The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1886-04-30

Blindness did not prevent him from study
ing for the ministry as soon as he was old
enough, however.
The future chaplain was born In Phila-
delphia in 1923 When only 20 years old he
was admitted as a preacher in the Methodist
Episcopal church. He was famous itinerant
through the southern states. 1t is said that
he Travelled in that capacity over 200, 600
miles. Nor is the present his first expert
ence even as chaplain of the house of repre-
sentatives. He filed that office thirty years
ago under Buchanan. After his term of
service was over there he went to England
and lectured with great success. He is an
eloquent and attractive speaker. The fact of
his blindness adds an interest which has
touch of romance tn his ministerial labors.
Rev. Mr.. Milburn is also well known as a
writer, having published several books,
among them ''Rifie, AK and Saddlebags,"
and pioneers, Preachers and People of the
Mississippi Valley"
He is accustomed to doing unusual things,
as also to taking his own head for things.
Once he took it into his head that he would
not be a Methodist preacher any more. Then
he had himself confirmed in the Episcopal
church. But whether there was not enough
emotional religion in the Episcopal fold, or
SOafe OtueI ISdSoi uc Was uob StIlSue0
there and returned to { Methodist denomi-
nation in 1872.
AS chaplain of the house, he is accustomed
to inform the Almighty of the sins of the
American people in the most vigorous and
unmistakable manner. The prayer which
has stirred up SO much comment was one in
which he prayed the Lord to rid the land Of
brokers and stock gamblers and other people
who do not earn their bread by the sweat of
their brow. .
Chaplain Milburn is now physically, al
though in his Gath year, as strong and ro-
bust as most men of 30, and his intellect is
of more than common power. He can give
more accurate descriptions of Westminster
Abbey, Cologne Cathedral, Notre Dame and
other Old World monuments he has
visited than can the majority of those per-
sons who have not been dependent ON other
peoples eyes and on their sense of touch. He
can describe the rocky outlines and
mountainous declivities of the Sierras and Of
the Rocky mountains, and the picturesque
beauties of the Blue Ridge with force and
v1gor combined with accuracy rarely
equalled, even by writers who still retain
their sight, while he has been blind since he
was 5 years old.
The reverend gentleman is of tall and COM
manding presence. Broad chested and in
clined to stoutness, he is the picture of health
A full, untrimmed gray beard floats way
down his vest, while his black hair, streaked
with silver, is brushed back from his high
forhead and hangs in bushy luxuriance upon
the collar of his clerical coat. His strongly
marked features bear kindly exprssion and
are every now and then lit up by pleasant
smile. While talking he fixes his eyes upon
the person whom he is addressing and the
sightless orbs appear to look straight into the
soul of his listener. He is most entertain
ing talker, and one of his favorite hobbies is
the subject of health and its promotion. He
is very Jew in his selection of food, posi-
lively eschewing all hog meats, and he treats
himself to a regular course of currycomb
and rough towel, cold water, oil and SUM-
baths every morning As he himself says,
he is one of the best groomed men in the
country