Page:The Message and Ministrations of Dewan Bahadur R. Venkata Ratnam, volume 2.djvu/124

 soul-enchanting music!' As if I ever disowned the claims of the finest of fine arts! No; I only deplore the unfortunate association, the injurious relationship, that has been permanently created between musicand 'a fast life.' This alliance must be broken, this union must be dissolved, if the cause of Purity is to prevail. Such is our frailty that we are unable to give up some little indulgence. One friend is prepared to go with you the whole length of your principles and your programme, if only you excuse the old 'uncensurable' habit of 'snuffing.' Another friend would be glad to be at one with you, except that in his youthful days he so eagerly studied, and has thus imbibed the manner and phraseology of, light literature. These and such as these are not mere trifles ; they are tests, however small, applied to us when we undertake anything serious in this world. God prescribes certain tests, not that He may know what man is. but that he may perceive and judge ourselves. There are innumerable such tests which