The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-03-17
THE GEISHA.
(Continued.)
BY c. r. M.

The same thing had befallen Wendes
that happens to SC many Europeans
who take up their residence in pagan
lands. They abandon the religion of
their native land, and refuse to en-
brace that of, the land of their adop-
ton. Paganism seems too absurd to
be taken seriously, but the very atmos-
phere of inffdelity in which they live
and breathe little by little weakens
their Christianity, and they end by
abandoning it entirely, and even by
denying it's divinity. This gradual
weakening of those principles of faith
which they at first professed brings
in it's wake a general laxity of morals,
and they live like pagans, thus casting
opprobrirm on that very faith which
they still pretend to practice, and in
virtue of which they claim respect
from the pagans themselves.
The sound Christian training which
Wendes had received had in all these
years kept him from falling into the
grosser kind of excuses. But the ten
years spent in Japan had well nigh ex-
tinguished his faith in Christianity
For, he reasoned within himself, Chris
ianity is nothing else than the natural
effect of Western civilization, just as
Brahmanism, Buddhism and Confu-
cianism were the natural result Of the
evolution of human thought in the
far East. Mayer. however, being a
man of keen intellect, of upright prin-
ciples, and of the strictest morals,
after a sojourn of twenty years in
Japan had arrived at the opposite con-
clusion, that is to say, that all the
other religions, especially in all that
was contrary to Christianity, were the
mere productions of man, whereas
Christianity alone being in conformity
in every particular with the teachings
of the human heart and mind when
guided by the light of reason, was the
only true religion sent by God to man
for the salvation of the world.
Wendes' honeymoon was not of short
duration The gentle o Fana was so
good, so sweet-mannered, SO lovingly
in earnest about all that concerned her
liege lord, and at the same time her
merry, ripping laughter was ever ac-
companied by such thoughtfulness,
such caressing ways, indicative of a
deeper sentiment than mere childish,
puppy love, that Henry's affection went
on ever increasing. and he soon began
to consider himself really the happiest
of mortals from every point of view.
Prompted by love, her eye was quick
to discover his desires, his inclina-
tions, his little pleasures, and even his
personal whims. She resolved to con-
form to his every wish, and strive to
please him in every thing. For was
not he her greatest benefactor, her
first love, her god? and as to god,
did she devote herself with all the love
of which her nature was capable. In
the intensity Of her love for him she
appeared to have forgotten her native
village, the old home, her garden and
flowers, the, ripping and smiling wa
tiers of the Bay of Nagasaki, and even
her own mother.
4 M
AS Wendes returned each evening
from the Office o Fana was ever at the
outer door of the palatial mansion to
greet and welcome him; no hand but
hers could prepare and serve the de-
licious tea for his evening meal She
would talk with animation, and relate
the ancient legends and traditions Of
Japan, and then would thrunl the
sweetest and most enchanting airs on
her lutte, and with silver tones MARBLE
the softest and most rapturous music
he had ever heard.
The dwelling occupied by our friend
was a large, spacious mansion, sur
rounded on every side by a beautiful
grove, where flowers and campfire
trees lent at once an air of beauty and