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Show iy George? Thorns IB' ..fe . J 2 EN DECORATION DAY thousands of men, women and children throughout the length and breadth of the land will gather in the various cemeteries and ' lay garlands upon the vast resting rest-ing places of the soldiers that have laid down their lives in defense of their country. In practically every city hosts of veterans of the Civil War will gather and hold reunions to speak of the past, the anger and passion deadened by the lapse of time, while at ten national na-tional homes more .than 20,000 men will usher in the day thankful that the United States, of all nations, is a republic that is not ungrateful for services performed under its flag. The veterans of the various wars, notably the Civil and Spanish-American, who went through hjrj iKlfl fit en the first rows,' then follow those less afflicted, Iso that all are given equal advantages as far as it is possibla 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 gov-ernment pays them according to what they can do. Some of the homos have farms attached on which the men do considerable of the work. At other homes the men look after grounds, while it at all of the homes there' are those who act as 4 guards or guides. Si) The money they receive for their work is all extra- for they receive their pensions just the same- and they are at liberty to either spend their funds for luxuries at the commissary or l coni .honVa tr, thMr relatives. One the conflicts unscathed are constantly con-stantly in mind. There are the Grand Army of the Republic, Loyal Legion and Army and Navy Union, splendid organizations to which many of the officers and men who fought in the Civil War belong, while the veteran association of the Spanish-American War holds the membership of many who went through that struggle. In the national cemeteries here -and there, and in other burial grounds,, are stones that mark the spots where lie the remains of those who participated in the conflicts, con-flicts, and each succeeding Decoration Decora-tion Dav their memorv is kent. nlivfi otfZFiz&ry 7& r- great trouble that the commandants of the various homes have had has been the control of' the soldiers -who persist in patronizing the saloons that are to be found just beyond the gates, but, by vigilance, the old. ; men are kept from getting into any trouble. When a soldier is stricken with illness he is sent to the hospital, where every possible attention is given him. His diet is specially prepared to suit his needs and there 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 aje patiently waiting the setting of the sun. When the last day has come and the soldier has gone to join his corn- rades on the other side his body is borne to the chapel, a minister of his religion says the last rites over him and then, in a casketl borne upon a caisson and escorted by a squad of men under arms, accompanied by a fife and drum corps playing a dirge, he is given full military honors, including the rattle of muskets over his grave. The cemeteries by the homes are growing each year, but every stone is a monument to a brave heart who gave his best years in order that the nation might endure. by the floral offerings strewn upon their graves. But what about the veterans who returned from the front, torn by shot and shell, unable to resume their places in the ranks of the workers, work-ers, without means of self-support and unwilling to thrust themselves upon their kith and kin? At the close of the Civil War, when more than half a million men laid down their arms of war and, in a few months were transformed from soldiers to citizens, the question of what to do "with those who were incapacitated arose. "Pensions are well enough in their way, but pensions are not sufficient," declared Congress. "W'e must do more," continued the members of both House and Senate. "We must establish a home for those who have no homes," and this sentiment crystallized into what is now one of the most important features with which the nation na-tion deals The National Home for disabled volunteer soldiers sol-diers is located in the District of Columbia. There are branches of the National Home at Dayton, Day-ton, O.; Milwaukee. Wis.; Togus, Me.; Hampton, Va.; Leavenworth, Kan.; Santa Monica, Cal.; Marion, Ind:; Danville, 111.; Johnson City, Tenn., and Hot Springs, S. D. There are state homes for disabled volunteer soldiers provided by the states of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho. Illinois, Indiana. Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota. Minne-sota. Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Hamp-shire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota. Vermont. Washington. Wisconsin and Wyoming. Some idea of the extent of the properties supported sup-ported by the Federal government may be had from the last report of the board of managers, In which the acreage of the homes is set down as 5,369. valued at $4S3.474.85. On this land are buildings aggregating a value of $10,513,648.42. To acquire this property, to maintain it and to care for the thousands of soldiers, the total outlay out-lay up to the close of 1911 has been in the neighborhood neigh-borhood of $90,000,000. When the first home was established, within the year, there were 910 veterans cared for. Then each succeeding year increased at the rate of almost 1,000 per year until, In 190S, the greatest great-est number, 34.949, were taken care of. At the same time the death rate among the veterans Increased year by year, and from 10.95 per 1.000. in 1867, it has advanced to 85.60 per 1,000. Yet, when one takes into consideration the physical condition of soldiers when admitted to the homes, and that it has been 47 years since he Civil War, the death rate is really low, for the average life of the old soldiers has been a trifle more than 70 years a, ripe age for the majority ma-jority of men. Indeed, this alone is a most notable not-able tribute to the government for its excellent care of its wards. To visit one of these national homes Is to have a treat, for nowhere will one find a more happy or con'ented set of men. Except for the differ-n(.p differ-n(.p lorqtion and style of architecture of the buildings, all of the homes are similar, for they are 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 a stream, but then there is one in the mountains, another in the land of continual sunshine and flowers, California, while each posseses some natural characteristic to differ it from the other. Tlt, 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 sends them away filled with thoughts of kindliness and proud of being citizens of a nation that is so lavish in its care of those who have upheld the honor of the flag in the face of the enemy. Amid parklike surroundings are the buildings, flanked with broad porches, on which are the settees, where, basking in the sun' may be found those old soldiers w:ho are more content to repose re-pose with pipe and paper than to join their comrades com-rades beneath the trees or strolling around the grounds. First, and all important, Is the military side of the home. Each ' inmate is always 1n uniform and army discipline prevails. All able-bodied men on the grounds salute their -superior officers as they pass, and there are stated times for doing do-ing stated things, so that there must be absolute abso-lute order. At 5:30 in summer and 5:45 in winter the men tunf out. After breakfast the men return to their barracks, make up their beds and put their things In order. Then, unless assigned to duty as room orderly or on guard mount, at which all in the barracks have to take their turns, the soldier sol-dier is at liberty until tattoo at 8:30, when he must be on hand to retire when taps are sounded at 9. While at liberty during the day the soldier may leave the grounds by applying for a pass. He may secure a pass to remain outside the grounds not only for a day, but even for 90 days, if he so desires and his behavior haB been good. Ttiere is but little restraint upon the men and they are practically as free as though they lived In their own. homes. , For those who prefer to remain within the grounds of the home 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 dally papers from different dif-ferent parts of the country, there is at each home an amusement hall where there are billiard and pool tables and many small tables for cards, checkers and dominoes. Another diversion is the band concert each afternoon. Another amusement, and an Important Im-portant one, is the theater. Each of the homes Is equipped with a ball large enough to seat practically prac-tically every inmate .and at the end Is a stage of generous size. Theatrical companies playing In nearby cities -are engaged to give a "one-night stand" at the hall and the performance usually proves a great treat. In the seating of the veterans there Is system exercised, for the deaf and the dim-eyed are giv- |