life, may well fear to submit to the critical tests sure to be applied
by such society.

I cannot better illustrate my meaning than by relating to you two
incidents that have come under my own personal observation. You all know
that in our old Eastern cities, which have so long been the homes of
wealth and learning, is to be found a society almost unequalled for its
high standard of intellectual culture and refined manners as well as for
beneficent actions. Two young Western women whom I have known, aspired
to gain access to and meet with recognition in a certain famous circle
of such people in one of these Eastern cities. Both young women were
graduates of Western universities, and had had really exceptional
advantages for acquiring a thorough collegiate education. One had been
surrounded by every possible helpful condition. Fond parents, possessed
of abundance of this world's goods, and admiring friends, had done
everything in their power to secure for her freedom from all other cares
while she was pursuing her studies. Being thus helped and petted and
praised and encouraged she seemed to feel that all circumstances and
everybody's convenience and comfort must give way for her plans and
interests. The other young girl was the eldest daughter of a poor widow.
She struggled through the university by teaching in vacation; renting a
poor little room in the town where the university was situated, and
cooking her own food, doing her own washing and ironing, living in the
plainest way, wearing cheap clothing, and eating the plainest food,
while she was pursuing her studies. Her struggles with poverty and
bitter circumstances taught her sympathy and kindness and helpfulness;
and though she was plain, very plain, in face and figure, the gentle
kindness of her spirit was apparent to all. As time passed on after
their graduation, both of these young women gained the goal of their
hopes and ambitions: an introduction to this brilliant and cultivated