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questionable amusements and worthy substitutes-第15部分
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at the Northwestern University; in Evanston; Illinois。 Rowell was
intellectual; spirited; gifted in conversation; highly sympathetic; informed;
critical; yet charitable; a close student of human nature; a love of
philosophy; of musical temperament; of noble heart; of exalted purpose。
Our visits were kept up bimonthly throughout one year。 We would spent
Saturday evening and Sunday together。 Those visits revealed to me the
magnetism; intensity; and tenderness of a friend。 Truly; with us time and
distance were almost completely obliterated from our consciousness。 I
say distance; for we would walk together。 Tenderness suits the amiable
and gentle in disposition; but it comes with a peculiar charm from the
austere nature。 It is one of the stalwart virtues; and is often concealed
behind a crusty exterior。 Severity and tenderness adorn the greatest lives。
THE TEST OF FRIENDSHIP。
What is the uncertain mark of a friend? Have I a friend? How many
friends have I? I can invoice my stock; my goods; my land; my money;
can I invoice my friends? One may not always know the actual worth
of a friend; but he knows who are his friends; quite as well as he knows
who are his nephews and cousins。 〃A friend is one whom you need and
who needs you。〃 Has one a bit of good news; he flies to his friend; he
wants to share it。 Has one a sorrow; he seeks his friend who will gladly
share that。 Does one meet with a defeat or victory; instantly he thinks
of his friend and of how it will effect him。 Friends need one another;
as truly as the child needs its mother; or the mother her child。 Is one
tempted to commit a wrong in thought or action; his friend; though
absent; appears at his side and begs him not to do it。 If one is in doubt
or uncertainty; he summons his friend; who become a patient reasoner;
and an impartial judge。 Who does not find himself; daily; looking
through other people's glasses; weighing on other people's scales;
sounding other people's voices? It is a habit that friends have with
one another。 You can not deprive friends of one another; any more
than you can lovers。 Ah; true friends are lovers of the heaven…born
sort; for their agreement is grounded in nature。 They are not chosen;
they are discovered。 Or; as Emerson says; they are 〃self…elected。〃
〃Friendship's an abstract of love's noble flame;
'Tis love refined; and purged from all its dross;
'Tis next to angel's love; if not the same;
As strong as passion in; though not so gross。〃
Thus writes Catherine Phillips。
FRUITS OF FRIENDSHIP。
True friendship gives ease to the heart; light to the mind; and aid to the
carrying out of one's life…purposes。 First; ease to the heart。 The presence
of a friend is a beam of genial sunshine which lights up the house by his
very appearance。 He warms the atmosphere and dispels the gloom。 The
presence of a true friend for a day; a night; a week; lifts one out of
himself; links him with new purposes; and immerses him in new joys。
Friends breathe free with one another。 They inspire sighs of relief。
Embarrassment disappears; liberty reigns supreme。 Hearts are like steam
boilers; occasionally; they must give vent to what is in them; or they will
burst。 This is the true mission of friends; to become to one another
reserve reservoirs of 〃griefs; joys; fears; hopes; suspicions; counsels; and
whatever lieth upon the heart to oppress it;〃 or elate it。 You recall those
familiar lines of Bacon: 〃This communicating of a man's self to his
friends works two contrary effects; for it redoubles joys and cutteth
griefs in halves; for there is no man that imparteth his joys to his friend;
but he joyeth the more; and no man that imparteth his griefs to his
friends; but he grieveth the less。〃 The following selected lines; slightly
changed; set forth this first fruit of friendship。
〃A true friend is an atmosphere
Warm with all inspirations dear;
Wherein we breathe the large free breath
Of life that hath no taint of death。
A true friend's an unconscious part
Of every true beat of our heart;
A strength; a growth; whence we derive
Soul…rest; that keeps the world alive。〃
Then; friendship sheds light in the mind。 〃He who has made the
acquisition of a judicious and sympathetic friend;〃 says Robert Hall;
〃may be said to have doubled his mental resources。〃 No man is wise
enough to be his own counselor; for he inclineth too much to leniency
toward himself。 〃It is a well…known rule that flattery is food for the
fool。〃 Therefore no man should be his own counselor since no one is
so apt to flatter another as he is himself。 A wise man never flatters
himself; neither does a friend flatter。 As a wise man sees his own
faults and seeks to correct them; so a true friend sees the faults of his
friend and labors faithfully to banish them。 The one who flatters you
despises you; and degrades both you and himself。 An enemy will tell
you the whole truth about yourself; especially your faults; and at times
that both weaken and hurt you。 A friend will tell you the whole truth
about yourself; especially your neglected virtues; but at a time to both
strengthen and help you。 The highest service a friend can render is
that of giving counsel。 The highest honor one can bestow upon his
friend is to make him his counselor。 It is no mark of weakness to rely
upon counsel。 God; Himself; needed a counselor; so he chose His Son。
〃His name shall be called Wonderful; Counselor; the Mighty God; the
Everlasting Father; the Prince of Peace。〃 Isa。 ix; 6。 Counsel; says
Solomon; is the key to stability。 〃Every purpose is established by
Counsel。〃 Prov。 Xx; 18。 Who despiseth counsel shall reap the reward
of folly。 A friend is safe in counsel; according to his wisdom; for he
never seeks his own good; but the good of his friend。 It is a saying; 〃If
some one asks you for advice; if you would be followed; first find out
what kind of advice is wanted; then give that。〃 But this is not the way
of a friend。 He has in mind the welfare of the friend and the cause his
friend serves。 Honor does not require that one shall follow the advise
of his friend; rather liberty in this is a mark of freedom and trust
between friends。
A friend aids one in the carrying out of his life purposes。 Who is it
that helps one to places of honor and usefulness? It is his friend。 Who
is it that recognizes one's true worth; extols his virtues; and gives tone
and quality to the diligent services of months and years? It is his
friend。 Who is it; when one ends his life in the midst of an unfinished
book; or with loose ends of continued research in philosophy or science
all about him; who is it that gathers up these loose ends and puts in order
the unfinished work? It is his friend。 Who is it that stands by the open
tomb of that fallen saint or hero and relates to the world his deeds of
sacrifice and courage which spurn others on to nobler living and thereby
perpetuates his goodness and valor? Who does this; if it is done? It is
his friend。 A friend thus becomes not only a completion of one's soul
as he is by virtue of being a friend; but also he becomes a completion
of one's life。 Then; one's relation to his fellowmen is a limited
relationship。 He may speak; but upon certain subjects; on certain
occasions; and to certain persons。 As Francis Bacon says; 〃A man can
not speak to his son but as a father; to his wife but as a husband; to his
enemy but upon terms; whereas a friend may speak as the case requires;
and not as it sorteth with the person。。。。I have given the rule;〃 says he;
〃where a man can not fitly play his own part; if he have not a friend; he
may quit the stage。〃
HOW TO GET AND KEEP A FRIEND。
A real friend is discovered; or made。 First; discovered。 Two persons
notice an attraction for one another。 They see that their desires are
similar; they have the same sentiments; they agree in tastes。 A feeling
of attachment becomes conscious with each of them; slight association
fosters this feeling; it increases。 New associations but reveal a broader
agreement; a closer union; a perfecter harmony。 The signs of friendship
appear。 Heart and mind of each respond to the other; they are friends。
This is the noblest friendship。 It has its origin in nature。 It is; as H。 Clay
Trumbull says: 〃Love without compact or condition; it never pivots on
an equivalent return of service or of affection。 Its whole sweep is away
from self and toward the loved one。 Its desire is for the friend's welfare;
its joy is in the friend's prosperity; its sorrows and trials are in the
friend's misfortunes and griefs; its pride is in the friend's attainments
and successes; its constant purpose is in doing and enduring for the
friend。〃
Then; friends are made。 Two persons do not especially attract one
another。 But; through growth of character; modification of nature; or
change in desires; sentiments; and tastes; they become attracted to each
other。 Or in spite of natural disagreements or differences; through the
force of circumstances they become welded together in friendship。
Montaigne describes such an attachment; in which the souls mix and
work themselves into one piece with so perfect a mixture that there is
no more sign of a seam by which they were first conjoined。 Says
Euripedes:
〃A friend
Wedded into our life is more to us
Than twice five thousand kinsman one in blood。〃
Such was the friendship of Ruth and Naomi。 Orpha loved Naomi; kissed
her; and returned satisfied to her early home; but Ruth cleaved unto her;
saying:
〃Entreat me not to leave thee;
And to return from following after thee:
For whither thou goest; I will go;
Where thou lodgest; I will lodge:
Thy people shall be my people;
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