The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-22
THEY LIVE IN SLUMS.
Dear Girls Dressed i'm Secondhand Gallo
and Battered Hats.


A detachment of the Salvation Army
took possession of the Young Mems
Christian Association Hall the other
night. Mrs. Maud Ballington Booth
was in command in full regimentals.
Various officers, epauletted, silver
braided and girdled, and with broad
stripes down their trousers, patrolled
the aisles and assisted the audience to
find seats. score of other officers
were on the platform, all apparently in
dress-parade uniform except six young
women who looked from a distance like
choice specimens of east side candidates
for an interview with Judge Duffy.
They were really nothing of the sort,
but they were clothed in secondhand
calico gowns and ugly straw hats, that
so disguised them that even Mrs. Booth
challenged the audience to recognize
them. One was staff Captain Bown, and
the others were her lieutenants. They
have been engaged for several months
past in campaign against Satan in the
''slums," and the meeting was held in
order that the audience might learn
about their work.
At the beginning there was typical
army service. Prayers were uttered in
rapid succession, and hymns were sung
with accompaniment on the piano and
cornet obligato. The singing of the
army has improved with its uniform,
and instead of the plain unison on the
tune of six years ago, there was di.
vision into parts, by which reasona-
bly, good musical effect was attained.
The executive ability of Mrs. Booth
was clearly manifested in the devotional
exercises. The most fervent supplica-
tion was concluded duly when she gave
the sign, and no impassioned singer
hesitated to sit down and finish her
solo seated the moment the commander
arose. The several addresses were set
off by hymns between whiles, and Mrs.
Booth, Of course, introduced Che
speakers. To begin with, she told IN
general way how "these dear girls" ad
volunteered to go into the slums and
live there like the regular inhabitants is.
1t is work similar to that carried on by
the British army in the Whitechaael
district, and Staff Captain Bown, who
conducts the campaign here. learned
The officers in this branch of the service
have no salary. Their food and the rent
of one room are paid for at headquarters;
their clothing consists of cast-of gar
ments contributed by the soldiery and
others. They do not work in the regu-
lar uniform, because that would make
them appear too fine for their chosen
neighbors. Not only do they include
religious instruction proper in their
work, but they help their neighbors in
household work, washing dishes, scrub
bing floors, caring for babies and tho
like.
Those of the slum detachment who
spoke declared that they had never been
so happy as since they went into this
service. All spoke simply and earnestly,
and largo audience listened with the
closest attention, and joined heartily
in such hymns as they knew. IN. Y. Sun.
The Taltative Mynah.
The parrot is generally supposed to
have the monopoly Of the power OF talk
ing among birds, but as matter of fact,
the parrot is decidedly inferior to the
mynah. There are always examples of
these birds in the insect house at the
Zoo, and they repeat various phrases
with great clearness OF utterance. Curl
ously enough the hen has gruff voice,
while the cock speaks In clear high
tone, like that OF child. The mynahs
can be easily provoked into showing off
their power of speech, and will greet the
visitor with 'Good morning"in response
to his salutations. The mynah 10 a kind
of startling, and this latter bird Ia we'll
known for its initiative powers. Some
years ago an account was published of
Talking canary" which would articu.
late quite plainly, and could repeat Y
series Of phrases. Pail AAll Gasstte.