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

freshments to the thousands Of visitors that come
annually to the Homes. They are suffers stores.
but the soldiers are their own suffers. The profits
are carefully preserved and passed to what is
called the amusement fund" Out of this fund
billiard and bsgstele tables, chess checkers, DOM
NOES, cards, backgammon, ETC., are purchased;
brass and string bands supported; lectures, con-
certs, dramatic and other entertainments provid-
ed; books added to the Libraries; organists pro-
vided for the chspes, and balls ior base and foot
ball clubs, and uniforms for band; newspapers and
magazines placed in the reading room, pictures
framed and placed upon the walls, flowers put up
on the grounds. fire works obtained for the Fourth
Of July, and a hundred other things provided
and done for the entertainment aud amusement OF
the disabled soldiers of the Home, and all without
any real expense to the government.
| There are dramatic societies, and temperance
societies at the various homes, and at the Dayton
Home Monumental aud Historical Society
which has published history of that Home, and
| erected large and beautiful monument TO "our
fallen comrades.''
| The birch trees on either hand were u mass OF
dripping greenery, sparkling from the shower,
and the sun shone for moment, through the bar
IN the cloudy west, flooding the scene with SPLEEN
| dor, as we came in sight of Togus. The beauty
and taste of the grounds around the Generals
residence first attracted us, and drove in, along
| the winding drive, admring the blooming roses
the delicate plumes of the smoke-trec, and the
| well kept vines and shrubbery.
| Owing to the rain the men were collected thick
| l,,,, !. A..
when we asked il we could look through the
buildings, they referred US to the officer Of the
day, but we did not find the right man and were
at loss where to go what to do, until we were
fortunate enough to happen upon DR.. Maxfeld
who not only gave US all the information We re
qured, but volunteered to accompany us over the
buildings. He took us up into the dormitories,
and showed us the neat cots OF the men, each with
chest for clothing at the foot, then through the
library and reading room full of men porting over
the books and papers, to the large dining room
| where the tables were laid for supper. A little
later the signal sounded and the men came falling
in As we stood watching them, we noticed that
comparatively few had lost limb showed any
signs of injury. but DR.. Maxield said that there
was not man among them who was capable
of earning his living by manual labor; every one
suffered from some disability. Later, we encoun-
tered soldier who looked stout and rosy, but
when we inquired what his disability was, he re-
| piled "paralysis;" another had a severe wound in
the shoulder, third had been injured in the back
OF the neck by fragments of an exploding she'll.
The pension that each received was in proper
ton to the injury he had sustained. 1--WE have
| al ~ Of J,bo
and when we expressed our desire to see them he
spoke to an elderly man, dressed in army blue, who
was sitting the edge of the verandah. He
jumped up briskly and came to This is one, a."
said the doctor, che is eighyfour.'
| Great was surprise to behold In this ruddy-
| faced, frosty haired veteran, a soldier of the DIM
historic past. Visions of him lighting for our lib
critics before we were born arose before us, and
we felt we owed him a debt of gratitude. We
begged the privilege of shaking hands with him,
| and then asked him what battles he was in. al
wasn't in any battle said he good naturedy
but somewhat reluctantly, as if aware that he was
relinquishing his claim to hero worship. 81
was a boy of eighteen, and bore gun in Aroos-
took"
The hospital with its dispensary and kitchen
was the doctors especial pride, and he showed US
over it and explained its system, with enthusiasm.
Three poor fellows lay their cots, suffering from
rheumatism other acute pain and one was sit
ting by the window, his head buried in a pillow
resting on the sill. AT the head of each bed was
a card giving the name of the occupant, the ad-
dress Of his friends, his company, number, dis
ability, etc. The hospital kitchen was the very
embodiment of nestness and order. and the range,
with its shining coppers would have delighted the
| heart Of housewife.
The doctor took US to the shoe shop, where
shoes for all the Homes are m de,th gas factory,
the laundry, the guard house, the billiard room,
and the amusement hall, explaining everything
with interchangeable courtesy, and giving us a lot of
| interesting information about the Home. While
we we've in the hall, which was being lighted Tor
| an evening entertainment, foriorn looking little
gray horse, hitched to small old fash oned open
| buggy: stopped at the door. Two young women
| were seated in the buggy. One got out, but the
other sat still until one OF the soldiers brought
rolling chair and helped her into it, sfterward
wheeling her into the hall. The doctor told u. her
story. She had met with accident which had
made her q cripple for lie. Some kind individ.
| usIs nau given her Tue morse anu buggy, ana
the soldiers of Togus had given her a free en-
trance and welcome to all the concerts and 9TH
err entertainments given in their hall. Thus her
life had been frightened by thoughtful kindness.
Our visit to Togus had been necessarily short
one, but we felt we drove away that we had
thanks to DR.. Maxield's kindness, seen and learn
ed more than could have done in twice the
time without jealous guide. The pink and pale
yellow glow of twilight showed above the birch
trees that made green wall on each side of oui
homewsrd road, and the stars began to CLEAN in
the dsrkening sky. Thus ended one of our sum.
mer days in Maine. L.C j.
Oskaieosa, Iowa.