Correspondents and Critics. 265 



Let me particularize. Seven of my corre- 

 spondents have inquired anxiously about my 

 religion. Now, I take it that if there is one 

 subject above another that is a purely personal 

 matter, it is a man's way of thinking on re- 

 ligious subjects. Much as he may delight in 

 hearing sermons or following the intricacies of 

 more or less elaborate rituals, and generally as 

 he may approve of this, that, or the other sect, 

 he is, if truly religious, a law unto himself, and 

 if he is astray and ultimately misses heaven, it 

 is his loss and not a reflection on his more for- 

 tunate neighbors. It is scarcely going too far 

 to say, if any one sees fit to ignore the whole 

 subject and take the chances, it is not the busi- 

 ness of his neighbors to interfere. I write this 

 without a trace of impatience or ill nature. The 

 world thinks otherwise. I took the trouble once 

 to say what I have just written, and what a raking 

 over the coals was the result ! My correspond- 

 ent claimed to have "a call" to change the 

 current of my thoughts and turn me into an 

 unfamiliar path, and her peace of mind was 

 only acquired by a second communication, still 

 insisting I was religiously incorrect. Particularly 



