The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-04-13
The SUCCESSFUL
PHILANTHR0pIST
By Elizabeth Mason

1--WE found her." saiu Peno.Ster.
He had just returned TO his lodgings
after weeks absence, and sat down
with his friends to talk thongs over.
Found her?'
Found my ideal woman" explained
Pendexter.
Now, Pendexter," warned Brent,
"you know you're always working
yourself up about ideals, and you are
always getting disappointed. Steer
clear of them. II you must have some
ruinous hobby, take up philanthropy.
That at least preserves your DISPOSE
ton"
Pendexter overlooked this irrever-
ence. He composed himself to relate
his experience.
"She was singing in a church," he
said.
Church! How happened you in
church,"
That's the point" said Pendexter,
seriously. Il went up into the town
one Sunday morning on an errand,
and passed this church, and hear
dng a woman's voice singing, was
somehow drawn inside Now | don't
care for music-don't know one note
from another Why should | have
gone in there unless it was to meet
my ideal?"
''She must have had something
wonderful in her throat to attract
you" Brent Knocked. Did you speak
to her?'
Il did. went to her, and not know
Ing what else to say, | told her |
had enjoyed her singing. She looked
up just like a child, and said, Thank
you, SIR in a most provincial accent,
and trlpped away"
Your IDEAL" said Brent, laughing,
was neither original nor we'll edu-
Gated"
Sat first own was slightly dis
appointed" confessed Pendexter. And
then l saw that no lily however fair
could grow absolutely perfect in such
poor soil. She was as beautiful as ma
ture could make her in such a place.
1t was a grave, innocent kind of
beauty, too, especially captivating to
a man like me. Still. the twang in
that soft voice and the little pro-
vincial manner were like a flaw upon
an otherwise perfect thing l deter
mined at once that somehow, some
way, l must remove that flaw. l
turned to a man near me and asked
her name. He said it was Mary Hale"
"Unromantic," pronounced Brent.
Romantic enough, however, Pen
dexter retorted, ito find her by. That
afternoon | sought her out at her
home. l did not dare to say | wished
to have her educated in pure accent
and more brilliant manner, so l
told her that l had particularly no.
ticed her voice for what | believed to
be rare brilliance and quality, and
that | would send her three years to
Europe to study"
I'll be hanged" calculated Brent
In wonder. What did she say?"
She burst out crying first" said
Pendexter. 'T don't just know why.
She said it had always been the dream
OF her life to go abroad and study.
She said music was everything in
life to her. She said she would reward
me by unceasing study and unfailing
pains. We shall change her idea a
little, think, later on She shall find
another way to reward me. Brent, il
this girl comes back, my personifed
ideal, as l think she will, will make
her my wife"
Brent smiled. she won't" he
said. You'd better go in at the start
Tor philanthropy"
Three years later Pendexters pro-
tege came home. She had achieved
no mean fame abroad, and was fol-
lowing an already established repu-
tation home. Pendexter she asked in
q delightfully."- grateful letter to him
some days before her arrival not to
see her until he heard her sing at
her first concert She said she wanted
him to be perfectly satisfied with her.
and that she would sing that night
especially for him. Later, when the
date was made, she sent him box
seats near the stage, and Pendexter,
bristling with satisfaction, called up-
on Brent to go with him.
They made little commotion as they
took their seats. Brent looked down
upon the glasses levelled at them and
smiled.
Il carry my point" he said. What
ever you may be when this night is
over, you are established for life as
philartmoplst. That girl has given
you al the credit due you at any