Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-03-29
From Our Regular Correspondent
Paris Letter.

IAhlSb rEtUCc, DlaTCu ID, 1907.
Tonight the Paris branch of the salya-
ton army held special review of its
forces ON the anniversary of the first estab-
lishment of the army in France. Being
special service the audience were in their
places punctually at the hour indicated-a
quarter past eight; but stragglers kept
coming in until the hall, which holds some
1900 people, was crowded to excess. This
number was made up principally Of appa-
rently poor workmen, their wives and
children. The men came in their blouses
or workday clothes, kept their caps on
their heads. and, except that they abstained
from smoking, in obedience TO notice on
the door, behaved with the freedom and
ease of a music hall audience. The earnest
manner in which most of those present
Joined in the hymns, however, proved that
they were not mere spectators. and l was
astouished to notice that many rough, IN
kempt, brutal looking men, whom one
would not have expected to find assembled
except at socialist meeting or In a wine
shop, sang the cantices by heart without
reference to book.
The service was conducted principally
by Miss Booth, the leader of the French
branch, n tall. thin, earnest looking young
lady whose father, General Booth, had
come over from England especially for the
anniversary meeting. Various other off
GERS, male and female, were present, all
wearing the uniform Of the army adorned
with coat Of arms and tho letter IS"
while some wore badges or arnlets bearing
the words "Armee do Salu :" The choir
having taken seats at the back Of the plat
form, behind the chief Officers and the
leading musician cornet player, the
proceedings were opened by Miss Boob,
who read out the first verse Of a hymn with
the refrain Tout est bien; oui, tout est
bien." The congregation having sung
this to cornet and violin accompaniment,
another verse followed, and so on to tho
end. Extempore prayers were then offered
up by some Of the lady officers. to which
the congregation in all earnestncss repeat
eddy responded amen Other hymns.
all set TO popular tunes, one Of which l
recognized as closely resembling d" Nal
brouck sen va.t-en guerre," or We won't
go home till morning." followed, and then
a number Of French converts related the
circumstances of their being saved. ~
Frequent applause greeted these rcvels-
tions, and an occasional mocking laugh
was quickly silenced by the energetic
speakers. Indeed, the most remarkable
feature of the whole proceedings was the
astonishing degree of order maintained
among as rough collection Of people as
it would be possible to find in any capital
This is the more curious, rs all the leaders
Of the movement, although speaking
French fluently, were marked by strong
English accent, which would have excited
derision had the crowded audience been
less earnestly disposed. Up to the moment
when l was obliged to withdraw, not the
slightest disturbance had taken place, and
the we'll behaved crowd of workmen, al
though not enthusiastic, seemed deter
mined to maintain order should brawling
be attempted. The army. has evidently
taken hold Of large number of people
during its year of existence. No other
form Of religion could have boosted such
an assembly Of the lowest class of Paris
ians as that collected in the hall tonight,
and though the proceedings to m unaccus-
toned eye and ear were decidedly eccentric
it must be acknowledged that they fully
achieved deserved success.