The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-26
EVA BOOTH.

ey's sake and for other reasons he had
thought often of the American field
The record of the army here was not
different from it's record elsewhere. 1t
took root at once because it contained
a vital principle and because it was in
spired by man with a genius for
leadership, a man to whom organiza-
ton, method, system and indefatigable
effort were natural gifts.
The War Cry, the official organ of
the army, is published in twenty Ian
guages and in countries as remote as
Iceland and Argentina. The circula-
ton of the army's periodicals is more
than a million copies an issue.
The army maintains 212 shelter and
food depots, IS homes for released
convicts, III rescue homes for women.
$50 social institutions. 1t has supplied
in one year almost 100000 free
meals and 5,702,416 beds.
In this country it has SS9 corps and
outposts, 70 workingInen's hotels, 80
industrial homes. "a slum posts, farm
colonies for the unemployed, chill
drens homes, "a rescue homes, laun-
dries, workshops and industries OF
many kinds for the unfortunates.
In the year ended Sept 80, 1908, it
rescued 1,614 women. It's indoor meet
ings had a total attendance of 10,105,-
122.
You should see him and hear him
speak to understand what has made
him the greatest single power in the
world. You should note him when he
comes forward to address one of his
monster audiences-10,0 900 eager people
hanging breathless upon his words.
There he stands before them, eighty
years old and perfectly erect, an I'M
forgettable figure, with his tall, COM
handing presence, his snow white
beard and snow white hair, his fine.
delicate, earnest face, his splendid
blazing eyes, his beautiful hands, his
clear skin, finely tinted as with per-
feet health. He speaks without an eff
fort, his mellow voice reaching every
person in even the farthest corner of
the hall. F1uently and easily he goes
on, the winged sentences flying like
shafts from his lips, and as he speaks
the whole audience is swayed to his
will, perfectly, absolutely. He thun-
ders at sin and it's penalty, and all his
hearers sit appalled,. His voice falls
almost to a whisper as he tells of di-
vine love. He makes them laugh with
a story and cry over the case of some
victim of the slums-beyond any
doubt very great orator, a man born
to lead other men, to melt stubborn
hearts and convince stubborn minds.
powerful acute, resourceful intellect.
understanding passed long ago. Hon
esty and conservation have won over
detraction. Probably no other living
man has so large a measure of the
worlds good will. He is the friend of
rulers, presidents and kings as of the
masses of men. When he came to the
United States President Roosevelt paid
him an extraordinary tribute; in Japan
he had the exceedingly rare honor OF
personal interview with the mikado;
in England King Edward has often
consulted him. In 1907 oxford con-
ferred upon him the degree of d. c. L.
A long list of other famous men re-
ceived honors at the same time-the
prime minister, statesmen, scientists
and our Mark Twain. The recep-
ton that was given to General Booth
stood out as the most striking feature
of the day. The undergraduates hail
ed him as "England's grandest old
man." and for him there was nothing
but praise and good will.
He works almost necessarily. Even
at eighty he will not spare himself.
When he travels by steamship he has
with him a specially constructed deck
chair that enables him to write as il
at a desk: when he travels by railroad
an arrangement of straps allows him
to overcome the jar and motion of the
car and continue his writing He is
the head and life and soul of the whole
vast enterprise; he directs and writes
for the various War Crys; he plans and
leads the whole campaign. His health
is almost perfect. Except for a cataract
on one of his eyes, happily removed
he has had no ailment. For twenty
years he has been a vegetarian, and all
his life he has lived abstemiouslv
Dietists will doubtless find in these
facts the secret of his wonderful
health and strength: but as a naatto-
of fact, it seems to be true that those
that pursue exalted aims, stranele
selfishness, think pure and sweet
thoughts and live for mankind are
about the only persons that know what
health is.