rance of the volume. I was, of course, in ignorance of what
the nation would think or say about it.

I had made plans for the book to be delivered to the newspapers at
one and the same time, and, regarding the Press as being to some
extent the voice of the people, I was anxious to hear what that
voice would say.

I was not kept long in suspense. As I ascended the stairs at
Headquarters that morning, a gentleman with a countenance beaming
with kindness and anxiety met me. I do not think he had ever seen
me before, and I was certainly in complete ignorance of him.

"General Booth, I believe?" he said.

"Yes, sir," I answered.

"I have been reading the critique in _The Times_ of your Darkest
England Scheme," he said, "and, believing your plan to be right and
good, I want to be the first to express my sympathy and practical
assistance in carrying it out, and I wish to give you the first
L1,000 towards the sum asked for."

This gentleman proved himself a firm friend of the Scheme, actively
co-operating with us so far as he had opportunity.

A short time afterwards our friend was present at the opening of
our first London Ex-Prisoners' Home. When I had finished speaking
he expressed a wish to say a few words. I invited him forward for
that purpose. He came, hurried and excited, began to speak,
staggered, reeled, fell into my arms and immediately expired. It
may be truly said that he died calling down blessings on the
Darkest England Scheme.

After meeting this gentleman on the stairs, I had scarcely sat down
at my desk, with his cheque in my hand, before a telegram was
handed me, from one of the most influential newspaper proprietors
in the city, expressing a similar hope, and promising a similar
amount for its realisation.

But along with these cheering expressions of approbation there came
the invariable murmuring objections. One of these strove to
minimise the value of the effort, by arguing that it was only an
attempt to extend The Army's religious influence. People said they
would be willing to help if all religious and propagandist motives
were eliminated from the Scheme.

One night a gentleman was announced as wishing to see me. He
declined to give his name, and the only description of him I could
gain was that he w