The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-27

wearing natty red Jerseys, were seen pass.
ing hither and thither. They all combed
their hair a la Martha Washington. Those
who had on huge bonnets revealed but lit
| tile of their faces, as if tho army work had
made them prematurely thoughtful. Only
o could fn1 any NAV way comp pare to the the
sweet, refreshing loveliness of Mrs. Balling-
J ton Booth, now at work in America.
| Through the glass doors of the many offices
| a perfect beehive of clerks could be seen
! writing rapidly. Several of the soldiers,
/ who seemed to be su~perannuated veterans,
| came along and INDUCED in conversation
They were loyal and devoted to Gen. Booth.
He was their idol, and they could pronounce
no eulogy on him that was compatible with
| their deep feeling for him..
The general was seated at a desk in a
small room surrounded bv books and papers.
Two of his subordinates in red Jerseys
were present receiving instruction. He
waved his hand and they withdrew with the
alacrity of harlequins ina humpty dumpty
show. Tie Salvation army general sat
there clad in Il dark blue military tunic,
the absolute dictator of an evangelical
army of over a million soldiers. He did
not look like IN historical dictator. Not
six feet in height by two inches, not large
of frame, but lmpressing one as being wiry
and almost ~tireless. his chief claim to per-
sonal notice conferred in his dark eagle
piercing eyes, his beak nose, and his iron
gray beard that fell in profusion on his
chest. In his motions he was loose jointed
and somewhat awkward. There was moth
ing affected about him. His voice
in a lower key was rather soft, but when
he raised it there was a slight h%alshness,
not metallic, but a sound of ho%arseness.
His eloquence is not of the voice, but of the
manner of speech. An intense earnestness,
a vivid streak of lightning in every SEN
tence, and a loud clap Of thunder in his
halleluiah. Exposure to wind and rain, to
his thick head Of hair, now liber-
ally sprinkled with gray strands. A
heavy lock hung upon his high forehead.
His feet were encased in strong, heavy
shoes. Nothing about his wearing apparel
could be termed either rich or gaudy.
Probably the suit he wore cost Sl5 ali told.
His large, horny hands, unadorned with
rings. looked more like those OF a rail
splitter than a soul saver. One is struck
with his narrow chest, and invariably
thinks that he is a sufferer from bron-
chitis, but he enjoys good health. Sixty
England, and studied for the Methodist
ministry. He WAS q shouting Methodist
and atffteen years of age was recognized as
a most promising exhorter. But he had a
way OF addressing open air meetings, and
this was the beginning of his Salvation army
work. When seventeen yearsoId he WAS asked
to become a local preacher, but he pleaded
youth. and at the age of twenty moved to
London. In u year or two he began to pre-
pare for the ministry, and it was then that
be made his first acquaintance with the east
end of London. Ee spoke in a little
chapel, and had such SUCCESS that he was
sent on an evangelical tour through the
kingdom, meeting with wonderful success.
While on this tour he married, and his wife
| has followed him ever since. until her death
come months ago. When the Methodist
conference wanted him to settle down Ms n
local preacher, and not e%vangelize, he re-
yolted and began the Salvation army work,
which, as a boy in Nottingham, he had
really commenced ten years before. His
marvellous success ia already known.
What is your intention in going to
South Africa, general?'
II am going very largely to SEQ what can
! be done for the native tribes there. / am