GENERAL BOOTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 248, 25 February 1911, Page 9

GENERAL BOOTH.

"HOW 'I WOULD SPEND TWO MILLIONS." THE CARNEGIE PEACE GIFT. "Two million pounds given by Mr. Carnegie for the furtherance of international peace! What would I give for two millions pounds to help us to win true peace!" The general of the army which preaches peace leant eagerly forward as he uttered the words. Blindness is coming swiftly upon General Booth, and age holds its menacing hand towards him, but his strained poise and vibrant voice expressed only the exultation of a vision of victory—the victory of peace. "How would I spend two millions? It is no new question to me. Year in, year out, I have pondered upon it, wondering when and whence the millions would come. There are so many schemes, so many possibilities, but all, if they are to be effective, must begin at the one beginning—a University of Humanity. "There are many universities scattered about the world, universities where are taught theology, literature, languages, medicine, and all the other great branches of learning. But the university that I would see established would be an institution to which the lowest, the humblest, the most degraded would be brought that they might be taught the greatest and only abiding lesson in the world. That lesson is the forgetfulness of self.

"In these universities I would give men healthy bodies by means of healthy work. I would have them trained mentally, morally and physically. But I would see, too, that my two millions were not spent on the few alone. Round each of my universities T would hav; a ti.ou.sand hails, plr.ces which by their iirightncss would altiaei . ; ach i'jeir thousands."

The general paused. His slim, frail figure strained forward so that he might the better catch the faintest glimp c of the figure of the man before him. Realising that he strained in vain, he reached out his hand instead, so thai the sense of touch might give him the inspiration faded sight denied him. "But there are so many, many ways of spending money in the direction of peace and yet making that money reproductive. I i'iinnot possibly recount (.hem all. Only I wish Mr. Carnegie would give me the chance!" The tired old body fell back wifch exhaustion. "Two millions! What would I give for two millions before I die!"