Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-11-04

utes at meai-time. He thought life time was
short for the work he had to do, and he must i'm
prove every moment Of time.
In the womans ward, some of the patients were
in groups Of two or three as if talking together
some were good nstured and silly. some were
peevish and cross, as fretful children, and be-
|. seiged the Doctor with their petty complaints
several were lying asleep on the benches. All
that we had heretofore, impressed me like
sick and hayward children. They were to be
soothed and controlled, but not to be feared. But
now we came into the ward next to the last, and
here saw q woman whose expression never can
forget. She was tall and straight with pale,
sallow complexion, and light, steely blue eyes.
She was standing little apart as if ignoring her
companions, but she Immediately fixed her gaze
upon u.s. and light, as Of demoniac mirth CLEANED
10 her eyes She followed seslthily, not of idle
curiosity. but with q set purpose shining in her
face. 1t was the light of reason, but OF reason
warped from its heslthy purpose, and bent upon
some unnatural scheme. 1t was as if she had wait
| ed long. and now the opportunity for revenge had
come, and she rejoiced at it. The purpose of muir
der was in her face without the passion. She fol-
lowed us through the long ward, and placing her
self against the side wall, turned upon us, we
| passed through the door, . look that chilled the
blood in my veins. 1t the smile of sin itself,
not sin mingled with human frailty. and the ca
paci,y for remorse but deliberate, intellectual sin
trumphing in itself. gloating over its capacity for
wckedness. After we had passed through she
put her face close to the bars of the door and
| glared at us. wished there was smother way to
return to the front part OF the building but had
to return through that ward. Again she followed
MS, drawing and nearer to US with sliding
motion. l walking between the two gentle
men, but there was protection behind. l half
expected to feel her fingers close round my throat
and walked that long hsllin fear and trembling
Like one that on lonesome road
Doth walk in fear and dread,
Aud having once turned round walks on,
And turns no more bis head
Because he knows frghtful tend
Doth close behind him tread"
How slow the doctor seemed in unlocking the
door, and what blessed relief it was when we
were finally on the other side, and looking back,
saw the woman peepng through the bars. The
doctor then showed US two or three private rooms
the doors of which were open, and we saw each
patient sitting at his desk or table, writing or
reading. We made laughable, but very natural
mistake in one instance. Seeing a gentleman
seated at his desk said to each other, there is
another private patient What fine looking, in
telligent man he is. What pity" Just then the
doctor remarked; This is the Superin tendent's
office, and that is the Superintendent" We re
turned to our starting place, and were about to
oh hen ha hn had de
our visit most interesting one. suggested that We
should see the chapel, and conducted us through
narrow well lighted hall, ornsmented with large
vases, filled with urns Of blooming flowers, into
the beautiful and commodious room used for pub
lie worship. When we had said good bye to the
doctor and were preparing to drive away, We heard
lugubrious voice isse from building resembling
q church, just beyond the hitchng posts.-"How
many Inhabitants do you find in that little world
Wish somebody would come in here, its pretty
lonesome sometimes" After expressing disgust
because we would not reply. the voice went on in
political speech We concluded that that build
ing was ward for disappointed office seekers.
If we had had any doubt about the road to To-
gus, we would have been assured by the sight of
the bue-coated. blue capped men we passed at in
tervas along the way. They were like so many
sign posts pointing the way to the Soldiers Home
The government has established q National
Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, with four
branches. That near Augusta is called the East
ern branch; at Day ton, Ohio, the Central; at il
waukee, Wis, the North Western; and ct
Hampton, Va, the Southern. No other
nation has ever made such an institution to
care for, in such a manner, its disabled soldiers
at has been reserved for tine United States, un-
warke and peaceful, to erect an institution for
its disabled soldiers upon a greater extent,
with better appointments, with larger results in
health and comfort of the men who received hurt
in its armies, than any all other nations of the
world, even those where war seems to be almost
the rule and not the exception" The number
cared for during the past year was at the Dayton
Home 4, 623, at Milwaukee 1907, at Togus, near
Augusta, 1925. at Hampton 958. The number is
increasing every year, the new applicants over.
balancing the depletions by death, and the num-
Der honorably or disbonorably discharged, and it
the opinion of officials in charge that it will
continue increase for at les.t ten years to come
At first it would seem that the lapse of nearly
thirteen years after the close of actual hostties
would have brought to the Home all who are
entitled to its benefits and are obliged to resort
to it for support. but as time passes, families are
broken up and the disabled soldier is left alone
in the world, or disease Is added to the effect of
wounds and It becomes impossible for him to
support himself, and he avails himself of the
bounty Of the government.
The responsibility Of officials in charge is
great, and when 1t is remembered that they had
no model or prototype, but had to build up the
institution according to their own conception,
the praise due them is also great. The large
number Of men in the Home must be trans.
ported, clothed, fed, treated in hospital, amused
and governed during their lives, and those dy.
ing, properly and respectfully inferred at their
death. In this system, the services of the sol