THE SALVATION ARMY IN PARIS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3608, 3 February 1883, Page 4

THE SALVATION ARMY IN PARIS.

The London correspondent of a contemporary writes:—"The thoughtful observer should not oA-erlook the remarkable niovcment made by the Salvation Army in Paris. A I'cav days ago I had the pleasure of listening* to Miss Booth's account of the origin and progress of that movement, Avhieh Avas established by her, and is sustained by a little band of ' brothers and sisters ' under her direction. AVhen she Avas appointed to the command of the Paris wing of the Sal\-ation Army, she Avas unable to speak a word of French, Avhcrcas now she has a sufficient acquaintance with the idiom of the language to address large audiences of the common people iv their own vernacular. This is a surprising fact, but it is literally true. AVhat is still more wonderful is that, although dealing Avith Avhat is generally believed to be the most impracticable material iv the Avorld —namely the lowest classes iv the lowest quarters of Paris, she and her colleagues have already succeeded iv building up a congregation of 300 or 400 persons, avlio had given evidence of their reformation by abandoning their bad habits, and by making restitution to those Avhom they injured. Her experience has shown that neither Eugene Sue nor Victor Hugo, in describing the darker side of Parisian life, has indulged in the least exaggeration. The Parisians are, to a large extent, as she says, destitute of all moral sense, and live only for the gratification of the present moment. A'et among the worst of this reprobate class she is now laboring Avith a success Avhieh Avarrants the belief that the Savation Army Avill take root in France. Miss Booth herself, wherever she goes, cannot fail to produce a highly favorable impression, she looks so young and innocent, her face is so radiant with amiability, aud her style of speaking is so simple and yet so impressive.