The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-23
How the War Progresses in the
City and Country.
PULPIT AND PUG" PIT.
Recruits Wanted for the Cold
Water Brigade.
HARRY ELLIS PRAYER MEETING.

the corner and red light shone from within a tall
glass case the door OF the gathering place for
repentant inebriates in Houston street.
Il tell you, boy,n said notwithstanding fellow,
with a shabby pin his shirt bosom, which was !
rather OF the shade carr az ta, 'that this Harry
Hin Is a smart man. He knows which side of mis-
bread is battered and no mistake. Don't you
think SO gn
.Wel / don't know about that" answered the
more philosophical OF the two roughs, one OF whom
was IA middieweight, While the first speaker could
not have been more than VIZ pounds. 'You see as
low the matter stands. Them wmmen up stairs
IL ali right on sartin things Some on 'em is a lit
tie hon habout wot you and knows; but, Lord
bless your SOUL ii we all TO think the same
way there wouldn't be a sparring exhibition in
the blessed country. SO says, let them ave 1t
hout; 1t 'elps the bar, blessed If nit don't"
The crowd in the street who waiting to get
into the upper part OF the saloon was very large,
and for some moments the Houston street cars
we're blocked until they found ingress to
the ark OF the covenant established by Harry
Hill. narrow, outside ana winding WOODEN
stairs, not more than three feet wide, with roof
on it ike schooner yachts cabin, led to the
second moor of the theatre, which was to be used
for the fourth sunday night a house or prayer.
And what a motley assemblage 1t was, that
swarm OF young men and women backguards and
characters had been botted rom tile book OF De-
cency and Home; young men, with flushed faces
who sucked yirulently at the broken ana fragment
tary ends OF cigars; honest looking and earnest
women, with hymn books in their hands, hoping
to convert souls, and with lar OF look in their
eyes, as II they had seen the Throne OF Grace in
dream; boxers and prize fighters, women OF the
town and their wrerched parasites newspaper
men ana swells about town. VINO wanted anything
Avn rho Of hrt,,s ito
for moment They all iumoled together,
crowding and pushing as II for dear life, and the
EXPLANATIONS were varied; and let it be said here
that some OF them were not or strictly devo-
tIonal nature
AS the outsiders got inside 100 combined voices
we're heard chanting III unison -
Nearer, God, to Thee
- That raise N me,
stu all NY song shall a De
TO fheel
In this place. where the spectator might not
without past testimony 70 avail MIN, have
hear the call for 'Ilme ~ from that ancient Olym-
Plan, Bill Iovee The voices OF prayer and praise
were now ascending to the ralters.
Inside the ''Varieties iheatre'i the audience or
congregation, or notn, were packed tght her.
.ngs or as the decks OF Fulton 1erryboat at six
O'Clock OF a summer evening.
1T was sea OF heads, and in this comparatveiv
small theatre there were perched some 200 or 500
men and women facing the garsn curtain and
looking with eager curiosity at the crowded stage
winch came out IN the shape OF raised wooden
triangle toward the people. On this stage were
seated man named McMullen, who Is known as
the President oil the National Temperance society,
VINO a black cloth mock coat, vest and
pantaloops aud white pecStie. His hair on
the top OF his head thin, il from incessant
wrestling with the nesh, and behind HIM sat a
brace OF secretaries VINO had worked-out look.
and were quite meek III action. A round table
was covered with printed hymns and tracts and
hymn books, and to the rear and surrounding this
table TOUR or i've rows deep, and sitting IN
looked the heads OF the men and
1t the outskirts OF the assembiage, and who re-
turned the looks OF their purer sisters with very
hardened ana suspicious glances. Not to put too
whispered another Tired OF the snow.'
aud were merely waiting "to get drlrk'' as soon
The foremost ngure ON the stage was Harry HIll
his close compact and admirably athletic figure,
attired In the black clothes of a deacon, and his
rudy face closely shaver. To the writer OF this
he sa d. in stage whisper, as be came M
''hif You ave to speak to me tonight. haddress
me Brother tNl I'm registered"
Alter the singing OF the Lrst hymn and when
somewhat or silence mad been restored, Brother
McMuien. as he IS called, read some statistics, In
which he stated that l, 425 persons mad signed the
pledge, and that nifty rumshops had been Visited,
Dat OF which number six only had closed.
Mr.. McMuilen slated also thai there had been
various erroneous reports il the newspapers 10
the effect that while those sabbath temperance
meetings had been held strong pquor had been
sold IN Harry Hlli's, and be was there to deny it,
TAT this point Harry smiled beautiful
smile and then subsidized. Harry Hill,
the speaker went on TO say, had met
proprlety, and his beheavior aad been that OF
gentleman TO the ladies'. Harry Hill mere tried 10
look awfuIly modest; but the boys laughed a little
solemn laugh, at which Harry seemed TO be very
much shocked, and glanced around at his auditory
with an admonitory glance.
MIR. MCMuLLEN AS Mr.. Hi says himself, the
Christian and carpeted churches refused to sus.
pend their services for day TO allow us to deliver
the doctrine OF temperance to the unfortunate,
and he gives us his place ree and with good viii
to let the people hear that which they should
hearken 10.
HARRY HILL ito the HERALD reporter, in soto
cocel You see, got letter from these people to
preside at their meeting at Association Han last
wees before the Young MEMS Christian Associa-
tion bat, conscientiousiy, between you and me,
could lot preside want to give them show. and
all that; but there IS lay conscience, you know.
Are you dryy
and gentlemen, that Harry Hill has done more
than all the churches put together, ana let the
credit be given 20 him.
HAIRY HILL tagan to the reporter in
Mhisperl-l gives you my word this is no cap.
He's DONG 1t all hisse. (Out loud.) Horder,
Mr.. NcMULLEN-We have been told That 1t is
sacrilegous to come to Harry HIPS and speak tenn
perance. But we have worKed wonders and we
shall 20 to the end until the rumseliefs VIII
have TO close their dens' AND before we leave
his rum trade. lCneers)
HARRY HILL lin Whisper They'll ave up Ill
work, think, 10 do it. I've got some fine old ale
down stairs VI hen thes go ome.
Mr. MCMULLEN-Aew, Harry Hill says that he
does not believe in drunkaras, and that it is the
abuse and not the OF itquor that ruins man.
KIND. Now, that's wnere differ WITH my Trend
Harry.
HARRY HILL asidel-He's my friend, he is.
Well he's good talxer.
Mr. McMUiLBlE-I am certain that ! would az
soon moderate drlnker put red not poker
down his throat as to see MN TAKE one drink OF
rum.
HARRY HILL aside)-But the moderate dfnker
would rather ave the drink than tue poker.
AT this stage the interest Ia the proceed
,ngs was very vivid One OF Harry HDFs
waiter girls was Sitting on top OF huge
barrel stove winch had no fire ia IL, and over her
head notice which stated that the 'grandese
sparring testimonial OF the season" was TO be
gwen In honor OF that es teemed citizen and emf
nent scientist. "Butt ReiIly,p on next Thursday
AFTERNOON, and that all me ''talent' were to AS
sisf." There was to be some wrestling by DARBY
Doyle" and "Joe Ryan," and 'Johnny Murphy"
and zoe Ioburnm were 90 ''winu up.n There
were various signs all around, one OF which was
printed ia bold characters
8