I hear the voice of the Cynic.

Friendship is a myth. In prosperity and sunshine you find yourself
surrounded by flatterers and so called friends, but let the waves of
adversity beat about and threaten to engulf you--then stretch forth
your hands for the friends you have known and you will find yourself
stranded and--alone. There may be a few timid, shrinking creatures who
feel they would like to give the right hand of fellowship, but popular
opinion and example prove too much for their weak natures and it is but
charity to let them go.

"There are times when we are even inclined to smile at our own misery,
but it is the smile which brings wrinkles instead of dimples."

* * * * *

* * * * *

The Philosopher is saying:

"Time in its resistless onward sweep" has taught us many things; has
disabused our minds of many false ideas and erroneous views, has opened
a new world to the thinking mind--a world of thought. When God created
man he gave to him the divine instinct of reason, by which all persons,
high and low, rich and poor, can solve for herself and himself the great
problem of life. Very young children can only see objects that come
within easy range of their vision; they are in the world of instinct,
but after a time their vision becomes enlarged, they are able to see a
greater distance, and in the larger space; more to arrest the eye--then
comes consciousness. After consciousness--reason. The minds of many