The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-26
WHAT ABOUT THIS NUNp
Would She Have Been Happier in
the WOrldf

Mother Cecilia OF the Ursuline Convent.
left her cloister last week at the direction
OF her superiors and physician. to take
trip to Babylon. for the benefit of her
health. When she crossed the threshold
of her convent 1t was her first glimpse
of the outside world for ffty-five years.
She had never had a ride on railroad.
had never seen a high building, and was as
astonished as Alice in Wonderland might
have been every step OF her journey from
the convent to the end of her destination.
The Brooklyn Eagle" commenting on
Mother Cecelias long LIE Of self-efface-
ment. has this to say editorially concern
ing her method OF spending her life.
Now, one cannot help asking whether
this woman has missed much that ia worth
while during the years that she has been
living a life of quiet contemplation In the
Bronx region. She had inherited for
tune of $1,000 and at the age of seven
teen years she gave it and herself to the
convent. She has not had the worries
and the anxieties that perplex people who
take an active part in life and she has
grown old peacefully and quietly. Is the
stress and strife of competitive life worth
while? Ii must be confessed that most msn
think so, for they engage in struggle for
success. If they stop the struggle they die.
The active business man who is willing to
retire when he has made q comfortable
fortune is the exception. 1t often happens
that when the demands of business are
withdrawn the man dies. He has no other
resource. The habit OF quiet contempla-
tion has not been cultivated. He cannot
loaf and invite his soul. He must "hus-
tie and beat his competitors, and keep
at it SO long as he lives. And he is best
contented II he dies suddenly, as c. P.
Huntington had Just died.
The strenuous life has not touched this
nun. It's ambitions and it's heartburns have
not caused her a sleepless night and she
has lived her life developing the graces OF
character from the seeds implanted in her
mind and heart, and she will doubtless
die when her time comes more content
than half of the people who have known
and experienced more of what men are
pleased to call modern progress.
The wonders OF this progress are ma
terial. however as the preachers are wont
to say. The men and women who ride in
electric cars or in automobiles are made
of no better stuff than their ancestors.
Their purposes are no higher and IL all
achievement depends on the motive be-
hind 1t their humane institutions and be-
nefcent charities make them no more wor-
thy than the past generations with their
cruder and rougher ways. What is mod
ern progress that it should be boosted of
SO loudly? The telegraph makes the world
smaller and facilitates the accomplishment
of villany as well as of virtue. The print
ing press disseminates vicious as well as
elevating literature. And the schools edu-
cate criminals as well az respectable cIti-
zeBs. With all the external changes hu.
manty is pretty much the same. and this
nun, though she had not ridden on a rail-
road until Tuesday. will be found to be
very like her kfnsfolk who have lived out
side Of a convent save, perhaps, her ways
will be more direct and simple and less
complicated by considerations OF social
convention. The clustered fife has adyal>-
tages. else there would not be people who
would take to it,