The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-25

When 1 was younger and knew less
than 1 know now, but thought I knew
more, resolved that should l have a
choice in the selection Of my vocation the
next time I appeared upon this earth;
would preach. No, not that am at all
emotional, but the mystery Of the future
appealed to me. The wide field Of specu
lation that lies before the men who deal
with the soul and its relations to eternity
tempted the feet Of my magma ton
longed to walk therein, uutrammeIed by
facts or logic. Aand then, there was the
stimulation of the Sunday worship. with
it's little pomp and circumstance its sub
DUNG music, and the exhilarating magnet
ism Of numbers. To be able to guide
the minds of thousands along the narrow
paths of the unknown would be a voca-
ton of never ending interest The thought
OF saving souls from eternal punishment
did not influence my inclination, because
1 never believed souls were in danger
of punishment in the great beyond. This
was when 1 was younger, and knew less
of the world. I have in the interim learn
ed some of my own limitations, and with
the knowledge came hint of the llmita-
tons of the race. Speculation regarding
the great beyond has lost it's charm, and
in it's place has arisen an absorbing in
terest in the strange mixture of comedy
and tragedy which 1 see enacted daily
behind the great footlights of society l
have seen the play from the gallery. the
balcony and the dress circle. have oc-
cupied box and have also spent hours
behind the scenes. Some of the great
actors / have known and have felt the
pulse of their souls. I too, have at times
played an insignificant part Some an
plauded, others Kissed. But that's anoth-
er story
This life around us, with its passions,
its loves, it's tragedies. surpasses the
most realistic representation of the
stage. All literature, all art, all music
tends but to one end-the revelation of
| one soul to another. That which is best
within us we strive to express, that there
may be a clearer bond of human sym
! pathy between us and our fellows The
smile, the song, the poem, are but diff
! ferent manifestations of the human de-
sire to open wide the portals of the soul
| that others may see within.
The more active the desire to read
this riddle of life, the more interest We
have in those we meet. We long to
break down the barriers of reserve and
see with mortal eyes what this human
soul gets out Of life; how love and Joy
and sorrow, ambition and pride and
| shame, act upon the thoughts and
| through them mould the character To
! the sensitive and sympathetic, life is a
series of delightful surprises-it is an I'M
| explored region filed with the most
beautiful images Of all Gods handiwork
human souls. When We wrap our
selves about with mantle Of intolerance
| or conf1ne ourselves within the narrow
shell of social or religious dogmas, We
miss our eternal birthright
sympathy is the gentle rain that brings
| to life and light the rarest flowers OF
! the soul. He who strikes the personal
| chord in personal conversation is always
! interesting. If with skill this chord
| be struck, the soul opens before the eye
! like a bursting bud in June. There is
| nothing SO human as humanity. No 9th.
| er realm affords half the interest that q
! single sensitive soul may reveal 20 the
honest explorer. ! use the word soul
| in this connection because there is no
| better one to express the combination