Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-12-18

Regained my freedom with a sigh.
1t Is natural for a girl to be fond of
a chum, but tho trouble is some maid
ems do not choose their bosom. friends
wisely. There is class of girls who
have a deep-seated influence over
chum. Even though they show now
and then that they might, II occasion
demanded, sacrifice chum for their
own interest, they have woven the
chain Of so-called friendships so tight.
ly around the other that there is no
breaking away from it.
A girl meets a nice young ran, who
becomes interested in her aid asks
permission to call. When he pays his
visit he finds two pretty young girls to
entertain him instead Of one. He Is
introduced to the chum, who Is not
averse to bringing herself forward,
completely overshadowing his hostess.
When this occurs repeatedly, the
young man may be pardoned for the
belief that the girl whom he has come
to call on is not smitten with him and
is really interested In making a match
between her chum and himself In
fact, the chum leads him to believe
this as he sees her home.
Gradually he breaks of calling upon
the girl who first attracted him, trans
ferring his calls to the home Of the
chum. The girl who watches and
waits in vain for his coming confides
to her false friend the misgivings
which cause her heartaches. Her near
est and dearest foe drives in the
wedge which sewers them widely
apart. Pride steps in, and the maiden
who has looked and been pleased
passes the young man with cool bow
when they meet on the street.
1t is pleasant for girl to have a
chum, but when the knowledge comes
upon her that the chum is false to her.
she should not tolerate her private af-
fairs being dominated by her. Hav-
ing an admirer may be the turning
point of girls life. Friendship be-
tween man and maid is far too sacred
for a chum to interfere with. Many
a romance that might have ended in
marriage has been shattered in this
way. The blow dealt by the hand Of
friend hits a girlish heart the hardest.
inficting a wound which always leaves
a scar in the shape of bitter memo
ries.
Gills are wont to exchange conf.
dences with one another in regard to
heart affairs. While this confidence is
usually respected, and is supposed to
draw them nearer together. yet, II
they have falling out, the false chum
blazes the others secret to her dear
four hundred friends without CON-
junction. There is no foe like the
foe who was once friend.
II such a contretemps occurs in a
girls youth, her confidence in women
and their motives is forever shaken.
She will not even believe one who is
for Der good. She will lose faith In a
lover, no matter how earnest he may
be, IL he casually makes the remark
that a woman friend of hers Is attrac-
tive. The chum who takes lover
away from another girl seldom ever
finds that she has driven good bar.
gain with fate. Cupid is exacting, and
usually pays her back In her own coin
soon or late. Friendship is sacred; 1t
keeps the heart warm and, next to
love. is tender and sweet. In the lives
Of young girls, 1t has its dividing line,
over which the one or the other should
be too faithful and true Of heart to
cross There are men enough to
choose from without a girl deliberate
ly planning, to take her chum's lover
from her. It's game that never plays
out we'll.