THE SALVATION ARMY.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1699, 26 May 1883, Page 4

THE S A L VATI ON A RM Y.

Bfcussixg the Salvation Army and its tactics, the London /foily Xetvs says : — '.'Wo have never doubted the sincerity of the hosts of Salvation, but perhaps 6ven they themselves sometimes feel : doubtful about their own wisdom. The visible results of their fifing, trumpeting, drumming, preaching, andp^altn-singing, are for the moment an immense increase of ruffianism, and a lively demand for more polfcc. Tho Salvationists will say -that those annoyances are but temporary, that this sort (meaning the Skeleton Army) goeth not out without making an ellort, and that the increased ruffianism is the final Struggle of the Old Man. It would be pleasant to agree with this Bansjttino theory, and yefc the worldling will ask the Salvationist ' Could you do your pious works without quite so much hubub ?' Religious persons who blew their trumpets before them were not ap'plaudcd of old, and the Pharisees did not go in for banners and drums as well as Trumpets. General Booth and his allies must know that any kind of amateur .military procession among the lower classes always, inevitably, logically produces an unfriendly procession of the other side. Where is the fun of playing at soldiers where there is no enemy ? The Skeleton Army has argued thus, and has organised a hostile force, The performances of its soldiers are to the last degree cowardly, cruel, ruffianly ; but what else was to be expected ? Advice, we fear, is thrown away on the Salvation Army, and we do not expect to see them retain their godliness and get rid of their fantastic flags, processions, and all their other favourite modes of provoking the rabble. But while the Salvation Army acts as it dors at present, nothing but a strong police force, much needed perhaps in other quarters, will prevent ruffians indulging In the sport of prosecution."

A humour is current to the effect that the Duke of Rutland is about to quit .it length the happy state of bachelorhood which he has ornamented for cight-a fidsixty ye.ii h, and te marry an estimable and amiable widow lady of noble family, who, though no longer in her fust youth, will make him an admirable wife, A Makvku/mjs Story.— Lately some gentlemen were dining together and lelating their travelling adventures, when one of them dwelt so much in the marvellous that it induced another to give him a lesson. "I was once, sir," said he, "engaged in a skirmishing party in Amciica. I advanced too far, was eeparatod from my friends, and saw three Indians in pursuit of me ; the horrors of the tomahawk in the hands of angrj navages took possession of my mind j I considered for a moment w hat was to be done ; most of us love life, and mine was both precious and useful to my family. I was swift on foot, and f car added to my npto'i After looking haek — for the country Wiis an open one— l at length perceived th.it one of my enemies h.ul outrun thcotheis, and tlrj well-known saying, 'Divide and conquer,' oeemi ing to me, I slackened my speed and allowed him to come up. We engaged in mutual fury. I hope none hcio (bowing to hi-> auditois) will doubt the lcsult ; m a few mi.iutc.% he. lay a 001 pse, at my feet. In this short space of time the two Indians had advanced upon mo, so I took again to my heels with the hope of icachmg <i neighbouiing wood, where I knew dwelt a tribe friendly to the English ; this liope, however, I was foiccd to give up, for on looking back I saw one of my puisiicis far befoie the other. I waited for him, lecovering my almost exhausted bicath, and soon this Indian shared the fate of the fiist. I had now only one enemy to deal with, but I felt fatigued, and being near the wood, I was more desirous to s,ive my own life than to destroy another of my fellow-creatures. I plainly perceived smoke curling up among the trees ; I prayed to heaven, I felt assured lry piayers would bo granted; but at this moment the yell of the Indian's \oice sounded in my p.ais— I even thought I felt Jus warm breath ; there was no choice — I tinned lound " Hcie the gentleman who had iclated the pievious wondeiful stoi y giew impitieiit past all cnduiance and ciied out, " Well, sir, and you killed him also .'" " No, sir ; he killed me !' A Kxorrv Point. — It is uudei stood that the pies'.ut Kail of Nrainfoid (the Rev Many < » i t*y ) mm mil liuim// to the Hottentot lady who at piescnt onjoys his undivided affections, and as she has presented him with a son and heir, tht question whether a clergym in can mirry liimsclf is naturally causing considerable contioveisy in certain quaitcis. The reply of the w itty bUhop, to a clergyman in his diocese who asked advice on this pomt — •" Ycj, if you can buiy yomsclf '' •—is, of comse, only a clever evasion of a question he cither could not or would not answer. It is highly probible that such a marriage would be considered lugnl, and that if appealed to, the Courts wotdd declare the issue of audi a maniage legitimate. _ A clergyman of the Uhuruh t>f Knghind is by law empowered to perform the mnmagc ceremony, and the bccisions upon wliiih hi.s unices may be dispensed "\S Ith aic distinctly specified — for instance, people may be m.micd at a Registry 0111-jo, or in a Dissenting chapel --therefore, if a elcrgjmaii cannot many liiuiself, itonu'ht to have been .so stated in the list of c\ee| tions. As the late Eail of Stamfoid settled L' 30,000 a year in btiict entail upon the owner of the title, thcic la no doubt the matter will be fought out to the "bittei end." AmTIXHT (II (iINTIJU, C'llWZl*. — A few months after the signatuie of peace at Bordeaux", Chanzy was in his scat as deputy at the Versailles Assembly, when a messenger informed him that a person earnestly requested an in ten icw about a matter of the utmost impoitance. He went out, and found himself in the piescnce of a grey-haired, soldierlylooking man, diessed in deep mourning. "General," said the latter, after apologising for disturbing him, "I reside in tne provinces. I lost my son in the environs of Mans in one of the engagements which preceded the last battle, an 1, in spite of my enquiiies, I have baen unable to ascei tain where he fell. My name," he added, "is a well known one; perhaps you iccollect my son. Can you tell me whcie he died?" The (Juncial at once recognised the name uttcied, and also that the son iuqiiiicd after had been taken as a dcseiler and shot by his oi dct.s in the pie&fiire of the aimy. I'ainful though it was to ieve.il the truth tolas father, (ieneial Chan/y did not hesitate, and, with tcais in his eves, desciibed the whole circumstance, adding, "It was my duty to make an example, Monsieur." His companion lcniaincd for an instant stunned by the blow ; but, recovciing himself, he answered (and it was his answer which he struck the General with admiration), "Since he had disgraced himself, you did right Genetal. He is better dead than dishonoured. As a parent I may grieve ; but as a Fi enchman, I thank you." The Qukkv's Yachts — Truth says :— The original cost of the Victoria and Albert was close on £120,000. An enormous sum !ias sine* hccii spent on ' her at various tin.e^ in alterations and re-decorating, and the annual pay of her officers and amounts to £5338, which apparently they are to leceive during the next year for doing nothing. The pay of the Osborne ofliceis and crew is £500() a year, of the Alberta .€2OOO, and of the Elfin £830. The pay of men in Portsmouth Dockyard for the time they aie employed on the yachts averages nearly £1)000 a year, and there aie many other chaiges to the public in connection with them. It seems to me that as it is admitted that any service which is ever performed by the Victoria and Albert could be equally w< 11 done by the Osborne . without inconvenience to anyone, the t proper coimo would have been neither i, to have built a new yacht, nor to waste ', such an extravagant* sum in repairing jibe old. ono,