The Press., 1895-03-07
Number 49.

another signature from staunch hand Joseph Cook. We had time only to iot down few names that are world known |: Archdeacon Farrar, John Whitehead, ,sec- retary Sunday Rest Association, London, Ballington Booth, Maude Booth, William Hayes Ward, Henry Wade Rogers, Judge Robert Rich, George 0. Lorimer, Ira D. Sankey, and Khama, chief of Bamanwato Palapye Protectorate, South Africa.
 Talking about names," sHid Mrs. Shu- man, handing us list, "there are some oddities we have copied from the peti- tions."
 Among these were some from Indian Territory Going Wolf, Mar tha Nakedhead, LenOra Johnnycake!
 "There are fifty languages represented on that petition" said our hostess, as she picked up two sheets from the table. "Here is one printed for use in Ceylon, and another for Burma. My son humor- ously calls the hieroglyphics tangled worms.'"
 "You have had some arithmetical prob lems while handling this work, Mrs. Shu- man?"
 Her gray eyes flashed with look of almost rueful mirth. "I should think had," she said. There were so many es- inmates we wished to make. For in- stance, over 8 thousand churches are rep resented among the 'attestations; ; so many just signed the petition pastor and people, There are eighty thousand in rising votes.' The Salvation Army has put itself on record-f1ve hundred thou sand strong as with us, and the United Society of Christian Endeavor has swelled the list by two million"
 Mrs. Shuman, as you have worked these four years, how have you felt re- garding this great petition-this silent cry from millions?"
 There was slight pause, and then in lowered tones this zealous white-ribboner said: "I can hardly tell you how it has impressed me. The mighty document, signed in fifty different languages, by rep resentatives of all nations of the earth
 
 and opium trade, seems to me vast pow CT encircling earth and embracing the islands of the sea. It has seemed to me from the first, as have woven into this great stretch of canvas thousands upon thousands of signatures from all lauds 1 and nations, that was weaving together the groans of the dying and the tears of the saints. s4
 Another thing that moves me deeply" continued Mrs. Shuman, lis that among the names written there are many whose owners are gone home. Their voices are hushed on earth, but by those written words they, being dead, yet speak in pleading for the cause of righteousness. J
 Have you noted any remarks that have accompanied the petitions sent in ?,
 Just 2 few; such as these are repeat ed countlesstimes Homeless through drink, ' M home broken up and children scattered by the curse of drink We be. seech you in Gods name, God grant this prayer, God speed the work One was signed Mother of six prohibition voters, and on petition from Texas was scrawl- ed this sentiment: What is done in this line mus be done by woman-man Is a failour-commence at the cradel'"
 'By whom has the petition been circu- lated? ?"
 "The petition has been circulated by young and old, rich and poor, strong and feeble, by the sick and the blind. Some times an invalid would write, I cannot go out, but have kept the petition be- side my bed and asked all whom I saw to sign it. Some who were blind yet raised their voices in this way for God and home and humanity. It is at once solemn and pathetic thing. It surely will moi all be lost: . The oldest signer was aged ninety-three and the youngest (by special permission) little boy of seven. l Our conversation was interrupted by Mrs. Shuman springing up with the words ''There aresshe boxes." An express wagon bearing some compact looking boxes stopped at the door, and soon they were deposited in the entrance hall for this last consignment of the great petition. The boxes were very strongly made, their di mansions, two feet by two and half The five great rolls were packed securely away, the lids dropped, the patent locks snapped" the keys laid in Mrs. Shu mans hand, and the boxes borne out or sturdy shoulders. Flight boxes had al ready been shipped from the vault in Will