books, and to do as nearly as possible that which is right. This you have accepted with the beautiful faith that comes only to a child. As you near womanhood, you begin to think about the meaning of things. You decide for yourself what is right, you make a public announcement of your belief and of your intention to live up to that belief. Almost invariably this is followed by an effort to live what you think is a spiritual life. You mark out for yourself certain pages that are to be read, you think out the prayers you wish to say, you are willing to work for the cause in which you believe, and nothing gives you so much joy as the absolute giving up of yourself, mind and body, to religion. This is what might be called the ecstasy of religion. You who are feeling it will think that I am cruel in saying that it is almost worse than no religion at all, because all such violent emotions have their opposites and are certain to turn sooner or later in that direction.
RELIGION WITHOUT RELIGION
Wrapped up in prayer you find your daily duties troublesome; uplifted by heavenly words you regard the ordinary speech of life as coarse; thinking of the lives of saints and martyrs you seem wicked, and there is an absolute pleasure in reminding yourself of that fact. Now, my dear girl,
