The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-17
A Rich Girls Freak.

The MORNING NEWS a few days ago contained
dispatch from New York city that to the great
establishment Of her many church and society
friends, Miss Emma Van Norden, a belle and
the Oldest daughter Of President Warner Van
Norden of the Bank of North America of that
city, had Joined the Salvation Army. Miss Van
Norden's interest in the army, says a later dis
patch, has long been known. but it was not
thought she would be exception to the many
society women who have hung upon Mrs.
{ darlington Booths utterAnces, and only
contributed 70 the cause But she vas
init ated into the army after the great
conference Of three weeks ago, donued
the uniform at the time, and has been
wearing it on active duty ever since. She still
lives with her parents on West Forty-eig
street, and. as special concession from the
army officials, displaces her bonnet by a turban
while at home.
Miss Van Norden is a sweet-faced young
woman with attractive face. She is %
years old. and since her nth year has been an
active worker in the Sunday school Of DR..
KiJtredge's church, at Fifty-seventh street
ana Madison avenue Her father, Mr.. Van
school, and all the family have been active in
the church for many years.
Miss Van Norden has now renounced all con-
nectIOn with her former church, and dedicetes
herself entirely to the army and its meetings.
Il is said that her family and friends feel this
step Of hers more keenly than any Of the others
which she has taken. Up to two months ago
every influence was brought to bear by her
family to prevent her joining the army. But
Miss Van n orden has always been noted for a
viii of her own. and in this instance the will
did not fail TO assert itself.
The only surprise her friends feel now Is that
she should have compromised on the bonnet
question and not gone to live at the army bar
RACKS, but this is said to have been done out of
respect to her fathers wishes. The order alb
solving her from wearing the bonnet came
from Gen. Booth himself as his daughter-in-
law, Mrs. Darlington Booth, is said to have been
the instrument Of Miss Van Norden's CONVEX
sion, and among officers 4 the army generally
the young girl, from both her wealth and social
position, il regarded as a star convert
Miss Van Norden's duties so far have been
confined entirely to the hall where meetings are
being held. She is q fluent sneaker and her
strong personality is said to have great effect
upon her hearers. man who had heard Miss
van Norden speak at one of these meetings said;
Miss Van Norden spoke in a simple, plain
spoken manner. She has evidently studied
closely the method if not the manneriSms Of
Mrs. Balington Booth She said that during
the last year great change had come into her
life. she looked at things in different light.
She thought that she could do more good by
Joining the Salvation Army and working
shoulder to shoulder with so many other earnest
men and women than by merely doing what lit
tie good she could in her own small individual
way"
Few families living in New York to-day can
date back further than the Van Nordens. They
came to this country from Holland in 1641 and
nave always since taken more or less active
part in the country's welfare Miss Van Nor
den's father is several times a millionaire Be-
sides being president Of the Bank of North
America he Is identified with a number of rail
roads He is a member of the st. Nicholas and
Holland societies. He seems to feel keenly the
notorIety of the affair and will not discuss the
matter. Nor will Miss Van Norden give her
reasons for taking this radical step.