Show r r e L' L if JL III ii- ii I ri i Cr Ii f 1 J 1 j p Q f K r 3 J 2 Gor c n Morris I TI 23 2 Jo 3 JI l N DECORATION TION DAY thousands 4 c- c of m n women and children through throughout ut the length and b. I breadth e of tho land will gather in the various cemeteries and p lay garlands upon the vast restIng restIng rest- rest t r Ing places of the soldiers that have laid down their lives lives-in I In Inc 11 defense of their country In practically every ery city hosts of veterans of the Civil ChU War h will gather and hold reunions I to speak of the past the anger and passion deadened by the lapse of or time while at ten national na na- f homes more than t men will usher in the day thankful that the United States of all nations is a republic that thatis c is not ungrateful for services performed under its flag The veterans of the various wars notably the i Civil and Spanish American who rent 1 through d i I jj r i l Jt J c ck t. t r I k ri i r i 2 A ft d A the conflicts unscathed are con- con 5 in mind There are are the S Grand Army of the Republic Loyal V y r Legion and Army and Navy Union X splendid organizations to which union r- r many of the officers and men who wIo fought taught In the Civil War belong While the veteran association of the Spanish-American Spanish War holds the membership of many who went through that struggle In the national cemeteries here and there and in other burial grounds are ston stones s that mark the theS S spots where lie the remains of ot those who participated in the conflicts con can and each succeeding Decoration Decoration Decora Decora- tion Day their memory Is kept alive by the floral offerings strewn upon their graves But Dut what about the veterans who returned ri from the front torn by shot and shell unable to resume their places In the ranks of the workers workers work work- ers without r means reans of support self-support and unwilling to thrust themselves upon their kith and kin t At the close of the Civil War Var when more than half bait a million men laid down their arms of war and In hi a few tew months were transformed from fromI I 1 soldiers to citizens the question of what to do dor r i with those who were incapacitated arose rose Pensions are well enough In their way but pensions are not sufficient declared Congress We must do more continued the members of Doth both House and Senate We must establish a ax a e Home flome for those who have hae no homes and this Sentiment crystallized into what is now one of th the most important features with wilh which the nation nation na na- na tion de deals ls L The National Home for for- disabled volunteer soldiers soldiers sol sol- diers Is located In iu the District of of Columbia r There are branches of the National Home at Daton Dayton Dayton Day Day- 4 ton 0 O. Milwaukee Wis Togus Me Hampton Va Leavenworth Kan Santa Monica Cal tal I l' l i Ind lad Danville Ill Johnson City Tenn and Hot Sprints Springs S. S D j f. f f There are state homes for disabled volunteer soldiers provided by the states of California Colorado Connecticut Idaho Illinois Indiana i 1 Iowa Kansas Massachusetts Michigan Minne Minne- c sota ota Missouri Montana Nebraska r New Nev Hampshire Hamp shire New Jersey New York North Dakota Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Dakota Vermont Washington Wisconsin and anI Wyoming Some Idea of the extent of the properties supported sup ported by the Federal government may be had bad from the last report of the board of managers in which the acreage of the homes Is set Bet do down as f at On this land are buildings aggregating a value of 42 To io acquire this property to maintain It and to care for the thousands of soldiers the total outlay out f lay up to the close of oC 1911 has hs been in the tho neighborhood neigh u r of When the first home borne was ras established within the tLe year there were 91 veterans cared for Then Phen each succeeding year increased at the rate of almost 1000 per year until in 1908 the greatest greatest great- great est eat number were taken care of At the C saine time the tho death rate rate- among the veterans Increased year by year and from 1095 per 1000 In 1867 1667 it has advanced to 85 GO per 1000 Yet when one ne takes Into consideration tho the physical condition of soldiers when admitted to to the thc homes barnes and that It has been 47 years since he 1 he Civil War Var the death rate is really realty low for forthe forthe the average life me of the old soldiers has been a 1 trifle more than 70 years years years-a a ripe age for the mai majority ma ma- i l of men Indeed this alone is a most notable notable not not- 1 able tribute to the government for Its excellent r f care of Its wards To visit one of these national homes Is to have havea a treat for nowhere will one find a moro more happy or contented set of men Except for the differ differ- JIP Mt J t. t location lorqUon and style of architecture of the b. b 2 7 d-aw d buildings all of the homes are similar for they are aie operated on the plan of giving one and all the same Some of the homes like the one at Hampton Va are situated upon the banks of at a stream but then there is one in the mountains another in the land of continual sunshine and flowers California while each some natural characteristic to differ it from the other T t however Is the immaterial side of the homes for it Is the comforts and conveniences afforded the Inmates that draws the attention of visitors and s sends them away filled with thoughts of kindliness and proud of being citizens of a nation tha that thai is so lavish in Its care of those who have upheld the honor of or the flag in the rac face of the enemy Amid surroundings are the buildings flanked with broad porches on wl which ch are the settees where basking In the sun may be found those old soldiers who are more more content to repose repose repose re re- re- re pose with pipe and paper than to join their comrades comrades com corn rades beneath the trees or strolling around the grounds ground s. s First and all Important Is the military side of ot the home bome Each Inmate Is always In uniform and army discipline prevails All bodied able men on the grounds salute their superior officers as ns they pass and there are stated times for doIng doing do do- ing stated things so that there must be absolute absolute absolute lute order At in summer and In winter the men turn out After br breakfast the men return to their barracks barracks make up their beds and put their things in order Then uness unless assigned to duty duty- as room orderly or on guard mount at which alIn allin allin all al in the barracks have to take their turns the hp nidier nl- nl dier is Ii at liberty until tattoo at when hen ho he must be on hand band to retire when taps are sounded at 9 9 While at liberty during the day the soldier ma may leave the grounds by applying for a pats pass He lie may may secure a pass nasa t to tr- remain outside the grounds not only for a day clay but even for 90 days das If H he heso so desires and hl his behavior has been good Is but hut little restraint upon the men and md the they are practically as free as though they lived in their own homes For those who vho prefer to remain within the grounds of the home borne there is much with which to drive away either discontent or ennui Besides splendid libraries where may be found not only books and magazines but daily dally papers from different different dif dif- ferent parts paUs of the country there Is la at each home homp an amusement hall hail where there are arc billiard and pool tables and many small tables for cards cards' checkers and dominoes Another diversion is the band concert each afternoon Another amusement and an Important important im tm- Im one is the theater Each Each of the homes Is equipped with a hall hail large enough to seat practically practically practically every Inmate and at the end Is a stage of generous size Theatrical companies playing In nearby cities are engaged to give a n one one night night nightstand stand at the ball hall and the performance usually proves a great treat In the se seating of the veterans there Is system exercised for the deaf and tho the dim eyed arc aro en the first rows rowe then follow those less afflicted so that all are given equal advantages as far Car as ItIs it itIs itis Is possible to arrange In the vast amount of work to be done at the homes the Inmates take their part and thereby earn a little extra for themselves for the government government gov gov- pays them ac according to what they can do Some of the hom homes s have farms attached on which the men do considerable of the work At other homes the men look after grounds while at all of oC the homes there are those who act as guards or guides The money they receive for their work is all extra for Cor they receive their pensions just the same and they are at liberty to either spend their funds for luxuries at the commissary or send checks to th their lr relatives One great trouble that the commandants of the various homes have had baaI has bas gb I been the control of at the sol soldiers lers who persist in patronizing the saloons that are to be found just beyond the gates but by vigilance the old men are kept ept- ept tram from getting Into any I trouble When a soldier Is stricken with illness he be is sent to the hospital where every possible attention Is 19 given him His diet Is specially A prepared to suit his needs and there V t is nothing too good for him It might be added that the hospital Is always well occupied for there are many who are failing in health and strength and are aio patiently waiting the setting of the sun When the last day has come and the soldier has gone to join his comrades corn com rades on the other side his body is borne to the chapel a minister of oC his religion says the last rites over him and then In a casket borne upon a caisson and escorted by a squad of at men under underarms underarms arms accompanied by a fife and drum corps playing a dirge he is given full military honors including including the rattle of muskets over his grave gra The cemeteries by the homes bomes are growing each year but every stone is a monument to a bravi brav heart who gave his best years in order that the nation might endure |