The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1917-05-31

written for The Review by w. A.
GattiS FOsterl

sive answer to the helpless cry OF
sorrow. 1t is the earnest desire Of
true sympathy to comfort the heart
in the hour of grief, jealous in effort
to win back for the troubled one
some lost possession or in eager ef-
fort to gain some coveted one. 1t
lives and acts in the ministry of joy
and happiness, in kindness and help
fulneSs.
But why try to tell what sym.
pathy is, what it does or define it's
psychological meaning in its relation
to human life ? It can only be felt
in the full maturity of its existence
in the centrifugal force of soul all
chemy that softens the feelings, Gre
ating desire to help and impelling
the way to kindness.
There is in every saddened life
heartfelt yearning for sympathy.
This desire for human compassion
finds lodgment in every heart where
sorrow makes is home and troubles
are close companions. It may never
be made known by audible eApres-
slOns, or by any outward sign of
mental or heart-sick suffering, but it
is there and if the needed sympathy
is too long withheld, will cry out in
secret anguish for just kind word
Or some little thoughtful attention,
which may tell more plainly than
| lips can utter of their loving SYM
pathy for the suffering one.
The thought has been expressed
that one of the sweetest compensa-
tons of sorrow is the cheer and COM
fort of sympathy which it brings to
the stricken one from kind and in-
terested friends. It does indeed
possess a wonderful power to soften
the keen pags of mental anguish,
makes lighter the Inconvenience of
physical handicaps, and brings for
getfulness to much of all human
suffering, and contributes no little
to the sturdy and patient endurance
of the sufferer.
There are many constantly occur
ring conditions of life that call for
the tenderest human sympathy
These unpleasant human expert
ences are with persistent frequency
brought to our attention. 1t is an
appeal to Onr sympathetic nature.
But shall we harden our hearts
against them without a sign to let
them know that we really care and
feel for them in the darkened hours
of sorrow?
There are 80 many ways in which
sympathy may be helpfully ex
pressed for, the sick and suffering,
for the tired and discouraged, and
for the troubled and perplexed. Only
let it be sincerely given, for SYM
pathy is the first principle of real
sympathy without which it becomes
only mockery and can but do harm
and not good. But coming from the
deep recesses of the heart, no hui
man mind is great enough to fore
see the wonderful good it shall &C
complish. In the tender words and
gentle acts of sympathy there is a
soothing balm for the troubled heart.
sunshine for the darkened life,
potency in time of sorrow and dis
appointment.
Writing CHEEKY letter throbbing
with joy and victory, with hope and
courage, is often happy means of
showing a sympathetic interest in
another's welfare and happiness.
Or just passing on good look. a
new magazine to those whom they
may give pleasure, or flowers for the
sick room, may be made silent mes
sengers of love and sympathy, and
bring a lot of sunshine and happi
ness into some ones life, and in this
little way accomplish a wonderful
amount of good.
By timely visit one may often
change a gloomy hour to one of
welcomed forgetfulness of grief and
S PROV. Just throw Cp n the wiz
dows of darkened life to the songs
of birds and the fragrance of flow
ers, to the happy laughter of child
hood and the tender sympathies of
youth to the mighty courage of the
valiant and the sober philosophy of
age; to the music of the worlds busy
industries and the benedictions of
reward, drawing the sufferer away
from his isolated and gloomy
thoughts and making him feel that
he is part of it all.
Sympathy promotes kindness and
wins friendship. Given to another
when the need is felt, sympathy ere
ates within the heart feelings of ap-
precautions and gratitude. There first
condition of helpfulness is SYM
nathu and there could exist no