The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1903-11-13
Ten Pages.
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
DID YOU HEAR DOWIE? AND WHAT
DID YOU THINK OF HIM?
SOME IMPRESSIONS OF ELIJAH III AND
HIS FOLLOWERS.

a reply, like double-barreled gun, an
you think of him? Well, l will SIT
quietly in my study for little while
this morning and tell the readers OF
the buzzing BEE what | think Of John
Alexander DOwie, though the editor
assures me before l begin that | shall
not hit this individual half so hard as
he would like to hit him himself (the
editor in his youth belonged to gym
nasium, and he could pommel the
punching in fine shape). Let me
say, in passing, that if I hit Dowie
with my paper pellets half so hard as
l sat one morning in the Madison
Square Garden and let him hit me and
all my brothers who wear the cloth, l
shall be doing very we'll. I enjoyed it.,
that's what l went over to New York
for.
New York likes sensation, but it
very soon gets tired of it. The sensa-
tion of tC-lay becomes the bore of
tomorrow. Do you remember Dewey?
But yesterday he might have sat the
monarch among the crowned sovereigns
Of earth; now have more chance to
be President of the United States than
he. I was real glad that Dowie
happened to come to New York
during my vacation. wanted some
thing new. Even Broadway with it's
kaleidoscope changes of fashion and
noise and life had palled upon the
senses. l wanted something new and
in the man who does not merely come
in the spirit of Elijah, but who is
Elijah, 1 had it. Dowie is the new
thing under the sun.
I'll tell you one fact about the man
that you can lay down as fact, and
that is, he knows how to advertise
himself. Seven great trunk lines of
railroad exhausting their extra re-
sources to transport his crew to Goth
am! Why, Barnum and Bailey cannot
beat that. OF course people went wild
to see this genius Of action when he
came; and the police force was taxed
to keep the crowds in order, and adj
mission at last had to be only by ticket
and tickets given only to those who
would promise to be "proper and decent
and quiet"
What big place Madison Square
Garden is anyway! You know what
Dowie's first exclamation was to his
lieutenants as he entered the massive
auditorium, don't you? "This hall is
too SMALL" and you know (for there
are few things like that you don't
by remarked, "What does the old man
want? The earth?' There are some
places which when you enter you do
not think of what is going on there at
present, but at some other time. In
other words, they are historic places.
When in Madison Square Garden with
the only DOwie in evidence before you
there come visions in your minds eye
of the big Horse Show held there and
the ladies in their diamonds and gay
magniticence who come just to see the
tine horses, and the great Christian
EndeavOr convention of $4,000 people
in New York City which those who
did not know anything about it said
would not stir ripple in the city s
busy life, and the mammoth political
mass meetings which have shaken the
great building from pit to highest
roof-tree with the hoarse shouts of
In1S rficonc fr
Plymouth church over in Brooklyn but
l see Mr. Beecher standing there and
by his side on the platform the slave
girl and the vast audience pouring
their money and jewels into the collec-
tion boxes to purchase her freedom
until the man of power, the pulpit
rhunderer, cries, "Hold! Enoughn'-
the only instance on record when a
minister ever asked a congregation to
stop giving money. When | stroll by
Castle Garden down on the Battery
front, now wet atmosphered into an
aquarium, think of Jenny Lind sing.
ing there and the poor little girl who
Was paying $40 for seat because she
must hear Jenny Lind sing, and the
sweet-voiced woman, as sweet in soul
as in voice, said: ooh. give her the
the money back and let her have 9
good seat"
But this is not DOwie; now, MI
Dowie, if you are ready, we will pay
our respects to you. l entered the
Garden that morning early and got {
good seat. Dowie had not yet come
50 Deacon Somebody took charge O
affairs. It is Dowie'S business to give
people always the impression that h'
is wanted everywhere by everybody
and his moments are as precious a
jewels. Dowie, in everything that b.
does, strains for effect. Deacon Some
body filled up the gap by telling u
about Zion City. They have quite
city out there. Often out on the West
ern prairies when new railroad i
pushing through the country, biz
cities are prOspected which neve
materialize; but Zion City ha
materiaized all right. 1t is nea
Chicago. 1t has 10000 people.
has no saloons. 1t has no drug stores
No tobacco is sold there (you know i
is not altogether elegant English tina
Dowie applies to tobacco and thos
who use it). 1t has at least one ban
and DOwie seems to be the bank. On
passing through the city and observin
the objects about him might say: &c
followers of the mighty prophet.
perceive that in all things We are yer
religious" The livery stable open
with prayer, every family begins tn
davis business with PRAYER; at a rims