55. OUR FRIENDS. "A friend is gold; if true, he'll never leave thee: I. Introduction. RANDOLPH. a. The word "friend" is sometimes used in too liberal a sense. We occasionally call persons our friends who are connected with us in any way, those with whom we hunt, trade, work, or play; even to strangers, we often apply the sacred word "friend." b. Such an abuse of the term should be avoided. II. Who, then, is our friend? a. He who is attached to us by affection; who entertains for us sentiments of esteem, respect, and love, such as lead him to desire our company, and seek to promote our happiness; not always, 1. Those who are related to us, or with whom we happen to have occasional dealing or companionship: many such prove themselves but "summer friends." 2. Nor those who are always ready to applaud whatever we do, even our bad actions. 3. Nor those who talk to us in a friendly manner to win favor, or gain some selfish end; but he is a friend, b. Who is disinterested, and ready to make sacrifices for us. c. Whose friendship is firm and constant. d. Who sees our faults, and strives to correct them in order e. Who cheers, consoles, and assists us in adversity. g. Who is attached to us on account of our own moral worth, 07 CALISON h. Who is not drawn to us by our wealth, power, or any other accidental circumstance. i. Whỏ, even when disappointed in us, will cherish for us feelings of pity rather than anger. j. Who will sorrow over a false friend as over one who has fallen from the high position in which his own heart had placed him. Whoever has made the acquisition of such a friend has secured a treasure above all price. "A golden treasure is the tried friend; But who may gold from counterfeits defend? Trust not too soon, nor yet too soon mistrust: With the one thyself, with the other thy friend, thou hurt'st. Nor rashly loveth, nor mistrusts in vain." MIRROR FOR MAGISTRATES. 56. BENEFITS OF WAR. I. It is the right of every one to protect himself against unjust attacks. For the individual, there are laws and judges; but, for nations, there exists neither judge nor tribunal: they must protect themselves as best they can. Hence, if diplomacy fail, war becomes necessary. II. We look at war as something terrible, and call it the scourge of nations; and certainly much evil does proceed from it. a. Partly in regard to the belligerent States. By it, many nations have lost their independence; others have diminished their population; some burden themselves with debts, and suffer the evils of large standing armies, stagnation of trade, famine, pestilence, destruction of property, of works of art, &c. b. Partly in regard to individual citizens; separation from parents and friends, privations and hardships, mutilations, imprisonment, mourning families, plundering bodies of soldiery, guerrillas, &c. III. And still there is much good connected with war. a. For States. 1. A long peace enervates a nation; war restores it to 2. It awakens patriotism; enthusiasm for the success of 4. Increase of the circulation of money. 5. Neutral States gain by commerce. 6. Culture spreads from one nation to another, so that the defeated often become the intellectual and moral benefactors of the conquerors (Greeks and Romans, Romans and Barbarians, Crusaders and Saracens). b. For individuals. 1. Necessity is man's best instructor. Peril produces heroes, restores elasticity of mind and greatness of soul. 2. War affords an opportunity of developing talents and winning renown. 3. Brings into exercise courage, decision of character, presence of mind, fortitude in adversity, perseverance, mildness, and generosity, and totally reforms many a depraved character. 4. The scarcity caused by war leads back to former simplicity of manners: "The sword is changed into the plow-share." 5. If it impoverishes some, it enriches others: it gives employment and rocm for activity. 6. Increases human knowledge by acquainting men with the wisdom of other lands, with their customs and manners. 7. Though war causes the death of many, yet there is some compensation in the noble death that awaits the hero. IV. Be not discouraged then, when the blast of the "war-denouncing" trumpet is heard: its sound may be the harbinger of good instead of evil. "Who dies in vain Upon his country's war-fields, and within The shadow of her altars?" MRS. HEMANS. 57. PHILIP OF MACEDON AND NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. I. In history, great men often resemble each other in character, and their lives have much in common. It was thus with Philip and Napoleon. II. In their exterior life. a. Each educated at a distance from home. - Thebes, Brienne. b. Their appearance in public life at an equal age, and under similar circumstances. c. Philip, in spite of his deficient claims, becomes king; Napoleon, emperor. d. Each was divorced from his first wife. III. With regard to their qualities, A. As warriors and generals. a. Great generalship of both; presence of mind, acuteness, courage, quickness, the art of gaining the affections of their soldiers, improvements in methods of warfare, good use of victories. b. Great success in war. B. As statesmen, in reference to foreign nations. b. Turning the dissensions of the neighboring states to their own advantage: thus Philip became general-in-chief of all Greece; Napoleon, Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine. c. Crafty in negotiations, in order to gain time. d. A show of generosity towards conquered nations. e. Disregard of treaties. f. Both found active opponents in unwarlike nations. C. As rulers in time of peace. a. Remarkable knowledge of men, especially in the choice of their officers. b. Energy in preserving internal tranquillity. D. As men. a. They both submitted their brilliant intellectual faculties and force of will to the service of mere ambition and egotism. b. Both considered men as mere tools for the accomplishment of their purposes. IV. These manifold similarities are the more striking when we reflect that the men were quite different in their temperament and social virtues. Philip, cheerful, friendly, flattering; Napoleon, gloomy, grave, reserved, impetuous. What has the race gained by them? 58. RAILROADS AND STEAMBOATS. I. One of the most successful of inventions, which keeps pace in importance with the art of printing, is the steam-engine. It is applied to the uses of travel and traffic on railroads and steamboats, and has called forth a powerful revolution, |