Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-22
The Soldiers, Home

The Soldiers Home is the objective point
toward which all fashionable equipageS roll:
nor a lOyelier spot can you conceive of. H.
the Home, is a national institution for invalid
regular soldiers, and was established in 1851 Inv
the purchase of the Riggs farm" situated
three miles north of the city, with money
icoS Three years ago it was increased in eN
tent by the addition to il of Hardwood, the
superb country seat of w. w. CorcOran. esq.
The expenses of the Home are kept up by
sum of twelve and half cents per month
retained OF the pay OF each private soldier i'm
the regular service, and is managed by
composed of the adjutant, the commiSSary and
surgeon generals United States army.
The buildings are artistic in design and ele-
CANT in finish, and, besides the quarters OF the
old veterans, there are eight or ten elegant
houses for the officers and hospital, cDnSid-
cred in its modern Improvements the finest i'm
this country. The grounds are laid out with
rare taste, and abound in gently undulating
meadows. dense groves, crystal lakes Spanned
hyruStic bridges, fountains, ornamental shrub
berry. and, in season, parterreS of gayly -cOlored
MOVERS and score OF magnolia trees, the
languld odOr from whose creamy blossoms
fills the air. On plateau commanding a
view reaching far beyond Georgetown on
the right. way down into Maryland on the
left, and across to the blue Virginia hills
including prospect down the river of many
many miles, is the superb bronze statue by
Launt / thompson OF General Scott. 1t is he
role in size and the finest likeness of the Old
hero | have ever seem its placing could not
have been better, for there are no trees or
houses near TO dwarf its majestic height or
attract the eyes from its graceful bearing
nothing but Gods own blue above and ma
lures green-Sward below. Here carriages
meet and their occupants, as If 10y mutual con-
sent. rarely disturb the serenity of the scene
by idle conversation. feeling the moment too
few in which they are to enjoy the exquisite
view, and regard the masterpiece of an ar
tiStic genius, and then obey the order from the
old sentinel to drive on. There is a quaint
gothic chapel fashioned of brown stone, mes
tied i'll grove of oak trees. Here at o clock
on Sundays is the mass for the Roman Catholic
soldiers, at II a. IN. the Episcopal services, and
IN the afternoon prayer meeting for the
MethOdistS. Ought not these invaded pen
SiOnerS who have bravely fought the
material battles of this world be ena-
bed TO float into Heaven on some of
the theories eXpounded TO them every
Sunday? The present governor is Col. Potter,
L. S. A., we'll known in Cincinnati and Co,
lumbuS, in which latter city his wife, as the
beautiful Miss kilbOurne, daughter of Lincoln
kilbOurne, esq, and niece of DR.. GOOdall,
major in the war of 1872, led all all hearts cap
tive. Their home is most delightful one, and
they have become great favoriteS in society
The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS is Lieutenant Colonel
COggSwell, of New York the treasurer. Major
WhittleSey, and the name of the surgeon has
escaped my memory.
During the balm aIlern66hS of the spring
! ana summer the rustic benches placed in vine,
emtowered arborS here, there and everywhere
filled with the uniformed boys in Blue who
| enjoy watching the long lines of carriages aud
| equeStrianS passing, and observe them with a
Semi-cOnScious air OF proprietOrShip in the
| park. 1t is custom for visitors to give papers
and other reading matter to them as they pas
by, Some more generously disposed add pipe:
and tobacco" Raymor,de" in Gin. En-
! Uuirer,