The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-04-22
SALVATION ARMY MEETING.
The UnifOrm-The Wicked Crowd and TIA,
Grinning, Idle Herd.

The UnifOrm-The Wicked Crowd and the
Grinning, Idle Herd.
Prentice Mulford's Boston letter.
The other Sunday 1 attended an afternoon
meeting of the Salvation army at the Boyls-
ton museum. Admission 10 cents. Ticket
sellers in the box and all the outside adjuncts
Of a variety performance. Within were two
stout policemen, sand evidently an extra force
of ushers to keep order. They were needed
In the rear of the large audience there was
apparently delegation Of Boston sroughest
Fortune placed ME in their very midst.
The stage was full, the uniformed army
in front and their more numerous adherents
out of uniform behind. The uniform of the
masculine portion of the army is confined to
a red undershirt above black pantaloons,
and the ugliest apparel ever worn in any
cause The women were attired in plain
black, with an occasional bit of red trim
ming. Each bore a tamborine One pri-
vate was ensconced behind a huge bass
drum
The wicked crowd in whose midst 1 found
myself jeered, scoffed and made very audi
BILE comments on each member as he or she
prayed, sung or exhorted. The leader of
the army would occasionally reproYe
q Soeffer near him or direct toward
him the attention of the policemen. As
the house was packed 1T was difficult for the
officers to get at the direct offenders When
they spotted their man they quietly walked
him out. These turbulents seemed dOcile
enough in tie officers hands, but when re-
proved or approached by either of the two
army picked guards, who circulated among
the audience selling The War Cry, they were
rude and abusive. a long file of well dressed
boys were walked out by the policeman.
"They made me laugh, couldn't help it."
remarked one to an acquaintance as he dis
appeared through the doorway.
"Hofficer, put that man hin the gallery"
said the army commander. The "hoficer"
paid no attention at all to the Captains"
orders, and maintained an immovable atti-
tude The policemen seemed to consider
that they knew their business better than the
Captain"
One of the army ladies and officers at
tempted to sing a solo. Her voice refused to
climb up to the summit of her aspirations
The crowd laughed. Il don't care if 1 do
break down." said she, sits all for Jesusl"
An older sister seemed bit of shrew,
and while talking love and gentleness on one
hand berated the disturbers with the other,
and charged them With "no bringing up"
at all
1t was a strange sight, a curious one and
painful one withal. Perhaps our instincts
are in many respects surer guides than aught
else, and mine repel the sight of women as
Stunning such situations before the public. 1
do not confine this opinion to the army. 1
saw, not long since on Boston common, a
nlatronly old lady who sat ali day in tent
and sold peanuts as the forfeit of an election
bet ALI that day was she surrounded by a
curious, grinning idle herd, composed
mainly of the loungers who are the first to
crowd about anything unusual 1t seemed
to ME a most unseemly and undignifed pub
lie exhibition, and had that Indy been rel
alive Of mine l think on that day would
have given Boston common a wide berth"