National Republican., 1883-08-16
THE SOLDIERS AND TEMPERANCE
A Touching Letter by an Old Soldier to
the WomRn's Christian Temperance

A Touching Letter by an Old Soldier to
the womsn's Christian Temperance
Union.
For several weeks past tho ladies of the
Womans Christian Temperance Union have
been holding meetings for the veterans at
soldiers home. The following beautiful let
ter will show the appreciation in which this
work has been received. The name of the
author is given to the ladies:
SOLDIERS HOME, D. g., Aug. 13-Dear
Madam: On behalf of the inmates of the
soldiers home l desire to tender the most
heartfelt thanks to the ladies of the Washing
ton Christian Temperance union for the
kindness and true Christian spirit which has
led them to devote their time and talent to
the task of rescuing tho old soldiers from the
evils of intemperance. Soldiers as a rule are
not much given to expressing their feelings
in public, but they fully appreciate the efforts
which you ladies are making in their inter-
ests, and although they may not say much
about it they think the more. Since my
arrival at the home (about year ago) have
often been panied and mortified by the sight
of some old comrado overcome by strong
drink, and yet l cannot blame these aged
and disabled men for indulging
in Intoxicating liquors, for l know only too
we'll the circumstances which lead them to
seek temporary oblivion in tho juices of the
STILL For long years they have led lives of
excitement and danger, exposed to the ex-
tremes of heat and cold and the hardships
and perils of savage warfare far away from
restraints and humanizing influences of civil
ization, and now, their term Of usefulness
over, they find themselves in this lovely
spot with none to molest or mako them
afraid" With shelter, food, and raiment pro-
vided them, but alone in the midst of strangers
laid upon tho shelf-nothing to occupy
|
save the coming of the next meal hour, and
the dawning of that day when they shall re-
| ceive their final muster out, and join their
comrades who sleep in the quiet graveyard
close by. They feel lost and out of place
here-these old men. Carriages roll by filled
with bright and happy faces, and tho old
| soldiers sit about among the trees and look in
| dazed way at the people who come from
| that far away foreign land, whore there are
| family circles and friends and homes for
they have lost all these things. They have
nothing in common with citizens, as they
term every ono who doesn't wear a uniform,
and when by rare chance some visitor
trite remark, "You have a beautiful
homo here" the answer is, "Oh, yes"
and then the poor old follow thinks, "Home {!
What is homo? 1 had one once, but that's
so long ago. it's gone and Pm alone;" and he
wanders off into the woods brooding over the
pASU Always Ino halne JIhlu VI JHOuBuI, zoo:
81 would have lived differently. but it's too
late" And then he goes off to the nearest
grog shop and calls for something strong ito
drive away the blues" Takes another drink,
and then another, and by and by he feels
pleasant glow spreading through his system,
and the world does not seem such bad place
after all The saloon keeper is always glad
to sec him. He welcomes the old soldier
when no one else WILL always providing the
veteran has the wherewith in his pockets.
And there the old man sits and drinks until
his senses leave him. There shall leave him,
too, for his awakening from slumber is not a
pleasant sight.
fear that this is rather rambling letter,
but what wished to show you is why the
old soldier drinks-that what he stands most in
need of is human sympathy-that he is CRATE
full to any one who tries to break up the dull
monotony in which he lives, and finally that
his best wishes are hereby rendered to the
friends of your union, who have shown such
an interest in his welfare, and that his
earnest prayer (if he prays at alD is God
bless the Woman's Christian Temperance un-
ion." Respectfully and Thankfully, yours
truly. &c., AN OLD SOLDIER.