Life's Friendships.

LIFE'S FRIENDSHIPS .

FROM THE "MASONIC ADVOCATE . "

MUCH of the happiness of this life is gathered from its friendships . The kindly tokens of personal regard which are shown us by gentle and genial and sincere hearts , give to the soul many of its richest consolations as Avell as its brightest aud proudest memories . Men never tiro of honest friendships , for they aro life ' s best evincements of human nature , and often thoy show up our own

standing and characters as well . The fact that but iew aro capable of sincere and constant friendships , ;^ any basis outside of their own interests , makes the relation the more valuable when it does exist , and assures us that a true and abiding friend is a very great treasure . Most men ' s fondness for you is fouud in tho fact that they cau use

you for some of their sordid , selfish or personal purposes , i'hey play with you as they do Avith dice , to Avin , and they make it their study to learn how and Avheu and where to encompass you about . Full of subtlety and personal desiros , they put ou their winning Avays of captivatiou and deceptiou , aud before you know it they have

you in their wob . Tho Avorld is full of j ust suuh friends . lo accomplish their purposes they ivill bear your social name , wear your favourite badge , aud treat you , for aAvhile at least , both as a mau aud brother , but just as soon as their ends are subserved , or they fiucl they cau make other and better arrangements , they consign you to the regions of indifference and

contempt" The melancholy victim of deceitful sin . " The success of such social Judases may often astonish us , especially Avhero we believe in the moral problem of social equity , because it coutradicts , apparently , tho laws of life and demonstrates tho low estimate which somo men of no meau learning and pretensions place upon the honourable obligatious of fraternal relationships .

It is true that these violations of friendship are often attended Avith present temporary success , and those Avho make them are enabled to spread themselves for awhile as the green bay tree ; but their day of triumph is but short , for the old adage is realised that " chickens come home to roost , " and in after life they wear the badge of duplicity in spite of themselves .

Genuine friendship , while it is a laAV of universal obligation , is always based upon reciprocal action , and it can only last as long as mutual manifestations of kindly integrity are evinced and maintained . A single betrayal of principle may weaken or destroy it for ever . Men do not always seem to know this . They appear to forget themselves and to neglect their friends until they find that

" none are so poor as to do them reverence . " The law of Avatchfulness is requisite in maintaining terms of honourable amity , for friendly relations do not grow as tho weeds , Avith spontaneous growth . They are the result of careful , continued culture , indeed , in this way enemies even become friends , aud are ofteu made so for all file . They are conquered by tho respect stiown them aud by

acts of unexpected kiucluessess . it was reciprocal acts of kindness that created the bond of union between Jonathan aud David , and the ties of mutuuhobligation which marked their lives exemplified their sincere attachments and gave to history ouo of its brightest examples of sincere and constant fraternity . The ardent feeling of friendship Avhich grew up between Wash .

lngton and Liuayette Avas founded , no doubt , ou their congenial natures , as well as in their military alliance . They met as the representatives of two distinct peoples , and as members of the Masonic Fraternity , and their friendly constancy was Jike the unruffled sea , placid and perpetual . There is no doubt but many instances could be given of Avarm

friendships which have grown up among our brethren of the mystic tie , Avhere stroug tests have been given , and where Masonry has been honoured in tho bond of euuearuieut . But they were only private affiliations , and uo one has made a record of them , and they have passed away like thousands of other relations of virtue aud honour , without a name and without a history . That warm and constant friendships should find distinguished

examples among the Fruteruity is no more than should be expected , for this is oue of the cardinal purposes of the institution , aud a they fail it certainly cannot lie at the uoor of Masouic obligations . All tho teachings of Masonry are iu the direction of tho gonial emutions . Every step is to heJp , aid and assist a brother , aud every lesson is intended to impress the candidate for its honours with the knowledge ot fraternal duty .

We have often heard Masons complain of the coldness , the selfishness and of the double dealing of men who bore the name of being Masons . These complaiuts have never astonished us since our conversion to the belief of tho " total depravity of tho human race . " Meu are but animals , and it may be that Ave expect too much when Ave look for friendly tokens from alt of them . Many ot them are

incapable of loving anybody but themselves . liiey are too much allied to their owu personal interests to care much for others , aud when brought to the test of friendship , they fail because tho thing is not in them . Their inclinations ara all for self , and all tho Masonic manipulations of the world could never make such meu Masous or frieuus . It is a pity that Lodges receive such into the mystic relatiouship , for they ouly make a mockery of the Craft . W . W . HlllBEN .

ORIENTAL MIXTURE . —Notwithstanding the inveterate manner in Which the use of tobacco has bet-u denounced by certain persons , it Still maintains its place in the tastes and habits of every country iu tho world . Whether we look to the north or to th'j south , tho east or West , we find it indulged in to an extent which attests at once its popularity , and , when . pare and properly dressed , its perfect harm-

Life's Friendships.

lessness . Those Avho have sought to condemn its use have not only signally failed in their quixotic enterprise , but have proved themselves to be possessed of a delusion so palpable that it is not a little strange they should find any followers at all . Any habit , no matter Avhat , if indulged in to an inordinate extent must necessarily be a

mistake , and tobacco , like everything else , whon used in due moderation is as innocent au enjoyment as any that the world affords . Nor is moderation the only thing to be considered , for it is equally necessary that purity should bo taken into serious consideration . It is an unfortunate fact that very many of the tobaccos manufactured

at the present day are decidedly injurious ; wo note , therefore , with considerable pleasure that Bros . W . and C . Page , of tho Grange Tobacco Works , Bermoudsey , are achioving a great and well-deserved success with their celebrated " Oriental Mixture , " which , for purity , fragrance and richness of aroma , surpasses auy tobacco which we

have yet tried . This is entirely duo to the fact that it is composed of tho choicest oriental tobaccos , and that great care is taken to exclude all but tho best growths . Unlike many tobaccos—whose acquaintance for the future wo will cautiously eschew—Bros . Page ' s

" Oriental Mixture , which is sold by most retailers , neither burns the tongue , nor leaves an unpleasant taste upon the palate . Where only oue pipe of some tobaccos could bo smoked without harm or disagreeable after effects , the " calumet of peace " might be replenished with this admirable mixture ad infinitum .

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THE THEATBES , & c . THEATRE ROYAL , COVENT GARDEN .-PROMENADE CONCERT at S . HAYMAEKET .-At 8 , OUR AMERICAN COUSIN . PRINCESS'S . —At 7 . 30 , LOAE IN HUMBLE LIFE , aud QUEEN'S EVIDENCE . STRAND . —At 7 . 30 , OUR BITTEREST FOE . At 8 . 15 , ENGAGED . On Monday , THE AMBASSADOR FROM UELOW , and FOR LOVE OR MONEY . GAIETY .-At 7 . 30 , BLIND BEGGARS . At S , CHECKMATE , & c . On Monday , JEAMES . VAUDEVILLE . —At 7 . 30 , A WHIRLIGIG . At 8 . 0 . OUR BOXS , and A FEARFUL FOG . PRIJMCE OF WALES'S .-At 8 . 0 , DIPLOMACY . ADELPHI .-At 7 . 0 , FARCE . At 7 . 45 , PROOF , & c . COURT . —At 8 . 0 , OLIVIA . LYCEUM . —At 7 . 30 , FARCE . At 8 . 0 , MARY WARNER . ( Last Night . ) OLYMPIC—At 7 . 45 , THE WOMAN OF THE PEOPLE , and BETTY MARTIN . CRYSTAL PALACE .-This dav , LOVE CHASE . On Tuesday , EXTREMES . On Thursday , Firework Display , & c . Open daily , Aquarium , & c . OPERA COMIQTJE .-At 7 . 45 , CUPS AND SAUCERS . At 3 . 30 , H . M . S . PINAFORE . At 10 . 30 , FIVE HAMLETS . CRITERION—At 7 . 30 , THE PORTER'S KNOT and THE PINK DOMINOES . ALHAMBSA ,-At 7 . 40 , FARCE , FATIiNTTZA . THE GOLDEN AVREATH . & c . ALEXANDRA PALACE .-This Day , OPERA , FIREWORKS , NUBIAN CARAVAN ( Last Day ) , & c . On Monday aud Tuesday , Great Trotting Meeting . Upon daily . Hippodrome , & c .

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