Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-11-21
The SalratiOn4rply's 5Ofh anniversary

ing letter which We get from the columns
Of the True Index:
I l have DO time as & rule for mere
sight seeing" and sightseeing alone Is
often monotcnous. One experience, how
ever, was worth rendering Before left
TUESDAY the Salvation Army was TO
celebrate al The Crystal Palace the 50th
Anniversary Of Com. Booths entry into
The work. The programme as advertised
was 10 last from : in The morning 70 1880
st night. While DO, able 10 reach there
quite so early, ! determined TO see as
much a ! could OF ii, and learn some
thing Of the personnel aDd work Of this
wonderful organization 50 / went. The
atteDdonce was made up principally Of
members Of The Army and their immedi-
ste friends. The aristocralic and leiiered
CLASSES, and the orthodox clergy we're
conspicuonsly absent. But one thing was
apparent, thai those who were there were
q unit il sympathy with the Army. and
this was comp sed. a a rule, Of as strong
aDd healthy set Of young Peopleas could
be found in London
The idea prevalent inAmeriea thai the
organization Is msde up Of bsggard out
casts living upon public charity i entire
" erroneous A. a mass the Army
works at al the trades. 1t is the "ofi
Gers who consecrste all their time 10 the
work, and these dispense FAR more in
charity than they receive. In London
they are everywhere respected, and Par
lament by a special act has given them
all the privileges Of the clergy. Cleanli
ness Is strictly enforced, and what partie-
ularly struck me was the extreme tidiness
Of the blue dresses and white scarfs Of the
women, and the red Goals and gold braid
ed caps Of the men. There Is not Nil
itary Institution anywhere whose rules
are more rigidly observed Il requires
months Of study and discipline for 'csn-
didaie" 10 secure promotion 10 The honor
Of being an officer. and when so promoted
be must obey the slightest order Of Gen
eral Booth TO the letter. No living ruler
possesses q power 80 absolute, AID from
all I have seen no man has used il 50
wisely and Is 50 beloved if not idolized by
bis subjects. Everything that day was
"tbe Genera" the ~Generrl,' have you
seen him e. "ihere be goes, "here be
CONES. "Hurrab, God bless The Gen
eral, and 50 on. Well il was BIZ day
Il was distinctly announced that the oe-
casion was 10 be a SECULAR one, a great
picnic, and celebration, and Dot a strictly
devotional meeting. The Army bad the
great Crystal Palace, iis Music Hall bold
Ing twenty thousand persons. and its vasl
parks and terraces that day al for them
sslve. and friends. The programme be
gan in the morning with the Information
al Reunion held iD The Music Hall which
was packed from pit 10 dome. Delegations
from all The countries upon the earih
were there IN their national costumes,
Hindoos with yellow gowns and iurbans,
Ksfirs In leopard skins, southern negroes
with baBjoes. Dutch women with gold
and brass frontleis, Swiss, Cossacks,
Highlanders, etc. At a command from
The General each delegation would rise
bearing its national colors, and sing
national air. then he whole company
would join 10 the cborss. The effect Of
the thousands Of women 10 blue and white
IN the circular ampbiieaire as they struck
Their iaubJurines 10 unison was wonderful
70 zee and bear. As q rule ibe singing
was good, and its volume enormous-
Following this ceremony came an boGr Of
rest and then the grand review by The
General. This took place on the grounds
and YOU may form an idea Of its msgDi-
tude when l tell you that It took tEo
hours and half 10 pass the grand stand,
and included 400 brass bands, al men,
bers q the Army. 10 the review tie
women carried large gliueriBg shields
BEARING 8 white and red cross, The men
peoDaDis Of various COLOR. Or banners
with device. and moiios. Seen from the
upper terrace, The varigaied column
winding ike 2 serpent from one 10 gnoih-
er Of ihe terraces below, Il was the most
impressive sight l have ever witnessed,
only nsrred by The fact that four hundred
bands playing different airs within the
space Of forty scTe must have produced
some discori. This vas aiooei for, how
ever, by the Musical FESTIVAL" il the
evening. On ibis occasion 400 musicians
IN red cuels each armed wiib BRAS horn
occupied The semi-circUlar tiers Of seats
OF The platform.