Arizona republican., 1901-04-12

from the enterprise of quitting drink.
 Now let us contemplate the far more critical case of the young man who would rescue from danger the young woman Strolling homewards, his soul intent upon sublime and goodly thoughts, he stumbles upon her in the street, attractive, intelligent, but a little the worse for liquor, or for some
 thing else. To make it easier, he is an artist independent in his studio; he
 deals with models in the routine of his
 business. and has therefore means at
 hand for succoring her. Of course the
 girl may often be much less far gone than this; but to save words and be
 explicit, take her as above. Finding herself housed, fed, and treated with consideration. she is grateful; the grat- itude of women for what seems genu-
 inc kindness passes belief. Her savior 1 leads her to the contemplation of the good and the true. ard she, identifying
 these qualities with him. is more than
 ever grateful. and begins to find her gratitude lapsing into something more pei sonal and ardent.
 Here comes crisis, which may have
 one of three different issues. He may
 reciprocate her love, and marry her: or he may conceive a passion for her,
 and make her his mistress; or he may do neither, and redouble his exhorta- i tions tQ abstract virtue In the first case let us hope for the best: there is perhaps an even chance for it. In the
 second event, the mans sense of humOr, or perception of congruity. probably in hibits him from any longer preaching confluence. and instead of continuing
 to point her to the heights, he aud she l both subside into the easy going val ! leys. But if the third alternative oc- CUTS (and 1t does occasionally, as does snow in June) the girl begins to think | that since God (for she has practically i identified her benefactor with God) does not care for her there Is nothing left her to make life worth her while; and | tragedy is more apt to follow than in either of the other contingencies.
 Her depression first leads her to con- sole herself with the old consultations;
 the reaction from which. together with the reflection that she has been recre- ant to her promises to reform, and has thus convicted herself of ingratitude- basest of crimes to her thinking-deep- ems her dejection into despair. Now
 she is ripe for rashness! and if, on the top of this, the god of her idolatry dis | covers her backsliding and upbraids her with abandonment, it Is q hundred 10 one that she draws the razor or pulls the trigger. and the end has come. Can we blame the man? His treat
 ment of her has been more than just and logical, it has been magnanimous and altruistic. has it not? Yes, appar- ently; but yet, let him question his soul. Were his motives in ministering to this unfortunate purely abstract and
 impersonal? Was it nothing to him that she was pleasant to look at and to listen to- and that her neighborhood was congenial? Did he never plume and preen himself little over the thought that he was doing rather a fine thing? And did this thought not lead him to share to some degree in her conviction that she owed him a debt. which only the most abject service and loyalty could requite, if indeed it could be requitted at all? And, when he found that she still retained her hu- man weakness. did not his indignation q little transcend the abstract and inn personal jealousy for good, and assume a personal color? Did he not, in short, believe that he owned her, had right to her, all rights in her, and that her fall was a personal insult to himself? And when he upbraided her. did he not permit some allusions to her de- pendence on him, and to that incalcul- able debt. to creep into his remarks?
 If this were so, we may no doubt say that it was only human on his part
 only what anybody might feel and do in his shoes. But must it not also be said that he had no business to play at Providence unless he was possessed of the attributes of Diety God can 'iea
 with human souls because He is selgess love and pure wisdom. The only thing that can justify a finite human crea- ture in dealing with another human soul is that he shall pledge his own soul and life to the work, with no turn ing back or reservation: that his only sef-seeking shall be to seek his own happiness and welfare in the welfare and happiness which he may be able to engender in that other Hn shall never permit himself to think that he can have any rights or proprietorship in any other soul; that he can ever by any sacrifice or service. establish any relations between them of debit and
 credit.
 The service of love is without reward,