The Princeton union., 1899-09-28

because you have no purpose in life
What do you ever do to make the world
better? You spend your time in club
life, in amusements, in travel, in lux
ury. What is there in such a life to at
tract a womanY'
"Not much, guess said Rollin,
with little laugh "Still, I don't
know that I am any worse than the
rest of the men around me. I'm not SO
bad as some. Glad to know your rea-
son." s.
He suddenly stopped, took off his hat,
bowed gravely and turned back. Rachel
went on home and hurried into her
room, disturbed in many ways by the
event which had so unexpectedly thrust
itself into her experience.
When she had time to think it all
over, she found herself condemned by
the very Judgment she had passed on
Rollin Page. What purpose had she in
life? She had been abroad and studied
music with one Of the famous teachers
OF Europe She had come home to Ray
mond and had been singing in the First
church choir now for year. She was
we'll paid. Up to that Sunday two weeks
ago she had been quite satisfied with
herself and her position She had shared
her mothers ambition and anticipated
growing triumphs in the musical world.
What possible career was before her ex-
cept the regular career of every singer?
She asked the question again and, in
the light Of her recent reply to Rollin,
asked again if she had any very great
purpose in life herself? What would
Jesus do? There was fortune in her
voice. She knew it, not necessarily as
a matter of personal pride or profess
slonal egotisn1, but simply as a fact,
and she was obliged to acknowledge
that until two weeks ago she had pur-
posed to use her voice to make money
and win admiration and applause. Was
that much higher purpose, after ALL
than Rollin Page lived for?
She sat in her room a long time and
finally went down stairs resolved to
have a frank talk with her mother
about. the concert company's offer and
her new plan, which was gradually
shaping in her mind. She had already
had one talk with her mother and knew
that she expected Rachel to accept the
offer and enter on successful career as
public singer
''Mother,'' Rachel said, coming at
once to the point, as much as she dread
ed the interview, II have decided not
to go out with the company. I have
good reason for it..
Mrs. Wlnslow was large, handsome
woman, fond Of much company, ambi-
tious for distinct place in society and
devoted, according to her definitions of
success, to the success of her children
Her youngest boy, Lewis, ten years
younger than Rachel, was ready to
graduate from a military academy in
the summer. Meanwhile she and Rachel
were at home together Rachel father,
like Virginia's, had died while the fam
lily were abroad. Like Virginia, she
found herself, under her present rule Of
conduct, in complete antagonism with
her own immediate home circle
Mrs. Winslow waited for Rachel to
go on.
"You know the promise I made two
weeks ago, mOther!
"Mr. Maxwells promise?''
''No, mine. You know what it was,
mother2'
Il suppose I do. Of course all the
church members mean to initiate Christ
and follow him as far as is consistent
with our present day surroundings. But
what has that to do with your decision
in the concert company's matter? p
''It has everything to do with it.
After asking, What would Jesus do?'
and going to the source of authority for
wisdom have been obliged to say that
1 do not believe he would in my case
make that use Of my voice.
''Why? Is there anything wrong
about such a career2"
''No; I don't know that I can say
there is.
''Do you presume to sit in Judgment
on other people who go out to sing in
this way? Do you presume to say that
they are doing what Christ would not
do?''
"Mother, wish you to understand
me. I judge no one else. condemn no
other professional singers. I simply de-
eide my own course. AS look at it, I
have conviction that Jesus would do
something else.'
"What else?'' Mrs. Winslow had not
yet lost her temper. She did not under
stand the situation or Rachel in the
midst of it, but she was anxious that
her daughters career should be as dis
tinguished as her natural gifts prom
ised, and she felt confident that when
the present unusual religious excite
ment in the First church had passed
away Rachel would go on with her
public life according to the wishes of
the family. She was totally unprepared
for Rachel's next remark.
"What7 Something that will serve
mankind where it most needs the serv-
ice Of song Mother, I have made up
my mind to use my voice in some way
so as to satisfy my soul that am doing
something better than pleasing fashion,
able audiences or making money or even
gratifying my own love Of singing I am
going to do something that will satisfy
me when I ask. what wOuld Jesus