South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-13

Love stands alone IN the solar SlS-
tenn Of the affections like the sun, I'M
mated and incompatible. From il all
other emotions derive their worth, yet
they must not expect 20 initiate its
light, warmth or power.
Our friendships are the Stars next
in magnitude TO the orb of light
There can be but one true love, as
there is but one sun visible TO the
earth. But there may be as many
orders of friendship as there are va
rieties OF stars in the armament.
though few, TO be sure. of the first
magnitude.
A great nature can enjoy and be
loyal To a great number of friends.
1t is time to do away with that old
idea, grounded in human selhshness.
that a man should have but one
friend. Study the persons who are
fond of prOclaiming, Il care but for
few people" and YOU Will find them
at the core selfish, narrow and un-
sympathetic. The broadgauged and
nOble-heaTted man goes out SpOn-
taneOusly TO his fellow beings and
gives affection and loyalty TO many.
He attracts as many true friends as
his varied characteristics render him
capable of enjoying.
You appeal to his intellect and are
a mental cOmrade. In the asSOCia-
ton he grows fond OF YOU and inter
ested in your personal life, but you
cannot expect him to shut out from
his heart another who amuSes and
entertains him with flow of cheer
full spirits which you lack You show
no evidence of affection if you are
jealous of this other friend You sim
ply show narrOw-mindedncss
grounded in self-love. You have your
own sphere in that mans life and
cannot be crowded by another any
more than one star crowds another in
the heavens.
The moment my friend says to me,
II must be first in your affection. no
matter what other claimants for your
regard come knocking at your door.
/ reply:
My friend. it is yourself YOU love.
not me; the absolute friend asks only
for what I choose TO give, and. con-
fident of his own worth, never doubts
his true place in my affections. Were
you my true friend you would rejoice
TO see me enriched by other friends.
Tt is yourself YOU love. and YOU de-
sire me to add fuel to the flame
which is already consuming you. But
1 can only bestow what you inspire
Look to it that you inspire the best
within me and it will be yours"
With each new friend our capabil-
tiles of affection increase.
Love is to the human heart what
the Koran is to the MOhammedan
or the Bible to the Christian. There
can be but one. But we may have
as many choice friends as we have
choice books in our library, If our
heart wealth is great enough TO pro-
cure them. I need not appreciate
Dickens less because l enjoy Thack-
cray also. l do no wrong to the
prose authors because l revel in the
poets. There are moods when the
humoriSt cheers and entertains me,
and again 1 need the philosopher,
and all are equally admired and es-
teemed by me, and there is no one
could spare.
I once heard a person say. II love
my friends so intensely 1 am jeal-
Gus of any ray of light that falls
upon their paths, save through me-
This is not friendship. Ii is self
worship. self-aggrandizem ent-self TO
the core. Distrust any act Of kind
ness shown you by such a friend. It
is done, not TO give YOU happiness,
but TO win your gratitude. The real
friend never thinks OF gratitude,
though he would be hurt by your
ingratitude But he would as soon
bestow favor unknown to you, and
he rejoices to see you benefited by
others. and takes pleasure in any
thing which helps you, no matter
how remote it may be from his own
interests.
old friends endeared by years Of
memories are best. Yet I have no
right TO reproach my old friend If he
outgroWs me in his tastes and habits.
and 1 have no right 20 call him
changeable in he finds new friends
more congenial in these things, and
who keep step with him. He may
have found me sufficient to him when
we both studied simple fractions to-
gether. but if r. has passed into high
er mathematics I have no right TO
complain if he no longer enjoys sing
ing the multiplication table to the air
Of Yankee Doodle with me as in
our early school days. / had better
blame myself for not making at least
sufficient progress TO appreciate him