TRUE FRIENDSHIP

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 714, 14 December 1933, Page 2

TRUE FRIENDSHIP

the virtues of an understanding heart. WHAT IS OOiMPANIONSHIP? (WJomen are generally supposed to be incapable of forming long or lastirig companiionships with members of their own sex. Certainly such cases as that of the "ladies of Llangollen" are few and far between; but that was a friendship in which affinity played a large part. The most remarkable friendship between women is still that of Ruth and Naomi. Modern life can scarcely produce anything to equal it — 'there are few young women so affectionately disposed towards their mothers-in-law as to be willing to "leave all" and follow them. Like most other human relationships, companionship has undergone a vast alteration during the last few decadois. Its own signiifiicance has changed and the conditidns necessary for its foundation and continued existence hre no longer the same. Compai'onship has evolved from a statri of bondage of thought between two persons of the same sex, or of opposite sexes, to a state in iwhich' two persons find an extension of their individual freedom of thought in each lother's company. The old fallacy that itwo people who kept secrets from each other could not possibly he good companions has long since been disproved. The type of woman who demanded from her woman friend "Tell riie; I must know all," has been refilaced by the woman who is aware that her friend tells her things with "mental reservations" and yet is none the less fond of her. In Spite of Failings. It is a true philosophy — though generally gained only after bitter experience — that the best affection exists not becanse of virtues that are admired but in spite of failings that are uriderstood. To be thought a "good fellow" by the world is not of necessity to be one. In trying to be all tbings of all men, a man or iwoman may give to those he or she loves j

best a wiourid that is almost too deep to heal. A companionship thiat can exist between two people in spite of a difference in their attitude of mind towards the most importaht thirigs in life — (such as religion and ethics — is a companionship. destined to serve some worth-while purpose. A' certain detachmerit is necessary to all friendship, bnt women canniot claim this quality as an inherent part of their temperamerit. Gradually they are aequiring it by contact with the riiore or less impersonal world of business, and within the next century no douhb women will have grown quite capable of accepting a friendship without making too many demands. Men are capable of casual friendships amongst themselves, but ias yet this is one of the rocks upon which women's friendship founders. Most women take their friends too seriously and are for ever trying fo change them into wh'at they thirik ■they ought to be. However valued a friend may be, her companionship will not be found indispensable if it consists to'O' largely of shackles and limitations.