Her Own Woman

A thousand men proposed to her. She had offers from millionaires, farmers, businessmen, fishermen and vagrants. Even after her 70th birthday, proposals came in such quantities that her secretary did not bother to show her the letters. She was not an actress or a movie star, but she had a tremendous following of thirty‑eight thousand men and women, who became ambassadors of goodwill in 86 countries. Her name was Evangeline Booth and she headed the Salvation Army. After retirement, she swam and did fancy diving as though she were still eighteen. She was a tremendous woman‑‑administrator, musician, and friend to thousands. When she was interviewed by a reporter, she said that her secret was this: "I live for others. My deepest desire is to make every person I meet a little better because I have passed this way."