Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-05

NAil Items or SOCIAL interest VIII De SidUiy George c. Ball, Nineteenth street, between Tenth and Eleventh avenues. South High lands. Telephone 9SS.)
 The recall of Commander and Mrs. Bal lington Booth of the Salvation Army from America to England has excited much comment among persons who have watched with interest the unusual ca reer of this remarkable couple and the influence they have exerted upon the re- ligious thought and life of today. The command to return to England came to them from the father of Ballington Booth, who is the supreme officer of this strange aggregation, the Salvation Army. Protests against the arbitrary orders have been almost unanimous with the best people of the north, and General Booths conduct in the matter is attrib- uted to the influence of a man whom Ballington Booth supplanted in America. Be that as it may, the universal esteem expressed for Commander and Mrs. Booth will doubtless make 1t less difficult for them to obey knowing that they will leave in this country reputation for pure and upright living and an absolute devotion to duty and religion that has made an indelible impression upon Americans of all classes. In his wife Commander Booth has an helpmeet and companion that has been of immeasura- ble benefit to him. Many man Is ham, dicapped in the race of life by a wife who has always to be carried, like dead weight, up any of the slopes and climbs that lead towards the heights of success and fame; but Mrs Booth has contrib uted her full proportion of the propelling power and has assisted her husband at every step of his upward way One I,nn brv, 1,nv hot lao Col lowing details of her life, taken from an exchange, will be of interest to persons in any degree familiar with her great work for God and humanity:
 Although Mrs. Booth Is the most fasci- mating parsonage in the Salvation Army, comparatively little Is known of her. She does not like to talk herself, and will not do SO often. Much of the information about her home life comes from Com mander Booth. If you call on Mrs. Booth at the Salvation Army headquarters you will be fortunate if you get as far as the commander. It Is practically impossible for anybody to see Mrs. Booth at her home in Montclair. They do not receive even their friends there.
 Mrs Booth is now about 30 years old. As Miss Maud Charlesworth, the daugh- ter of a London tradesman, she joined the Salvation Army when she was IF. She met Commander Booth before he went to Australia, where he spent year organizing the forces in the colonies. On his return they were married. and soon afterward sailed for this country. Mrs. Booth, although betrothed to the com mander at the age of IS, obeyed the laws of the army by awaiting until she was 21 before she was married.
 Mrs. Booths first duties in connection with the army here had especially to do with the women of the army. The women warriors department was placed under hpr e1IppryiSiOn Later she hold of the slum and rescue department and de- voted years to building up that work. It is now the most telling of all the depart ments in the American army. although it does not amount to as much here as 1t does in London. Four years ago Mrs. Booth began to reach out for a better class of persons The army was in many places the laughing stock of even religi- ous folk. She set out to revolutionize this state of affairs and promptly won many influential friends among rich women who labor for chairty. They took her up and for season Mrs. Booths drawing rooms were a fad in one section of New York's smart set Other cities followed the example, and today Mrs. Booth is a welcome guest in rich homes try.
 Much of Mrs. Booths time in the last year has been taken up in traveling. In that time she has visited every division and met the officers of every important post She Is consequently better known to the officers than Commander Booth, whose duties at national headquarters keep him in or near the city.
 Mrs. Booths home life centers around two babies They are Willie, aged years old and Theodor~. 3 years old. Both are diminutive Salvation Army officers. though of course neither is as yet commissioned. Both have been con- secrated to the service, however, and un- doubtedly some day will be conspicuous figures in the army"
 Mrs Harry Jones will entertain many of her friends Friday afternoon at o'clock with a progressive euchre party.