The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-05
ONLY FRIENDS.

Gentle words, a loving heart
 r And hands to clasp my own
 Are better than the fairest flowers
 Or stars that ever shone.
 It is not much the world can give With all it's subtle art
 And gold and gems are not the things
 To satisfy the heart.''
 Many a man thinks it is hard lines if he cannot become interested in a pleasant young woman in a friendly way without becoming painfully con scious of the fact that he is either ex- pected to announce himself as her lov CT or be looked upon as a trifler. Such men ask in despair, ''Is there no such thing as good, earnest, cheering friendship between men and women in other words, platonic friendship?'
 How can a young man make up his mind as to the kind of girl he likes best unless he is, brought in social contact with her? Few if any young men fall in love and decide upon mar man whom he meets today he may be- hold in all the glory of her company manners. She may appear quite diff ferent person if he is. able to behold her in her different moods. Why should he not have every opportunity to judge we'll and carefully the one with whom he is to pass the remain der of his life?
 Marriage is by far too solemn to jump into by making up ones mind rashly. A few calls upon a young woman should not mean that the man intends to be more to her than just a friend. The whole difficulty of the sit- nation appears to be in the fact that such men fall into the habit of calling on grI too regularly or inviting her out to places of amusement too often. Such a situation naturally calls forth sarmises that he is the favored one; in fact, the girls acknowledged suitor. 1 Other men, concluding that she has made up her mind, having steady company, turn their attention to oth- CTS.
 The wise girl adopts two courses with men who are simply friends. She declines to go out repeatedly in public with such a man or to deny herself other pleasures to entertain him in her parlor exclusive of all others Where a man intends to be g. friend only, he should take two girls to places of amusement. Also he should ask a. girls chuIn to accom- pany him when
 he spends an evening with her friend, providing it is agreeable to both. In this way friendship could be estab- ing. No hearts would be entang1ed. Each would be helpful in friendly way to the other
 If men choose to cease calling, and- ing more attractions elsewhere, there could be no hard feelings f It is but a step from friendship to love- Wise are they who halt before they reach the tender stage. Friend ship is beautiful between men and | women if they are sensible enough to
 consider each other in that light only
 Both are on safe ground if they do not lcondne their friendship to one, tbut show the same courtesy to a host
 of others who are quite as near and are equally appreciated. There is safe- ty in numbers. It takes tact for either ma nor woman to keep a friend with
 unf1agging interest while time rolls
 slowly by, 1engthening into true ap-
 preciation-the woman for the mobility
 of men and men for the sweetness,
 chastity and uplifting companionship
 for women It is a wonderful gift,
 for, next to love, friendship is sweet