The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-16
any kind he drove off in carriage with

any kind he drove off in carriage with
his staff.
By arrangement General Booth met
mberS OF the press between = and II
O'Clock in the parlor5 OF the Penniman
residence. ae appeared in a Salvation
Army uniform. with the symbolic red
shirt and its EN- broidered emblems, though
the dress was of tiue material and slightly
altered to Indicate his rank of general. In
the last twelve years General B 9th has
held his own against Old Father Time, al
though his hair and flowing beard have
taken on a grayer tinge, which gives ven
cradle framing for the keen, intellectual
face.
81 have travelled 1890 miles since left
Halifax, on September 81" said he. 81
Travelled for $50 hours and 272 hours at
night In that time have ID ade as many
as 168 addresses, and estimates of the num-
Der of persons spoken to since [ came to
verts. I'm told it is estimated | have made
from 1000 to 1900 on the trip. My visit
has three fold object.
First desire to see my own people
and learn what they are doing by person al
observation and give such advice as may
cause them TO act more effectively in the
future. Second-I desire to do something
in the way of informing the public as to
the real character of the Salvation Army
Third-It is my desire to secure some
practical assistance and sympathy for the
poor creatures whom l have described In
In Darkest England"
"BOw did you come to write SIN Darkest
England general" was asked.
"We had done little STUN work among
the very poor IN London, and while work
Ing there the thought struck me whether
II would not be better to take the Door
wretch out Of his surroundings than to
leave him where he was and waste energy
i'm, in, viz NJ =.
led to writing the book That is, it led to
getting up q scheme to save this poor pen-
pie, and afterward il led to Publishing of
my plan that every one might under
stand it.
what do you regard as the darkest in
Darkest England'?"
The question was evidently a puZzlinp
one for the general.
1T is all dark enough" was his reply.
"With crime and vice and soualor-one
worse than the other-who can say what
is darkes,?"
The subject was changed by General
Booth. who continued:
'While feel tired firm the long Journey
ing just now, l must say that my health
since arriving In America has been excel
lent In all my appointments have not
failed to keep single one, and there has
been no rest, but rather constant work
day after day."
Some interesting comparisons were
drawn by the general between England
and America, and some of them showed
in striking manner how closely he has
been observing men and affairs "Here
as in England" he said, ''there are tw o
extremes. Misery makes vice in one
place, prosperity produces it at the other
end. Vice is quite as prevalent here as it
is in L gland. at least that Is nv iudg-
menr. / believe that you have Darkest
England coming upon you with a tre-
mendous speed. There appears to be no
guard against it. and the same condition
exists in Europe. Prevention appears to
be unthought of at resent In London
alone IL is estimated that 100000 children
are born In saloons and dens of vice each
year-born under circumstances and con-
ditions that assure a training in vice.
And what does the state do? Nothing.
"The state does not believe in religion
nor in GOD. The Government does not
things that the Government cannot do
without him.
81 have noticed in my travels that Amer
lea compares favorably with England in
the arrangements for selling intoxicating
liquor. L have found there is much gam
bling here. the same as Ia England. and
the evil seems to be growing at an alarm
Ing rate. II is a fever, stake In some
thing CT everything. Very much good
have / seen in America, but there are
faults which l have strong desire 10 rec
tify. What is America going to do with
her greatness, her wealth? What will the
country do with its education and its re-
sources? see rising tide of godlessness
coming on and want to check i.
II consider ne have great field in