Американская трагедия

           Andinconsequence,eachinturn—nothardeninghisheartexactly—butthinkingtwice—anddecidingno—theremustbesomebetterway—lesstroublesometoChristians—apublichall,perhaps,towhichChristians,ifproperlyappealedtothroughthepress,mightwellrepair.AndsoMrs.Griffiths,inallbutoneinstance,rejectedinthatfashionandtoldtogoelsewhere—whileinregardtotheCatholics—instinctively—becauseofprejudice—aswellasacertaindullwisdomnotinconsistentwiththefacts—shefailedeventosomuchasthinkofthem.ThemerciesofChristasinterpretedbytheholderofthesacredkeysofSt.Peter,assheknew,werenotforthosewhofailedtoacknowledgetheauthorityoftheVicarofChrist.

           Andthereforeaftermanydaysspentinfutileknockingshereandthereshewasatlastcompelled—andinnolittledepression,toappealtoaJewwhocontrolledtheprincipalmovingpicturetheaterofUtica—asinfultheater.Andfromhim,thisshesecuredfreeforamorningaddressonthemeritsofherson’scase—"Amother’sappealforherson,"itwasentitled—whichnettedher,attwenty-fivecentsperperson—theamazingsumoftwohundreddollars.Atfirstthissum,smallasitwas,soheartenedherthatshewasnowconvincedthatsoon—whatevertheattitudeoftheorthodoxChristians—shewouldearnenoughforClyde’sappeal.Itmighttaketime—butshewould.