The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-21

bndomitable force. 1t is i'm every line of
bis face--the enormous hooked nose, the
deep set eyes under the beetle brows, the
stern mouth and waste OF ragged gray
beard"
1t is said that his nervous energy must
expend itself In more than one way at a
time; that visitor to the international
headquarters in London found him sitting
for a portrait, debating TO two stenogra-
piers and eating his luncheon.
General Booth was born in Nottingham,
Eng, April g. 1929. At IL years OF age he
was local preacher and at 19 was called
TO the ministry of the Wesleyan
Church. His elders thought he construed
the Scriptures too literally, for from the
first he delved in the slums and extended
q helping hand unfortunately. A cool
ness sprang up and in the course of a few
years he was "edged" cut of the church.
Then he became an evangelist and in or
der TO get sinners to his meetings adopted
the brass band and drum plan and i'm 1855
concluded TO go still farther with his idea
OF Scriptural Interpretation and became
a soldier, organizing the Salvation
Army in a tent in the old Quaker
burial ground in Brick lane, White
chapel, London. He appointed him.
self general, and his army grew until
today he is asked by the authorities TO
assist in solving the question OF pau
perism, and even churches adopt his
methods.
General Booth is grim old man, look
ing like "a peddler of Yankee notions"
as one London writer puts it, ana
is probably the only General -
who wears silk hat when in
full dress uniform. He wears a military
coat with gold epaulets, frogged and richly
braided with black silk. A gold "S'' and
the "B!ood and Fire. device of the army
adorn the collar. A red cassock waist
coat of smooth military cloth, buttoned
under the arms, and handsomely en-
broidered with the Salvation Army
insignia, completes the warlike costume.
lie is tall and wiry and stoops a little.
His hair. once black, is now gray, and his
long ioretop is brushed to the right. He
runs his hand nervously through his hair
SIS he talks and takes off and puts on his
gold eve glasses frequently, at other times
tumbliDg with the gold chain which holds
them.
General Booth came to America the
latter part OF last September and in four
weeks made tour of the Canadian mari
time provinces. lie was 32i hours on the
cars, going S6l5 miles, spent IL nights in
sleeping cars, made 56 set speeches, 10 i'm
promptu ones, and appeared before
$1,000 people.
His famous Darkest England" scheme
was severly criticised and it was charged
that he appropriated subscription money
for his own or his family's use, but n
strict investigation by a committee OF
representative Englishmen resulted in his
acquittal and vindication.
lie says the Salvation Army is only in
its beginning, yet 1t numbers 300 corps
and l0,7Ss officers.
General Booth certainly needs no fur
ther Introduction than that given by the
various ministers who so warmly ex-
pressed their encomiums in yesterdays
NEWS.
Tuesday he addressed two large gather
ings in Boston; Wednesday he spoke to
the students at Harvard College, aud last
night was in Worcester, Mass.
Tomorrow night General Booth will
speak in Springfield, taking the train for
New York on Saturday. Next Wednesday
he will mbark for London.