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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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