Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-16
Miss Brown. Of the Treasury, uuOn
Pension Office Giro nm Ioeufion

Ny Dear Stdr:-TO the best of my knowledge
md belief, not one voice has yet been raised In
oehalf Of our Mr.. Baker, of Pension fame. Now
Ifeel difident about being the one to raise that
voice; but as no one else seems inclined to do it,
Why, hope he'll be duly grateful to have even
Brown take up the gau inlet in his behalf, and
tell AR-gaZers in general, and Mrs III. Barn.
ard-who wants HIM investigated, yes and i'm
peached-in particular, what very deserving
gentleman Mr.. Baker is.
Mrs. Barnard charges him with investing
pubnc funds in furniture for home use. In the
hrst place then, isn't 1t perfectly natural that
anyone entrusted with the dispensing of such
large charities as eight dollars per month should
that "charity begins at home, )" live up to the
maxim? Then, didn't he virtually save all the
money thus expended by keeping any number
81 persistent widows and clamorohs orphans at
bay, who would otherwise have shared i'm the
heavy charities above mentioned. But there:
nnd that she even makes this very prudence a
Weapon OF attack upon him, and can do no
better than to give an instance which came un-
der my own observation in which his wonder.
ful sagacity has succeeded in saving to the gov
eminent whole widows pension for the last
three years.
PATRIOTIC MAN, BUT NOT SMART.
The soldier In this case, instead OF becoming
a general, quartermaster, or at least ar cav Goa
sn,;at, as any smart man woald have done,
ehllsteu as q common soldier in '6l; went
through all the hardshps and dangers of his
three years' term, and then capped the climax
OF his folly byTe- enlisting for another round or
the same KIND OF dissipation Now, had he been
general, ike some wot of, he might have
successfully saved his country by directing the
dogs OF war from safe distance: as it was. A
Mile ball shattered one of his legs and he had
All the agoniztng experience OF lying for DAYS
upon the battle field, unthought OF and IN
cared for, to go through with. Burning with
FEVER, parched with thirst, unable to move
exsn; poor. mortally wounded "Johnny" d.
vided the contents OF his flask with him, wash
ing Gown In that draught whatever of luminosity
mao oeen In either mind. Then the noble women
VINO made such sufferers their care, found him
beside the dead rebel, and after the horror OF
transportation, he found place in one of our
hospitals, where an amputation was performed
IN 70 oupgiing manner that second one was
neeessary 10 Keep modification at BAY. With
his system drained by the torture utterly nm
able to take stimulants in shape of the offered
Nm wnsky, ne was given up as beyond help, when
MRS; rhaies or Fales, 1 don't know which, a
veIitabie angel in human FORM saw his con-
didon, and brought the needed strength in
sHape OF wines and little delcacies. He rallied
sIter mat, lived for several years life of which
Sach Gay brought Its share of ain and discom-
fort, and with occasional hemorrhages to mark
the progress Of disease, then sank into a prema-
ture grave, leaving his wife and children de-
pehoent upon the mothers exertions.
WHERE THE CLAIM HANGS.
The soldier had been q pensioner tn the
amount OF fifteen dollars per month, aud the
for bsr Dsn paSTcian advised the widow to apply
DO doubt as to the validity of her claim. She
followed his advice, filed the dozen and one
ceftincates, afhdavits, &C., required, and then
swalted the result, which came in form OF a
demand Tor more sffidavits. That chase of the
case continued for some time. AID till the de-
tAtment was fully satisfied that the soldiers
ancestors had all cut their teeth, had the
measles and whoopiDg cough, and had beer
vaccinated in the orthodox manner. Then this
blessed institution found that 1t was vet iepo-
RAM In regard to the age at which the grand
motneI bad lost her first wisdom tooth; and as
me nad always had special affection for that
secret OF her age, and had no Contemporaries
living, wnv the claim hung on that question
ana hangs yet, with the probability in its favor
that, unless the grandfather aforesaid should
seId special dispatch to settle the mooted
point, tbe amount depending upon it will fur
tber contribute to the home comforts Of our
economical Mr.. Baker.
really do not know whether have succeeded
IN my defence az wished or not; but any per-
son With a toierable thinking apparatus can see
that the fault lies not with our highly respected
Circnmiocufion ONCE, but with the soldier.
He should have gone into the Geld as an officsr
at least; then, with proper care he might have
lived 10 become Pension office sutocrat HIM
self, and could have had young army OF sur
geons 70 zee TO IL that he and his didn suffer
from cold In Minneeots NOR from heat In Florida.
! hope Mrs. Barnard win zee these things in
their proper light. MISS B10Wx,