National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-09-27
SOLDIERS HOME.


accidents impossible"
SOLDIERS HOME.
Description Of the Park-History Of its Origin
and support-How the Old Veterans Live.
1t is not generally known throughout our coun-
try or even in our own city, that this magnificent
park, surrounding the Home, bids fair 10 excel In
beauty any other in the United States. 1t COM
prises at this time i've hundred acres, and con-
tains between ifteen and twenty miles Of car.
rage drives These are Of the best class, and
beautifully edged with cutters Of white peooies
or small boulders, laid with the grestest nicely
and looking Is pretty rs shell-work. Thousands
Of trees many being of the finest foreign varieties
shade the walks and drives and form thick eiumps
for ornament and shade; while many an open
space blooms richly with the rhododsndron, reige-
la, rose, geranium and many other varieties OF
Towering plants and shrubs. Ivy ereeps over the
lodges and Virginia creepers climb upon trees,
old roots and rustic bridges. Many beautiful
rustic 'rest" is hidden amid the luxuriant foliage,
where, through the summer and during these
pleasant autumn days,
THE OLD SOLDIER, SCARED AND WORN
in battle, rests and dreams. For the old and de-
crepid there is park phaeton, in which they are
driven around, morning and evening, over their
own estate. These men are all well content In
their Home, and are exceedingly proud Of Il, yet
called . military Asylum" and was not, Of
course wealthy and able to give its inmates the
comforts they nov ENJOY NOV s6sy s a5s
rooms, the best OF food and one dollar per month
for spending money. In addition to this they are
permitted to go to their friends or families and
VISIT or to go and work If they like, returning
"home" when they choose. II they feel inclined
sivSys plenty to do, as they are continually i'm.
proving the groundsD they are PAID ior II hoef-
ally.
some being handsomely improved several artih-
ciRl lakes of great beauty, rustic bridges, stone
bridges, arbors, seats, &c. The Scott statue was
unveiled about two years since with due cere-
mony. 1t commands one of the finest views In
allthis country. immediately below the spec
lator lie the splendid grounds Of the Home, next
q few garden fsrms, then the broad city with its
many magnificent public buildings, It's churcn
spires and cupolas, the white dome Of the Capitol
GROWING the whole Then the broad Potomac
spreads like . bay beyond, with the green hills
OF Vrg inia and the tempted front Of Arlington to
the right; and further on the city Of Aie1andrla,
beautifed and rendered enchanting py the atmos-
pheric haze between. And yet still further on
stretches the river still In sight for twenty-five
or thirty miles, with
THE WALLS OF FORT WASHINGTON
plainly visible. The eye Of man never beheld a
one among hundred Of the magnificent views
from this park. The park is open every day In
the elegant equlpages for which our city is SO
famous may be met on any fine evening, rolling
through these beautiful arcades, while the old
in return an oldfashiOned military salute. or the
origin and support Of the Home, we give few
statements, for the benefit Of those who know not
General Scott is Justly called the "Fsther Of
the Home" For many years previous 70 the
not until the close Of the war did he succeed in
getting any Legislation in the matter. After our
army entered the city Of Mexico Whicn was as car,
the city in lieu of "pillage money" The rules OF
war justified him in sacEing the city, but the levy
Alter using a portion in supplying the soldiers
with clothing lost in battle, and In furnishing
comforts for the sick and wounded, he devoted
portion to secret service fund.- and what re-
manned, after the army returned to the United
States, was turned into the Treasury. The act Of
as It was termed, authorized the WitLdrswsI Of
this money "a little over 800 0oo) and the sppro-
printIon Of It for the asylum
This is the history Of the
ORIGIN OF THE SOLDIERS HOME
fund, +" and this 800 900 is the only amount ever
appropriated by Congress for the Home. The act
Of March 8, 1851, also provides that each soldier
in the United States army shall contribute rs
cents per month from his pay, and that all forfeit
ures by courts martial and unclaimed money due
dead soldiers-unclaimed after three yesrs-also
20 to this fund. These are the only means pos
sessed by the Home.
ANY soldier having served twenty years is enti-
tied to the benefits Of the Home; bat all soldiers,
disability been pensioned shall give up their PEN
sions while enjoying the benefits Of the Hsms.
Three branches were at first established-one at
Pascagoula, Miss. one at Hsrrodsburg, KY, and
one at Washington; but the two former were soon
abandoned, and everything concentrated here at
An act Of March 3, 1859, changed the name from
military Asylum" to SOLDIERS Home" and also
admitted soldiers Of the war Of 1872 on the same
footing with all others: 1t also reduced the tax
month.
Washfn Of
banker, and comprised about 200 acres.
THE NEW HARDWOOD" GROUNDS
were purchased at q very low rate from w. W.
Corcoran. Mr.. Oorcoran had spent many thou
sands Of dollars in importing choice trees Tor these
grounds, and 1t is now the finest portion Of the
Home park.
There is a fine little chapel at the Home, where
Roman Catholic service is held one portion of the
day, and Protestant the other; and they also
have a fine hall for society meetings. The hospi-
tai and quarters are kept In the neatest order pos
sible and new hospital building is in curse Of
erection with all the latest improvements in san
itary science.
is about three hundred, the accommodation being
ample for as many more. good supply OF fresh
vegetables is raised in the gardens, and the tables
The soldiers once were won't to call the place the
army poor.house." Now they fondly designate
It "o1r home" and are never weary Of sounding
its praises. The buildings areof
WHITE HAMMERED MARBLE,
beautiful in design and finely finished, with very
high ceilings and excellent ventilation. That
pied by the present Governori is the same formerly
used by President Lincoln and family as q sum-
ner residence.
The library contains shout four thousand vol
umes Of q miscellaneous character, with papers
from the capitals Of all the States, and also the
principal dailies and weeklies, with the standard
periodical literature OF our own country and Eng
land thus giving the old WORKOUT soldier all ad-
vantages for cultivation as well as recreation. In
the reading room isthe NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,
and other city newspapers, with HGrper's Weekly,
Frank Leslie's Weekly, ScribneT, and other OF our
best publications.
The Home is governed by board Of commits
sioners, composed Of Surgeon General, Adjutant
in Immediate charge are q governor, deputy gov
ernor, surgeon, secretary and treasurer appointed
from officers OF the army, on the recommendation
of the board OF commissioners. These officers are
liable TO be removed any day by the Secretary Of
War, and ordered to other duty.