Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-15
LAW OF FRIENDSHIP.
Governed by Economics Along Lines Of
Greatest Efficiency.

Greatest Efficiency.
Before going on a journey ono is
pretty likely to consult the time tables
and find out about the hotels. and after
these facts have been gathered to es-
innate the expense. 1t would be ridicu-
1ous to start out. say, for months
travel. without knowing beforehand
just about how much il would cost
you, says the New York sun.
But does one ever stop beforehand to
count the cost of a friend? We be-
come acquainted with people without
the slightest idea of the expense they
may lead us into both in time and ac-
Iual cash
There is IN excellent gentleman who
lives in the next street. He possesses
a rather nice vein of intelligence and
his manners are charming, but upon
our days at home (Which are rather
precious to us) he has acquired the hab-
It of dropping in and discussing with
us the topics of the day.
We have made a rough calculation of
the time spent in this way and we find
that during the past year he has rob
bed us of eight whole days. To be cX-
act, or perhaps we should say to be
in return, We have a pleasant sense
of his presence, and possibly during the
entire year we have acquired from him
an idea so, but upon the whole in
casting up this account we discover
that he owes us much which can never
be repaid
Again (in one of those unlucky mo-
ments which Providence in freakish joy
sometimes WrpakS IFS upOn
u.s. we were introduced to a lady: n
lady with Il family Since then we have
met her frequently. She has sat next
TO us at dinners and upon various mo-
tor car rides. Think of the number of
precious moments we have passed in
her company in which she has discuss
ed the servant girl question or present
ed us with her entirely immature views
OF certain phases of literature! To
know a person like this is more than
reckless extravaganza. 1t is in the ma
lure of a crime.
Many of us in time no doubt become so
experienced and cautious that when a now
head begins to loom over the horizon we
1nvoluntarily seek hiding place. But
then again YOU never are quite sure be-
fOrehand whether the person may not be
profitable. Every prospective friendship
Is gamble.
Sometimes human being with an in
fantile and ingenious expression on his
face, with absolutely nothing whatever
TO recommend him, has perfect mind
filled with human sympathy, delicacy and
tact and Is possessed of the kind of
strength which we need most at critical
moments But alas these friends are few
and far between. And while we are find
Ing them how is it possible to avoid be-
ing set upon by all the othera9
We cannot Of course require crcden,
t!als. We cannot say: Sir or madam
your appearance appears to he favorable
y but what are you worth to mo? What an
to get out of vou and in case I find thai
you are not profita BILE would you be will
Ing to deposit bond beforehand for you
good behavior in order that ! may be IN
cured against loes?'
We are, from the standpoint of actua
dollars and cents, also limited to those
tyho are our financial equals Yet here
nGain the arrangement is likely at aay
moment to he upset.
If Jones, for example, who is receiving
an income of $500 a year (Which we vii
assume IS about what we arc getting)
should suddenly have his income doubled
wv NhO"'u cApetl 10 part WIN Jones
Yet Jones might have become a neces
sity to MS II we, on the other hand
should experience this good fortune il
would be unfair to Jones' to eXpect thai
he could Keep up with VS.
Thus we zee that the economic law is
bound to operate upon our friendships If
rs material working The thing reall,
amounts to this That as science perfoct,
IS IN living VS. shall come to know peo
plc only along TIC lines Of the creates
efficiency in eVory center of hUmarit,
;hcrc viii naturally be "A ciea ring hous.
OF friendship In whcA huran beings vii
lie checked off and their qualities proper
" noted 50 that 10 time VIII be lost /,
futile Intercourse.
Think of the saving this mcanR Thin
Of getting up in The morning with n per
feet assurance that YOU are not going t
| be Interrupted during the entire day b
any incompetent friend whose opinion
hitherto intruded upon you have take
away much of your efficiency,