Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, No. 738, February 16, 1878

The essay opens with a gentle reminder that seeking friendship is a natural part of being human, yet countless people never taste its simple pleasures. It examines why some individuals, though they claim to like company, keep themselves apart because of imagined barriers, self‑imposed caution, or an uncomfortable self‑image. By comparing the shy “hedgehog” that rolls into a ball with the weary socialite who dresses up a home for a single evening, the author paints vivid pictures of everyday social friction.

The piece then turns to the social masks we all wear—fancy furnishings, strained apologies, and the silent competition of status that keeps neighbours apart. It shows how rumors and first impressions can produce false character sketches, much like counterfeit coins, and urges listeners to weigh friendships with care. While encouraging genuine sociability, the essay warns against careless mingling that leaves one “defiled” by unsuitable companions.