The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-10-07

and often scoiling hearers; the thunder
OF the big drum, the ratio OF the little
drum, the flare OF the cornet never
fail 10 draw the idle and the curious
for blocks, and the crowd once gather
cd stays To the end of the services. In
dividuals como and go, as necessity or
fancy may prompt; the edges of the
assomblage fray of and are lost, but
the crowd stays on.
II Is we'll entertained for Salvation
Army outdoor meeting Is unceasing
variety. AS soon as the flag and tho
drum have attracted an assemblage tho
exercises begin. a song Is sung, per-
haps an old and well-known church
hymn, but more likely n religious ditty,
with words half-devotional, half senti-
mental, sung 10 tune midway between
n march and n jig, every boat accom-
panied by sonorous thump of the big
drum. The audience do not join. Most
OF them never heard tho song before,
and those who may chance to know IL
are afraid TO sing lest they attract the
attention and excite tho ridicule OF by
standcrs A prayer follows, the Sal
vationists kneeling. No other knee Is
bent, no hat IL doifed, but, a. n rule,
respectful silence IL maintained during
this invocation. Still on their knees,
another hymn, often solo by female
soldier" Is sung, then rising, some
member OF the party addresses tho
crowd. To call the address a sermon
would be n misnomcr. IL Is not IA sor-
mon, neither l. IL an address In tho
proper sense Of tho word. IL
consists simply In few words
OF warning, OF advice, OF coun-
sci, delivered without the least
appearance Of effort at oratory. The
homely words and evident earnestncss
OF the speakers rarely fail 10 make n
favorable impression on tho audience.
Half n dozen songs, two or more pray
ors, three or four short talks by va
rious members OF the detachment, ="
form the usual exercises OF "A street
meeting, which rarely lasts more than
half an hour. In the barracks" the
programme IL more elaborate and tho
exercises are more varied. The au-
dience Is invited 10 participate not
only 10y singing, but by "testifying,
that Is, by narrating for the encourage
ment OF tho soldiers" and the edi-
fcation OF the hearers what
personal benefit, II any, has been
derived from attendance at tho
meetings. These testimonies" are, To
one unaccustomed TO listen 20 them,
often extremely curious. IL is startling
TO hear n young fellow stand up, and in
the presence OF a big policeman ut tho
door, confess that he had been an hab-
itual thief; IL IL still moro startling 20
see young woman ascend the plat
form and openly declare that for years
she has been social outcast, but
neither declaration shocks the audi
ence; IL II accustomed 20 call spade n
spade, TO speak with a plainncss that
would horrify an assemblage In silks
and broadcloth. II takes these things
as a matter OF course, and II not easily
shocked. It's sensibilities have been
toughened by much barroom expert
ence; It's ears are attuned TO the slang
OF the slums. and what might seem 20
some persons atrocious license OF
speech, % IL appears an easy and
natural mode OF expression.
Speaking OF the audience, however,
not the least remarkable thing about
the Salvationists IL the character OF
the audiences attracted by them.