New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-28
GEN. BOOTH LOSING SIGHT.
Nav Have to Abandon Farewell
Tour of United States.
HAS GIVEN UP HIS WORK
Physicians Fear Cataract Cannot
Be Cured and That Darkness
Will Come to Army Head.

London, April lo-It is feared her" by
the friends of General William Booth, the
octoCenarian founder and still active head
If the Salvation Army whose life IS one
Of the most extraordinary human docu-
ments Of modern times, that one or the
most cherished wishes OF his declining
years will have TO abandOned-his far""'H
tour from coast 10 coast Of the tnited
States. as a climax to his threescore years
spent for the winning Of a moral and re-
liCous humanity.
There IS grave danger that the man who
first brought tho light Of a reasonable ana
reasoning Christianity to the slums OF
London's Vhitcchapel ard Manchester :
Angel Meadow-whcre the only angel pre-
viously known was the dark demon or
crime and despairing gloom-who taught
tho av,ngclists Of the whole world how to
light the lamp Of faith and hope In the
hearts Of outlaw and outcast, submerged
I'm the undcrcurrents OF the densely pop
ulated great cities. will himself lose the
light OF earthly eyes. though stu living
and lighted by that abiding faith IN God
and man which has never weakened or
wavered
Geperal Booth received the worlds con-
gratulations on his eighty-third birthday
while he was waiting with quiet t"ru'
tudc in sharp ttI,trast with his manner
,,.bon sncaking to his soldiers In God,
the decision Of eminent surgeons as TO
whether an operation may cure secohd
attack Of cataract. The eye now affected
al -
hut Il Is believed that II is sympatheuc
aNIiction And II IS grave!y doubted mat
there is much hope ~ preserving the Srahd
and good old mans sight. although the
most distinguished specialists VIII o. ca!Ieu
in 70 aid the surgeons now attending MIN
The general was 10 have sailed for New
York during the present month anu 10
have aided by his powerful voic" the Men
and Religion Forward Movement but MS
sailing date was first postponed. and now
IL, arduous voyage and cross-contin'utal
conn. ,rul mos, likely have to be abandoned
,it,cc,bor He recently addressed large
gatbarinrs Of people at Torduay and Bath
and a number ~ similar meetings were
scheduled to follow preparatory To 'n'
American tour. which. In turn was 10 y"
followed by a visit to Canada ana a Sd'Nd-
ZIONIST revival in the Dominion lHcNe
,,.o,inrs have he.n abandoned. owing to
his delicate state az health. 'ommandrr
~, Booth viii sail from New York on
"Wednesday and will confer with the aged
,,.,,,,,l n, 10 the world work now In prog
ross
The affection which darkened the last
DAYS Of William Ewart Gladstone hdS no"
fallen upon Gladstou"s friend. Ni'llam
Booth
Roth had many ;hinSs IN common n'l"h'
l,,o vol over the normal span and tho de-
eira IN serve humanity. William Booth IN
iur,d his sight while on tho 'irinE ine'
.. he. vould himself express II. I'm his her
,.,l.au labors. trying to reach and preach
IN all tho pooplc 81 at tho world. h" has
made use 4 the most modern METHODS ana
=, VAS q inurno- of dut% on high speed
motor which led 10 the accident no" Iol-
lowed hv such sal effects. lie was Stdhd-
iur I'D in the car IS - his wont. MS I""E
vhi,e hair and beard trallini, M the Wlhi
and his ewes drinking IN the l"v"lin'sS OF
tho scene through which tn car Was speed
r,, v.neu i Nv Wis blown against ono or
,,is nuni;s and lodged under the cyelid. with
noisnnous results before it could b" re-
moved Tho consequent infection induced
cataract and an operation was Sd'''HNiu'IN
and the general apparently was
restored. .-
As often happens, however. a SHhpa'H'u'
attack manifested Itself In the eye VINO"
wa. not injured. and IT Is this new 'rouo,'
ubIch Il is feared, VIII crrpl" the useiuI-
iii II.
hoe hann carving the Gospel into hbv"l
'na .r,,u, ,incc IN, was twenty years Old
An ENGLAND is auXiously hoping that 4
cure will be Effected ana that 'he Inc -
will be spared yet httie longer 10