The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-07-27
The Soldiers Home.

The Soldiers Home.
This is home provided by the
.. S. government for disabled
soldiers Of the Union army, situated
in Montgomery county near Dayton
in the great Miami valley in the
central portion of this state. Our
holiday there was so pleasant and
the Home so attractive, thinking
that description of its leading
features might be of interest to my
many friends in dear old Giles, /
again resume my pen.
The home consists of six hundred
and forty acres of woodland, lawns,
orchards, and all the attributes that
tend to make a complete country
home. Following our guide we
were led through a grove of naples,
along beds of rare flowers, up a
gentle sloping eminence and crown
ing it's summit was a large stone
church. 1t has a rustic appearance,
its stone being irregular and un-
polished, but altogether presented
very lovely picture, its walls almost
concealed on one side by a thriving
Virginia creeper. We entered and
found all the modern elegance of
our city churches. Service is held
here by ministers of different de
nominations. The Roman Catholics
occupy the basement. Around this
church were beds of rarest flowers
in perfect cultivation.
Taking one of the well-kept pixies
we were led down stone steps to a
perfect wilderness of beauty, the
central figure of which was the
Grotto Spring. 1t extends back
ward into the hill in a cave-like
shape about ten feet. The water
has a fall of six feet. Every crevice
of rock in roof and sides is filled with
geraniums, Gala lilies and the rare
est and brightest flowers in full
bloom. So enchanting was the
scene, so deliciously cool the air,
the place SO delightful, it seemed
that we were in fairy land and we
would not have been surprised had a
nymph stepped from out her sylvan
solitude in the surrounding grove,
when 10! on turning away the spell |
was broken, for reclining on rustic
seats under the trees were the
''soldiers in blue" We now real !
lied that we were on earth again |
and only admiring the taste and
skill Of yankee soldiers" Descend
ing another flight of steps and
scene even more lovely than the |
first met us. Here was another |
Grotto similar to the first, except |
the water was iron, the other free
stone On either side of this were
miniature lakes with dozens of gold |
fish sporting in their limpid waters,
fountains throwing their sparkling
sprays over beds of richest flowers,
grove of bananas, Century plants,
an Indiarubber tree and other curl |
Gus flowers and plants from every |
tropical cline. In the center of a |
bed of floral magnificence was a
large mound, on one side was written
in flowers on the living green the
words, "Our Home" on another,
"1776," on another, "1SS2," and
lastly and most ingeniously was a
large butterfly in all its gorgeous
colors. We found the conservatory
filled with rare blooming exotics,
the names of which even would
weary you. You will form some |
idea of the culture and beauty of
flowers here when / tell you that !
$4,000 worth are sold a season.
They are arranged around every
building and through every grove
most artistieally. Leaving the
flowers we were soon enjoying a
ride on one of the lakes A hand
some little vessel, The Garfield, that
was in Garfeld's inaugural process
sion, was floating proudly on this
one. The two cover an area of
eight acres, are forty-five feet deep.
We next wandered through large
grove and found animals similar to
those in the gardens at Cincinnati,
so passing them we will enter some
of the buildings of the Home.
They are one hundred and forty
five in number, furnishing shelter
and conveniences TO the five thOus-
and enrolled. Three thousand
whites and eighteen colored are on
the grounds this summer. The
barracks are five large brick build
ings. We entered one and found it
scrupulously neat, each bunk draped
in white, with linen sheets and pill
lows. They have large bath house,
a laundry, an engine house and all
of the buildings are lighted by gas.
The opera house is n magnificent
structure and is often visited by the
best of troupes. 1t was very sad to
walk through the large room for the
blind and yet twas surprising to
see the many little curious forms
into which they wrought their beads.
After making some trifling pur7
chases, we were only too glad to
visit other more pleasant places.
We were soon in the dining hall,
where were arranged dozens of long
tables, and really looked inviting
with their linen cloths and Ameri-
can china, and offering ample ac
commodations to loo at one time.
We entered the kitchen next and
neatness reigned there as usual.
Below is list of daily consumam-
tiop: lbs
Beef or Mutton 500
Co1ee .----.. -.-..... 10
Butter 40
Sugar ... .... 300
bbs.
Flour 80. '''.-'.. ..'.''.-'-.- -.-- 10
/ GOLhIOOs -.... e. o. .... 10