The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-04-09
MAUD DARLINGTON BOOTH.
The Life History of the sTalented Woman
Who Is to Speak in Portland Soon.

The near coming of Commander Bali
ington Booths brilliant and beautiful
wife who is to speak in City Hall next
Wednesday evening will make slight
sketch of her and her life of interest
Boston people have described Mrs.
Booth as possessing "a pale oval face,
a square chin and firm mouth, straight
finely chiselled nose, dark hazel eyes, a
well-shaped forehead fully revealed, an
admirably formed head crowned with
soft, dark, wavy hair, loosely coiled and
with the lshorter locks curling lightly
about the brow, figure of medium
height, neither slender nor the reverse, a
voice low in pitch, musical in modula-
ton, refined in intonation; a manner
quietly self-possessed and well-bred.
New York people have further discov-
cred that Mrs. Booth has 1.-THE most
radiant smile that ever lighted up a
a human face" added to unusual elo
quence and pathos;'' but all of her
hearers, wherever found agree. that she
has something to say very well worth
listening to.
As Miss Charlesworth, this now de-
vout and unworldly Salvationist was
absorbed in archery, dancing, riding, and
all the other amusements open to school
girls out of study hours. Her home was
in small English town that prides it
s4e nd
and her fathers congregation was of the
most exclusive and questionable
order
When about seventeen years old, Miss
Charlesworth went for week of yaca-
ton to a little watering place which
CHANGED to have for the sensation of the
moment the Salvation Army and its
marvellous conversions. A case that
was attracting special attention was that
of sailor who was noted as the most
ouarrelsome and dissipated ruffian in
the town, and who was particularly
feared en- account of his giant size and
ferocious temper: Underl the "infiu-
ence'' of the Salvation Army he had be-
come peaceable and law-abiding; natur-
ally, such an extreme case excited much
comment and the schoolgirl was led by
curiosity to attend some of the meet
ings.
''They believed only the same things l
had been taught she said afterward,
but believed with the head, they with
the heart The young girl became i'm
pressed with the fact that there was
work for her in the world other than
drifting carelessly on sea of gayety,
and threw aside her social ambitions and
pleasures, became converted, and finally
enrolled herself as Salyationist? AT
first, her family was bitterly opposed to
her action, but they long ago became
entirely reconciled.
Miss Charlesworth helped LIE Mare
chal Booth open the Army work in
France and Switzerland, helped begin
the great Slum work of London, travelled
on behalf of the Army in Sweden, a0-
dressing two thousand University stu
dents ats.Upsala, after few years, mar
ried the second son of General Booth.
Young Mrs. Booth and her husband
came to America to face tremendous
odds. Prejudice and poverty confronted
them but with dauntless faith and cour-
age they faced the difficulties.
In short time, Mr.. Booth was adj
dressing crowded drawingroom meet
ings in some of the most wealthy and
aristocraric homes on Fifth Avenue.
The churches were opened to her, and
her beauty, simplicity and eloquence,
full of the power that comes from an
intimate knowledge of the deep miseries
and desperate sins of the unchurched
masses, won all hearts to her. At Wash
ington, she spoke in one of the most
fashionable churches, and SO impressed
the people that Mrs. .Wanamaker, wife
OF the Postmaster General, threw open
her splendid reception rooms, and in
yited her to deliver an address there.
The invitation was accepted and the
wives of President Harrison and of the
members of his cabinet, with the wives
and daughters of Senators and Congress
men flocked to hear her.
At meeting held by Mrs. Booth in
the Peoples Church in Boston last
month, it was estimated that ten thous-
and people were turned away from the
doors, unable to find room inside. The
press rated the disappointed crowd at
fifteen thousand.
Peaks Island Notes.