I was introduced to Christian Science nearly sixty years ago when my sister and I were traveling in vaudeville. We became acquainted with two other young women who were on the bill with us. One evening after the show one of the women took me aside and said she wanted to tell me about Christian Science. This was purely an act of kindness on her part, for which I will never cease to be grateful. Later, in New York, she and her partner gave me a copy of the Bible, together with Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy. These books were my mainstay through the succeeding years.
During our show business years I frequently attended Wednesday evening testimony meetings at the local branch church, and relied a great deal on the Christian Science literature supplied in distribution boxes backstage in the theaters. I learned a lot by reading the Christian Science periodicals and was especially impressed by the testimonies of healing. From time to time I had healing experiences of my own as a result of prayer. These included the return of an iron taken from our dressing room, and the return of a wallet and all its contents (it contained the money to cover our living expenses for two weeks). The wallet had been accidentally left at the ticket window of a railroad station. In the first incident I knew that God had never made a dishonest person. In the second, I simply trusted that God was taking care of us, and so it was proved.
After nearly ten years in show business I returned to college and graduate school and acquired the necessary degrees, B.A. and M.A., for entering the type of work in which I was engaged for the next thirty years. I turned to Christian Science often for support and felt that without it I could not manage at all. Although I was rarely able to attend church and was not acquainted with any other Christian Scientist at that time, I subscribed to the periodicals, including The Christian Science Monitor. The Christian Science Sentinel was my constant companion.
