P. S. I have just seen a first sample of the Salvation Army. Across the street from my window I heard singing, & looked out & saw four very young men in military costume grouped upon the broad sidewalk, & they were swaying this way & that, about a gaudy banner, & making violent & absurd gestures with their hands, & singing unhymn-like hymns in loud voices. About them were grouped 12 or 15 women & girls in poor & faded attire. The singing presently drew a crowd of 50 men & boys—mainly street stragglers, & the bleak wind tugged at their worn overcoats & crippled umbrellas, & made a wintry & dreary spectacle of them, which had a most homeless aspect about it. Presently one of the uniformed youths took off his cap & made a prayer; then there was more fantastic singing; then a woman of 50 made an exhortation; then a lay youth did the like; then another old woman; then a man in poor clothes; then another youth in soldier clothes—all these preerformances sandwiched with singing. The service being ended, the standard bearer marched away with his flag, the uniformed youths followed him, two by two, the women followed these in double file, the ununiformed privates followed these in double rank, (in their midst a youth in blue navy cloth, with this legend in great white letters embroidered upon his back, “Come to Jesus”) & the mob brought up the rear.

I love you, sweetheart.