of which you will tighten ten before you find one that will bear the
stretch and keep the pitch." "What an argument in favor of social
connections," says Lord Greville, "is the observation that by
communicating our grief we have less, and by communicating our pleasures
we have more." Horace Walpole has given clear expression to one of the
chief pleasures of friendship:
"OLD FRIENDS
are the great blessings of one's latter years. Half a word conveys one's
meaning. They have memory of the same events, and have the same mode of
thinking. I have young relations that may grow upon me, for my nature is
affectionate, but can they grow old friends? My age forbids that. Still
less can they grow companions. Is it friendship to explain half one
says? One must relate the history of one's memory and ideas; and what is
that to the young but old stories?" "Fast won, fast lost," says
Shakspeare. Says Dr. Johnson: "If a man does not make new acquaintances
as he advances through life, he will soon find himself left alone. A man
should keep his friendships in constant repair!"