44 SYMPATHY. 



sympathy when a worthy object is within their neighborhood, by an 

 ingenious dovetailing of circumstances out of which they quiet their 

 minds, and make themselves self-satisfied as to the limit of their 

 labors,and the disposal of their time. Like the rich man who denies 

 the right of being dictated to in a matter of charity, they claim to 

 be the free or sole almoners of their sympathy in accordance with 

 their humor or their condescension. Knowing full well how enobling 

 is a sjmipathetic character, we feel almost confused when we try to 

 fathom the depth of any repudiative movement or opinion regarding 

 its mission. It seems so unnatural for an educated man or woman 

 to be without some gracious sympathies, so inhuman, alas ! for self 

 alone to govern their whims and desires, their actions and accumu- 

 lations. They cannot, it would seem, ever ponder over the written 

 warnings which are meant to apply to the marble hearted, the ex- 

 cessively proud, and we may include the miserly and tyrannical. 

 Warnings that came from beyond the clouds when the world began, 

 and are therefore not to be rejected or lightly referred to by any 

 living creature. It is an open question as to whether our sympathies 

 are not awakened and governed by our associations, and hence many 

 men Avhose minds are absorbed in their pursuits, will express a mo- 

 mentary feeling of pity, and claim that such is akin to sympathy. 

 The entire outlay on their part being a casual thought or notice of 

 some afflictive case, and nothing more. It is very easy to assert, of 

 course, that there are too many instances of suffering to command 

 the substantial sympathy of the busy man and besides the monarchs 

 of trade and speculations are not always inclined to accept the state- 

 ments of those, who, on behalf of others, ask for their sympathy in 

 a shapely form, equipped with the material which is sure to be service- 

 able. They apparently disbelieve that there is such a thing as pure 

 sincerity, and resort to some eccentricity merely to show that they 

 are different from other people, being confident likewise that the 

 display of an adroit mannerism is oftentimes sufficient to excite the 

 disgust of the sympathetic, and they escape by its use, from many 

 duties which from mere gratitude for the privileges they enjoy, they 

 should willingly perform. How they quiet their conscience, or what 

 sort of philosophy they summons when shirking these duties, we are 

 at a loss to say. We can only immagine that they feel assured of 



