National Republican., 1877-04-17
THE SUMsmER RESIDENCE.
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tce.it-ss4 froa frst pass.l
tysSe which are fully appreciated by the old
sSldiers, who stretch in blissful repose on the
seats scattered about the grounds.
at Il hardly 4 cottage" observed General
Pitcher with n emile, when the writer asked
permisstou to inspect the cottage" that was
to be occupied BY President Hayes. The
General led the way into the old mansion and
through every room.
"what . spot for the sunny haired Hayes
children to play In, remarked visitor stand
ing in the roomy hallway on the second floor.
hYes; this is where poor little Tad used TO
General.
BHAurIruL LANDSCAPE.
The General invited the writer TO look out
Of the window in one Of the chambers over the
vsrandah. There" he said, ''is as fine .
landscape ss can be seen In the country"
The vrffer's eyes followed In the direction OF
the outstrstehed hand Of the General. Down
below the broken and varied park stretched
the vide city With It's pumberiess houses.
In the distance the white dome Of the Capt.
tol loomsd up, and far beyond, the broad Po.
tonse swept its way between its MARYLAND
and Virginia shores, making graceful bends
and disappearing on the horizon with the
blue ridges Of Virginia. All this lay under
the son light Of an April sun.
"Hov much higher do you think we are
than the dore Of the Capitol ." asked the
General, amer some time had been spent In
enjoyiog the beauty Of the scene.
The vri'er looked at the distant and al
minished dome, but could form no estimate.
I'VE are twenty feet above IT," said the
Genera1, vith military preeision, as he meas
ured with his eye the distance from the lawn
to the window.
As this beautiful spot is about to become
the summer residence Of the President, . few
facts IN referenee to the Home will not be un-
Interesting or inappropriate.
TIE ORIGIN OF THE "HonE."
When our army captured the city OF Mexico,
instead OF sseking the city, General Scott
levied . sum Of $500, 900. A portion of this
money vas expended In relieving the wants Of
the soldiers, and . portion In establishing Q
'ssecret service fund.-" The remsinder, which
amounted to little over slO0, 900, was turned
into the Treasury. 1t was one Of Gen. scott's
hobbies to establish home for old and dis
abled soldiers, 90 as to render them indie
Perdent. In accordance with his wishes, in
March, 1851, Congress passed an act estab-
fishing . military asylum" and authorizing
the vitbdraval Of the money placed in the
Treasury BY General Scott to be used for the
asyfum. The act also provided that each SOL
der In the United States army shall coutri-
butte tventy-dve cents per month from his
pay towards the support Of the asylum, and
that all forfeitures BY courts martial and
money due to dead soliiers, unclaimed after
three years, shall be placed to the credit OF
the asylum. The 100000 first appropriated
By Congress ID all that the home has ever re-
eefved from that source, and Its only income
b from the ranks Of the army. In no sense is
l. public charity.
The original purchase Of ground for the
Home vas from Mr.. George W. Riggs, the
Washfngton banker, comprising two hundred
acres, and including the mansion. The grounds
were aftervard extended by the purchase Of
Of the Harevood estate, at . very low rate,
fron Mr.. W. W. Corcoran. The grounds now
stretch over five hundred acres, finely i'm
proved, and containing over twelve miles Of
carriage drives.
THE HOME BUILDING
and the residences Of the efacers are of white
hammered marble, Of beautiful design and
nne fnish. There 10 . little chapel, where
Roman Catholic service Is held one portion Of
the day and Protestant the other, and there Is
also nne hall, for society meetings. A large
hospital building has been erected on the
southern border Of the grounds, csppIne 4
hll that frouts the Home. The hospital Il
considered - one Of the finest In the coaatry,
and Is built and fitted up with all Of the latest
Improvements In sanitary science. There Is
no healthier spot In the world than that
where the Home stands, but a. many Of the
knAh hctk rs tntltcr arc PHYSICAL
wrecks, good hospital Is . very necessary
part Of the Institution.
When the act Of 1851 vas passed three asy.
lums were established, one at Pascagonia,
Miss; one at Hsrrodsburg, KY, and one at
Washington, but the former were soon aban-
doosd, and all Of the funds expended upon
the one in this city. Any soldier who has
served twenty years Is entitled to the benefits
Of the Home, and men disabled In the army,
though they have not served twenty years,
can gain admittance.
A CHANGE IN NAME.
Tie name "Nilitary Asylum" was not liked
BY the soldiers, who called the place the
"Army Poorhouse." In 1859 Congress changed
the name to "Soldiers' Home, !" and by provi
sions Of the same act made soldiers Of the
var Of ls12 eligible to admittance, and reduced
the monthly tax upon the soldier from 25 to
l2ii cents. There Is fine library and read
ing room, and extensive gardens, which fur.
nizh fresh vegetables OF all kinds, and con.
tribute to the health and good fare Of the in
| mates.
| At present there are about 1--WE hundred in
mates. The old soldiers are not required tc
do anything except behave them selves, and
the little community Is remarkably orderly
They wear q sort Of fatigue uniform, with blous.
and cap, and are proud of the title of sold
"They are under no restrictions" observed
General Pitcher, In the walk through tn,
grounds. "All that Is required of them is u
i &c; up tnthe morning and behsve themselves ,
.sIhere Is no discipline, them"
Il "There Is nothing military at all. The,
have had enough OF that"
| DO they have TO work."
They are not required to work. Some O
| them do light work about the grounds. Eacl
OF them has . little stretch Of roadway which
he Is supposed to keepin good order. 1t Is no
Poor-touse-if they thought so they woult
not stay; &c L their home. They are free I,
come anil 60 as they chose. They own tn
| place, and always have = home here.7
sone OF the veterans go away every sum
mer In search of WORK, as they become tired o
the quiet life at the "Home, !" but they Away
return when cold weather sets In. Soldier
with pensions are obliged to forfeit them upo
entering the "Home," )" but they draw a small
| sum Of pocket money each mouth FROM tn
"Home" fund. They are proud of thu
"Home, !" and glad to welcome visitors.
EMINCLP4TION.