Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-06-01
WASHINGTON Letter.


Soon after President Arthur returns
from New York he will 20 TO the sold
iers Home outage TO live .pending on
" the business hours Of eac6 day at the
white House. The cuttaes which he
"'Il occupy has been newly siied up to
receive hin, aud is the opc 10 which
President Hayes lived earb summer OF
his administration.
NJ the memorial services ai Soldier
Home next "Wednesday decoration
D"y) Fix Justice Strong Of the Supreme
Court will deliver the or,iion. The
poem for the occasion was written by
the author ofthc song; Sherman's March
to the Sea. Capt. Byers our present
counsel. The stand from which the
President recently reviewed the parade
OF the Army Of the Potomac has been
srected IN a grove at the Home, and
will be occupied by distinguished par
ty.
The Soldiers Home is IN flourish
ing condition. Besides afFording com
Portable asylum for disabled myahdcd
'uperannua'ed, and discharged soldiers
ct twenty or more years fai hfil service
It is beautiful pleasure ground for the
city. II is about three niles from
Washington. aud approached BY per-
fcctly graded, well kept roadway. aud
is a popular drive for all who can afford
the luxury Of wheels. The grounds
contain five hundred and Two acres
Farming operations ere constantly car
ried on. vegetables are raised for the
use OF the inmates, a large amount OF
grass is cut, and a large dairy is main
tanned. Besides these substantial adj
vantages, the Home grounds furnish
some Of the lovelicst bits Of natural
scenery that can be found in any parl .
General Winfield Scott suggested the
Soldiers Home, and was mainly insiru-
mental in having it endowed. When
the American army entered N. city Of
Mexico. the citizens who took refuge on
the housctops fired at the soldiers. At
ter the city was captured tax Of over
Il hundred thousand dollars was levied
on them for the offense. In 1913 Gen.
Scott transmitted this amour, to the
Secretary of War with the expressed
hope that it would be appropriated for
an army asylum. Commissioners were
then appointed to take charge of the
matter under the direction of Congress,
and the FIRST provision made was a rent
ed house in the city. Afterwards a
suitable site containing two hundred and
hfty-slx acres was secured for the pro-
posed institution at a cost of Sj7 900
This ground with the additions that have
snce c n made forms the present sol
iier's hone park Besides the iltere t
m the accrued bonds belonging to the
which are $500, 900, it has
other revenues altogether amounting to
about Sl5s 600 per aunum A tax of
l21 cents per month ON all the soldiers
D, the array, the unclaimed effects of
deceased soldiers, the dues Of des,r'ers
At the time Of desertion, forfttures. and
the fines imposed by court material go
o the benefit of the Home There are
now four hundred and ninety inmates,
and one hundred aud forty old soldiers
VINO reside eisew here but are entitled 10
a support of IS per month. Taosewho
are physically able are required to per-
form certain duties assigned to tllem by
the governor Of the institution, for which
they are allowed one dollar aud one
pound of tobacco per month. Sdar
the. inmates are dssipaial- -s5 f,,fs,e''-
sloncrs especially have been enabled to
suuandcr in that way; but new law
now in force requires them to transfer
their pensions To the institution while
receiving it's benefits. and it is hoped
scarcity of mon : will hereafter partly
overcome the evil. There is a reading
room and library Of 400 volums,
but the majority Of the solllers are too
illteraie TO appreciate its advantages.
They want the daily news, however,
and each morning one the men reads
the papers aloud 70 an audience Of old
soldiers, seated around smoking their
pipes. An effort is now being made to
have band Of music attached to the
Home, for the entertainment of visitors
as well as the inmates, and to give add
lional attractions to the place. Presi-
dent Buchanan was the first who sum
mercd at this beautiful retreat in the
cottage now known as the governor 5
quarters, and the next was President
Lincoln