The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-03-12
GEN. BOOTH, 80 AND
FRA|L, IS TO BLAZE
TRAIL IN RUSSIA
FORBIDDEN TO CROSS FRONTIER.
HE. WILL MAKE FINAL EFFORT
OF LlFE-Looks TO CAR FOR
HELP.

LONDON, March l2.-Thirty years
ago. when first came to London, one
of my first journalistic duties was TO
patrol the streets on Sunday nights
In order to report the attacks made
upon Salvation Army professions by
the mob.
In those days General Booth was
regarded as nuisance, and Salvation
lists were held in contempt.
Now wondrous change has come
over the spirit OF our dream. Since
Mr.. Gladstone's death General Booth
has become the grand old man par eX-
cellence of Great Britain No one at
tacks the Salvation Army in the
streets and very few criticize them in
the preSs.
General Booth is still reported with
In inverted commas as General
Booth Icy the Times, but these tnver;-
ed commas are almost the last survlv-
ing relic of what was nearly thirty
years ago The general tone OF con-
tempt used in society about the army
saw General Booth for AN hour
Just before his departure for d tour III
Scandinavia. which is to lead up tn
his first visit To Russia. He Is now
eighty years of age He has made
good recovery from an operation for
cataract on one eye, but the other Is
going blind He is frail, but his spirit
is undated He is welcomed every
where. and by no one SO heartily as
by the sovereigns and statesmen OK
Europe
Received BY Royalty.
When | saw him he had just had
INT Al
satjon with the Prince and Princess
of Wales. He was in q day or two to
be received as an honored guest By
the king of Denmark. After seeing
the kings Of Norway and Sweden he
will | hope, be received by the car
at St Petersburg.
Yet all these honors from the great
OF this world have left the general
head unturned, for his heart Is ever
with the fallen and the weak His
sympathies are much more with the
sinners than with the saints He
loves thieves and drunkards win the
love of the Good Shepherd. who left
the ninety and nine In the wilderness
I'm order TO seek and to save the one
which was lost.
a Man OF Infinite Resource.
shrewd man, with keen sense
OF humor. who has single eye TO Ms
supreme purpose. the general IL an
admirable companion, capital recon
teur and man of infinite tact. From
millionaires to paupers, from kings
and presidents to reporters and cosler-
mongers he has learned much. and his
conversation is scanned by anecdotes
and "reminiscences that have been
accommodating In his memory for the
last half century.
81 hove they will allow me to enter
Russia" said he. For years ! have
beer, I'm the list of persons who wer"
forbidden 70 cross the fronties. III"
last time I went to Japan. Russia re
fused 10 allow me to travel by the
siberian railway. Even the name OF
.Rooth' was enough 20 render 1t diff
cult for my daughter-in-law TO return
from Heisingfors last year through 81.
Petersburg.
"But now ! hope they understand tina.
am not a Revolutionist, nor even an
assassin. help their good, and shall
rejoice 20 open salvationist work
among the Russian people. Open air
meetings know will not be permitted
Int with that exception | believe we
shall And no obstacle To our opera
tons.
How the General Will Rest.
The general after visiting Scandi
navia and Russia is going To take a
rest" In motor mission round Great
Britain. In which he will make more
speeches I'm day than most parsons
do IN week. and come home as fresh
as a bird. After that recreation. he
Is booked for Turkey. lie does not
contemplate returning To- Africa al
though the temptation of running
across Mr.. Roosevelt on another con
tinent would he very great.
bat mis- concern, his first concern. IS
ever with the poor. ITS a proud man
| might be this day" he said. seeing
that the royal commission on the
poor law had Endorsed nearly ever