Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-10-10
national HOME ETTER.
sOLDfsns' How, CENTRAL DnAxcu, /

MoSTGoatRY Co, O., Oct. "a, '79. I
Mn. EpfTon For four OF FIVE days fbe
two daily papers 0f Dayton have been 6lled
with savOry, or unsavory editorials aud cont
muBicaiions Of the hash eerved up at side
show, under the nnme OF banquet gotten
np by tho Datonians Tor the entertainment
Of the BOARD OF Managers and officers Of
this Home, Whether It wac the wine, or
somelhing stronger, guzzled down 10y the
roiHering crew that gathered at the Bcckcl
House that night, or not, that kicked up
the row, and scattered the stencil that has
spread general hostility among the memor-
able orators aud committeeman, 1 am una.
ble TO state.
Chaplain Ernshaw, in his speech, euio-
gized Mr.. Gunkie, ia glowing colOrs, rs
once being local manager of this Home,
and at the same time spoke disrespectfully
OF the inmates here, whom he lives among
and ought 10 praise, as il is the soldiers
here who are his sole source of livelihood
in their midst. They generally regard this
attack upon them as unmerted.
Hon. John McMahOn replied at the ban
quet in n cutting, severe and sarcastic man
ner, hurling Indignantly back the accusa-
tions made, claiming the soldiers had
right to their pension money as we'll rs the
arrearages; that the soldiers had right to
spend il rs they pleased, and this Home or
Its officers had no right to restrict or gov
ern, keep or control their money. OF course
Mcmahon stands by the soldiers, for they
elected him 10 Congress, and there are votes
in il.
From this there has sprung up a bitter
newspaper controversy, aud more personal
and vindictive epithets have been hurled
at Ernshaw and McMahon, rs we'll as the
rich scenes of the banquet, than are pleas
ant for ears polite"
The man, men, citizens or officer who at
tempts to bring the soldiers of this Home,
on degraded platform iB a slanderer.
There are four thousand soldiers here, and
never in the history of this Home, have
one of them been guilty Of insulting man,
woman or child who ever came here to visit,
or outside of this Camp.
Capt. Fury has again returned to Camp.
During mis- visit to his sister his brother-in-
law died and was buried. He was a Sir
Knight, and was buried with all the grand
beauties of Masonry.
People are still thronging the Garrison.
Our new lake is finished, and autumn is
here. The leaves are turning, and the cold
winds and melancholy gliding, glittering
sunbeams look in sadness at departing sum-
mer.
The inmate injured by the Elk has re-
covered. They are commencing the new
barracks. The camp still continues healthy
scarcely any deaths.
Our Gardener has begun to take into the
green house our choice and tender flowers.
What n lot OF them--too many of fancy
and tender life. The old style flowers are
the best. The common garden flowers are
closely interviewer with the fabric of Eng
lish literature, and the frequent mention Of
them by the early poets, who treated them
more in detail than their successors, has
invested them with charms which are de-
rived from their descriptions and the i'm
aginary that accompanies them. Others
are commended to us by the memories OF
childhood and by their frequency in gar
dens, in rustic cottages in the country.
Such are the marigold, the larkspur, the
morning glory and the snow drop. You
forget the sunhower-ED. How vividly
are the early scenes of our life called up
by these simple flowers, and how greatly do
they contribute to the cheerfulness and Sal
credness OF the grounds they occupy. Com
ing generations will be effected by less emo
tions by these particular flowers, because
their childhood will make friendships with
others that have taken their places. A few
flowers take II stronger hold Of our affec-
tions and our imaginations than multi
tude. Thus people who live in retirement,
with small circle of friends, become more
devotedly attached to them than those who
have crowd of them, whom they constant
ly meet in the social Intercourse OF fashion.
There is n great deal of dissatisfaction
about signing over pensions and arrearages
to the Home, and many are taking their
discharges and awaiting the next session of
Congress to remedy this matter in some
way. No pensions have been paid to the
men yet, and the boys repineth. Much dis
satisfaction exists in Camp, and the boys
hudde together to talk matters over, and
curse the i'll luck they claim oppresses
them. There will be fun here yet about
this, and when it does come, the boys claim
it will be lively. Your Friend,
WM. THos. Mcdowell.