It is, next to marriage and parenthood, the most exacting of human relationships.

For this reason few men and women can have a great friendship that does not lead to marriage, and at the same time have a complete marriage with another.
For this reason again, the great friendships are generally between two unmarried men or two unmarried women.
=The Newly Wed and Old Friends.=--Much is written of the sad disillusion experienced by the newly wedded man when he finds his friends are not as welcome at his new fireside as he had expected.
These friends of his are not of the sort prophesied by the love of David and Jonathan, but they are valued comrades and he has anticipated sharing the delights of his new home with them.

Many a woman in her desire to be all in all to her husband and in the selfish absorption of an undisciplined affection, starts married life the wrong way by making no place in the home life for these old friends of her husband's bachelor life.

That reacts often in the worst possible manner upon his affection for her.

She forgets too often that she is not called upon to give up her friends.