Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1889-05-30
AN A0NOsrIC's DAUGHTER.
A Young Lady Without a Religious Edu-
cation.
lphila,lell,liia Press I

'''S VI ""fiE i'''i tt f'"'T tttii aNtilut
The room. with It's book lined walls
bits of colored porcelain carved silver
artists dreams in marble and on can
vas, was beautiful enough, but tin
slim, sweet, timid creature, IN her sill
ver-gray dress, was radiant. She miah
have been taken for "A Quaker maiden
Tor u member Of some new order O
nuns, but for the daughter of tol. In
gersOll-never,
But there sat Miss Eva IngersolI il
a little slipper chair, beaining in tn,
lOveliness Of her youth and beauty
aud this is what she had to say re-
garding the Rev. DIR. Peck's address
before the general conference al TIA,
southern New England Methodist So
cieties. wherein he stated that Mr.
Ineersoll's daughters had beon.
church members:
That is about the fifth lime hay.
joined the church IN print. aud it is :.
ridiculous, bccatise neither my sister
nor myself have ever attended ser, ice
Once Mr.. Carnegie invited us to heal
Henry Ward Beecher. II was in tn,
evening. and the address he delivered
is the only one We have ever heard
Another time We went to DIR. Colver's
church to attend n friends wedding
and that is the extent of our knowl.
edge Of churches
" But why haven't you gone out oi
curiosity"
"Well, don't know. ! never had
any desire. somehow. have been
told that the music might b- enter
tanning. but I'm suret hat it can com
pare with operate ml,sic, and wego ito
some opera or concert three or four
nights II week. ] have read "a great
many sermons, but never was suili-
ciently pleased or interested to care to
near one. Our parents are not re-
spOnsible for our attitude. Indeed.
sister and | are more radical than
they. Father has always told Us that
he wanted us to realize the greatest
happiness in life. and advised us to ex-
anime Tor ourselves, and tn act in ac-
rOrdance with our convictions. We
have had books OF all kinds and all
sorts, and friends to exchange ideas
with. Father has read with us, and
tOgether we have looked up references.
localities and proof. but the more we
know about Christianity the less ad-
we have for it.
Just now We are studying the His
tory Of the lnquisition. and can't bear
10 think oi church orcreris Nv grand
ather. you know, WAS "a Gonrrrra.
-iOnal minister. but most of our rela-
ives have been extremely liberal.
They all believe in religion. ana so do
We, but neither they nor we are Chris
.ians. This distinction often amlises
he people We meet for the first time.
md they IN turn amuse us by almost
demanding an explanation"
As she talked her beautiful hands
we're playfully tying the long. silky
'ars oil a magnificent hunting dog
,cross his face.
Rust is one of the family. We've
lad him five years. Ills temper is alb
Olutely perfect. They tell us we have
poiled him. and perhaps that is
act, but father is too kind hearted to
'e hunter. He wouldn't kill a bird.
~ see one killed. for pleasure. and
hats why Rust has been allowed to
i've i'm the family and get spoile,l .
standing against her knee. with his
ace IN her lap. and the perfect golden
'rown oil his coat contrasting with I he
IelIcate silver gray of her dress, the
wo were n picture for II l.andseer
"Did ever pray? Never. We were
ever taught prayers as children. but.
ihen old enough to reason. mother
elected the prayers that are consid-
red most beautiful and touching, and
old us. as she always did in making
elections, of poetry aud prose. to read
hem carefully AMI learn he ones that
'leased us. None pleased me esta.-
Tally, and didn't commit any oi !
hem to memory. could not see the
iisdom OF praying for or against things
knew were beyond human influence.
And never priced "A Bible as most
iris do. not even in silver or ivory |
overs. don't like the book because
here are too many improbable and |
npossible things IN 1t. and, worse han |
hat, it abounds in crueltles.
We doubtless seem horrible people |
n you believers, but we ale very happy |
u ether, and # my parents are as |,
o'ous as some people fancy them
hey must still have many very re |
eeming qualii les of mind and heart /
ecause IL is II tax for them tn make
ew friends, the old ones are so numci- /
us and so exacting in their affection. |
n all my life ] have never heard u |
ross word spoken by my parents. I
lther to one or the other. or to my /
ster or myself.
.'SchOOl? We never went to school t
day in our lives. Mother preferred /
o have us trained mt home under Ler 1
wn supervision, and father made out |
he course OF study and allowed us to /
lake optional whatever We liked. We
re stupid enough, but it is all our own /
,ult."
The mO,lesty Of Miss Ingersoll did .
Ot permit her to state that she is a
Ose student, and takes great pride i'm
er lessons. Every day she learns a
ssOn for French, German and vocal /
eacher, finds time for several hours of
ractice, and personally cares for her
ardrobe-not only designing, bn. ac-
lally making all her own dresses.
Miss lngersOll always has two dresses
II silver-gray cashmere made with a
)und waist laid with cross plaits. be-
veen which is set a vest or "N'' of
DIT white silk. About the neck and
eeves is finish OF gray ribbon, and
AZ straight skirts are simply stitched.
long gray cl,sik and Il gray hat. with
gray silk veil and gray gloves, com
lete the toilet in which she walks.
isits, drives, goes to afternoon enter
ainments, studies aud receives morn
lg callers. Her evening dress is made
white silk or nuns yelling. and i'm
ut one fashion, gathered skirts, round
aist, with Y neck and hall sleeves.
Miss Maud Ingersoll. who is n de-
ded brunette. wears black lace. Nei-
Ter daughter has ever been seen on
ne street alone. the mother or aunt
ways acting as, moi "A chaperon, but
companion. They know nothing
bout shopping, larks, slang chums or
eaux, and there never has been a
me so merry or party so gay that
lese beautiful creatures We're induced
} leave the terrible infiiel and his