally safe. He is God Almighty'S
gentleman" He remembers not only
the poor. but the weak. and is glad
to help over dangerous places those
whose feet are unsteady. The ba-
bies know him best; with their eyes
of innocence they see his strength,
and rely upon it. believing doubtless
that. perhaps. he can step their
many aches and pains. and that
they can rest securely when Graded
in his arms.
What is your child to be? cold,
selfish man or woman. ready to
treat lightly the feelings of Others.
able TO make only acquaintances
and to inspire others with mere in
difference? Surely as a mother you
cannot wish this While your little
ones are very small they will expert
ence no pain from this possession Of
such cold. unsympathetic traits. but
as the years roll on they will find
that the leaven of life is wanting,
and you alone will be to blame. You
complain that your little girl has not
sympathetic nature. This is unfor-
tunate, but she is still young and
ulty that grows with use. Your boy
is. perhaps. naturally sympathetic,
then do not permit him to hide his
talent. but encourage it even if YOU
have to harbOr an occasional sick
dog or chicken with a broken leg;
some day that boys world will be
bigger one. and then there will be
greater though no less heartfelt
thanks for his goodness than those
expressed by the loving look in a
dogs eyes or the jubilant crow OF
some chicken just restored to health.