SYMPATHY. 43 



fears of further misfortunes. It may not strike tliem at the time 

 that each and every act of kind sympathy to a fellow creature, be- 

 comes an immortal example. It lives while selfish gains and pur- 

 chased honors dwindle swiftly, and finally pass into the foaming sea 

 of worldly oblivion. In fine, active sympathy is the modest attendant 

 of Charity. The humanitarian and philanthropist arm themselves 

 with the virtues that reach the field of suffering, or where mortal 

 diseases refuse to yield to mortal remedies; where the sick and 

 dying are grateful in their helplessness for a ray of sympathy from 

 any source, and in silent prayer give thanks for its gentle touch and 

 noble watchfulness. To be the possessor of a sympathetic chord 

 which cannot be broken by prejudice or misjudgment, or a wicked 

 avoidance of duty when abundantly able to perform it, is indeed to 

 be blessed — blessed by all we may soothe and care for, and blessed 

 in the sight of the Great Master who knows when the heart is gov- 

 erned by His examples and commands. Yet the sympathy of some 

 is subject to suspicion — it is of a strictly inventive nature, displayed 

 so unnaturally that it had better been withheld than expressed, or 

 unborn than looked upon as almost insulting. The world is well 

 supplied with evidences of mockery, and deeds that are often sup- 

 posed to be appropriate, yet lacking in sincerity, only bring shame 

 and confusion to their authors, as the}* are morally condemned by the 

 formality which has been cunningly employed by them without the 

 least idea of its after discovery. 



It is strange, but no less true, that the most sincere sympathy ex- 

 ists among the middle classes. They portray it with peculiar earn- 

 estness, notwithstanding its force may be restricted by the paucity 

 of means usually to be found where the strong arm of labor repre- 

 sents a distinctive source of personal gratification, and yet in spite 

 of their restriction, there is always a commensurate amount of 

 sympathy lurking within it. Many sympathetic reflections invoked 

 by keen observation are surely worth}* of a liberal ventilation, 

 particularly if applied to cases where human misery has to contend 

 against human hypocrisy and human heartlessness. They are beyond 

 the pale of narrow comment or faint praise, and far more conducive 

 to the general welfare of society than the patronizing elements which 

 so much disfigured it, and expose at least their shallow origin. 

 Plausible people too are apt to excuse themselves for a lack of 



