Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-26

the daily papers to the others every morning.
He takes up his station In summer house In
front OF the main building and with an audi
ence OF old soldiers seated around smoking
their pipes, he reads the news Of the day. For
this service he receives about seven dollars q
month extra pay. The old soldiers would
greatly enjoy bowling alley or q billiard ROOM
and it is the intention Of the commissioners to
erect at no distant day suitable building for
the purpose OF affordng them these pleasures.
HOW THE HOME Is SUPPORTED.
The following are the revenues Of the Home:
A tax Of 121l cents per month upon all
OF the soldiers Of the army. collected every two
months; all the unclaimed effects Of deceased
soldiers. and also whatever Is due deserters at
the time of desertion; forfeitures and the fines i'm
posed by cOurts-martIal. The whole, with the
interest on the accrued bonds belonging to the
Nome. which are $500, 900, amounts to about
e15O,OOO or sl6O 600 per annum. There are now
Tour hundred and ninety inmates mt the Home,
and, In addition, there are one hundred
and thirty or forty old soldiers, who
reside elsewhere, who are entitled to the cost
OF their keeping, provided it does not amount to
more than % month. The inmates are re-
perform such duties In and about the buildings
and grounds as their age and physical condition
Will allow. In consideration of good conduct
and the faithful performance Of the duties as
signed. each inmatei allowed 81 and one pound
oftObacco(or its equivalent in money)per month
OF late years those receiving pensions have not
been compelled to transfer them to the Home.
PROTECTING THE OLD SOLDIERS FROM THE
STARTERS
This was found to be inadvisable. It often
happened that the whole quarterly payment to
pensioner was wasted in drink, or lost to
sharpcrs about as soon as received. The new
law now In force, however, requires the pen
sloners to transfer their pensions to the institu-
ton during the time they remain there and con-
tinue TO receive its benefits. The enforcement
of this law will, 1t is expected. be most advan-
tageous. The pensioners, when they received
their pension money. clothed themselves. and
their dress did not conform to the suitable uni
form Of the other inmates. Now, how
ever, every inmate will be fur
nished with neat and COM
Portable uniform which must be worn. The
In q few days. The battle-scarred veterans. all
dressed IN light blue pants, dark blue blOuses
and straw hats, will present a very credtable APP
pearance. much greater evil will, it is
thought, be measurably prevented. The rum
shops and low dens in the vicinity of the Home
will not receive the encouragement that they
did when the pensioners had their stipend from
the government to squander there. The officers
OF the Home have no authority to break up
these dangerous resorts, but hope. as stated,
That the evil will be partly overcome by the
scarcity OF money in the possession of the in
mates
THE DISAGREEMENT, WHICH EXISTED
not long ago, between the commissioners of the
Home and the governor. and which rendered a
satisfactory administration Of the affairs of the
Home almost an impossibllity, have been
smOothed over. The increased board of COM
mssloners, appointed at the last session of Con-
gress. consisting Of the general of the army,
the commissarv, adjutant, Judge advocate, quar-
termaster and surgeon generals and the gov
ernor OF the Home, seem to work together sat
isfactorily, and an efficient and progressive adj
ministratiOn is anticipated.
l. PRESIDENTIAL RETREAT.
The fact that several Of our Presidents have
taken up their summer residence in one of the
cottages of the Home is one Of particular inter-
est. President Buchanan was the first who sum-
mered there, but the cottage occupied by him
Is the one now known as the governors quar-
tiers. President Lincoln also enjoyed a STAY
there In the summer, and the cottage which was
lifted up for him was the most southern one Of
the row. General Grant preferred stay at the
sea shore to the quiet of a residence at the
Home. President Hayes, however, was accus-
toned to reside at the cottage adjoining the
main building, and in it President Arthur
passed a greater part of the heated
term last year. This was the Riggs dwelling
house. which was purchased with the first site
selected for the Home. President Arthur was
greatly pleased with his stay there last year, as
the rest and comfort afforded him after the
continual pressure brought to bear upon him by
politicians and Ofice-seekers at the White House,
was very grateful. He is anxious to return this
year. and the cottage has been thoroughly reno
waited and is now ready for his occupancy. He
VIII take up his summer residence there imme-
diately after his return from New York, which
will be about the first Of June. The large,
cool rooms of this cottage, fitted up
according to the good taste of the Pres dent
are very attractive. He was unwilling that any
expenditure should be made by the officers OF
the Home for his comfort or convenience and
all of the handsome ornaments, which were par
ticularly pleasing to the eye of the visitor last
year, were brought out from the White House.
LET THE OLD SOLDIERS HAVE SOME MUSIC.
strong effort is being made to have a band
Of music attached to the Home, and it will
probably be successful before great while. It
Is argued that it would be small matter for the
government to supply band for the entertain
ment OF the inmates and visitors, as is done at
the west Point military academy. One of the re-
cent cOmmendable actions of the commissioners
is the opening Of the gate at the southern ex-
tremity OF the grounds, which had remained
Closed for many years. This gives an entrance
to the grounds from 7th-street road through the
lane just south of the SchuetZen park. General
t,tuGio. SoNtIHOI VI the NOME, mas requested
the District Commissioners to improve this lane
for the convenience of the public.
1.-THE Month of Mary.o
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
Somebody has had the hardihood to stigma
tie this Catholic "MOnth of Mary" as fraud!
Well that depends good deal on latitude and
longitude. We can't expect the May of the
tropics in the zones. The May Of old England.
with all its traditional charms, and that of vet
more inhOspitable Neac England. with no ira