Marywood Academy - Veritas Yearbook (Grand Rapids, MI)

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Y If IZ I 'I' .-X S THE GOLDEN BOND OF FRIENDSHIP Do we measure the worth of friends by their having approached certain standard requirements, by their having conformed to a restricted set of 1'ules, applying only on the surface and failing to include in their considerations the individual personal traits, which endear one to us? I am inclined to think not, for I believe it is these little characteristics which in their own way reflect one's friendly interest in all that con- cerns us. Friendship is some almost indefinable, mutual ground of understanding beginning with an awakened interest in the welfare of another. Friendship betokens sympathy and understanding. lt laughs with us and not at us. It is often considered to be against the Code of Ethics for a man to seek sympathy and complete under- standing to sustain him through his trials. To be a real man, he must be too inde- pendent for that. Yet I have seen cases, where it was not mere companionship but the true, solid wall of Friendship of a gentle wife which has brought to light the best in a man, enabling him to see his fellow creatures in a better light. Friendship alone can dispel the gloom when We stand in what seems a desert of grief, when the tongues of our dear ones are silenced to bear witness to God. Companions then may be only too willing to occupy our thoughts with effervescent chatter, but we yet seek that feeling of steady, ever ready strength which accompanies firm friendship. Friendship breaks away the Himsy barrier of flattery and establishes the permanent truth. Through it we come to overlook the flaws and seek for virtues. Through it we are able to understand that our worst friends are those who never have a word to say in criticism of our conduct. A Friend is as a crutch where we may grasp support when all other attempts have failedg one who is ever-ready to help us think out our problems to our best interest, like us for what we are, and in order to have a friend, in turn is a friend. -HELEN MCKENNA, '26. MEDIOCRITY llediocrity of ideals can be the downfall of individuals and of nations. Of itself mediocrity means holding up for oneself ideals only half as high as one is capable of reaching. Not to strive for the highest is to reach the lowest. Ilflany people aim high, but their work is only mediocre because, though the aim itself is high, they do not earnestly endeavor to reach it, and thus fall into a middle plane. llflediocrity is the common level, for comparatively few ever 1'each the stars. People whose aims are not lofty are not interesting, because they themselves are not interested in the best. -CATHERINE RENIHAN, '26. 1 9 2 6 I I F Page Thirty-three

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