Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-04-14
EditoriR CORRESPONDENCE.
soldiers National Home, Togus--Good
Templar Lodge established, sc.

soldiers OF al nationalities and habits
there IS need enough OF temperance work
Only the night before a sad case occurred
where one of the band, good musician
and capable man, nearly froze to deau
by laying out of doors owing to intern
peranee. 4 Division of the Sons o
Temperance and n Post OF the Crane
Army of the Republic are sustained here
We were politely received by Gen
TILToN. who has charge OF the Institution
aud every facility afforded US to carry GU
our obiect-the Gen'l remarking that ht
rejoiced in all movements OF reformation
lie is a Massachusetts man, attentive tC
his duties, and seems admirably qualified
for them. Col. Hall, the Dep. Supt., j:
also Massachusetts man, and had charge
of the Subsistence department of Sher
mans army.
We also received attention from some
Oxford County boys connected with the
Institution, among whom were +. q,
Adams. the Engineer. who has charge OF
the Engines, Gas and Water works, and
seems to be the Yankee man-of-al-works
OF the place. lie was n soldier, but is
hired for his present duties. lie is native
OF Denmark. in our County and married
a Miss Gordon. OF Lowell, sister OF Il. T.
Gordon. Esq, our County Commissioner.
We are greatly indebted TO Mrs. Adams
/ Tor entertainment and polite attentions.
We felt acquainted with them, as they are
subscribers to the oxford Democrat. Mr..
Adams spent several hours showing us
around the buildings, including the Shoo
shop and the farm buildings and barns
where the General keeps some of the nice
stock for which he is famous.
Mr.. O. o. S,etson. Canton 10y, is the
telegraph operator. and very useful and
popular man here. lie belongs to the
band and WAS made the Worthy Chief
Temp'ar of the Lodge. He was uure-
hitting in his attentions to rs, and without
his aid VIC should hardly have accom-.
plished our purpose. Mr.. II. Davis, OF
Peru. whom We found there, is also a
useful man. There is another Oxford man
lhcrc-Mr Leayitt c. Virgin, now in the
Hospital.
The Soldiers Asylum at Togus is =
great Institution, and beneGcon, one.
There arc three in the country and they
are supported in part or entirely from
accumulated funds in the L. ). Treasury,
forfeited by deserters, We believe. There
aro five buildings, including handsome
residence for the commander. located
several rods distant from the other
buildings. We cannot go into particulars,
only remarking that the buildings are
new, well adapted TO the purpose for
which they were designed. The dOrmi-
tories, dining hall. kitchen. hospital,
smoking room, billiard hall and Amuse.
mcut Hall are all first claSs-tho latter
must have cost some ten thousand dollars.
The walls are lrescoed. it is heated by
steam and lighted by gas, as are all the
buildings. aud has q stage, with stage
scenery, fixtures, &c, nice Selees, \
piano, &c. Here some very nice amuse-
ments are furnished-one, q Concert 10y
he Brass Band. inlerspersod with songs,
recitatious, SC. we had the pleasure OF
attending. The Band has uniform,
good instruments, numbers about fifteen,
and Is under good state OF proficiency
| I'm playing. The recitstions and readings
were good enough for any audience, and
were all carried on by the inmates. A
printed programme, got up at the place,
was distributed 1t The door. The enter
| laiument vas free, and was well attended
/ Jy the soldiers. We were struck will
the faces Of some OF those in the audience
, intellectual enough for officers in higt
command or for any duties in civil life
The institution is designed for disabled
and destitute soldiers. but when the wo!
comes near the door as il does 10 many
these cold and long winters, most any
soldiers are admitted. who stay till spring
aud then leave. There are over touI
hundred there now.
We looked over the Bill of Fare. anC
found that the living was much better
than army ralions. They have tea OF
coffee twice q day, with white sugar an(
mIk-yegetables, meats. butter. prunes
gingerbread, &c. We looked into thu
Bakery aud found they used three barred
OF flour 4 day! They make the coffee
and tea in four large boilers-two fo
each, and use twelve pounds OF coffee
and sixteen pounds Of sugar. and two
pounds OF tea and sixteen OF sugar at {
mess! Gingerbread is served twice
week. \ Suffers shop is also kept on tn
grounds where anything wanted can b
procured.
The arrangement for the employment
of the men making shoes, where they cal
o,., C--,,, IN conts N - m nor day An,