The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-07-26

which we older ones do not have and there is a
great deal of work which could be left to them.
would have the members meet on terms OF equality
when they enter society You all have the power
to excel in something; whatever it is, bring
your offering and use it for the benefit of him who
hath borne the battle, and his widow and children.
do not know but am talking of impossibilities.
know that the millennium has not yet arrived;
but | hope that my sister States will improve on
my ideas. New York, Vermont, and all the rest OF
you, wake up and help US to make home for the
desolate. With much love to the ladies who help
TO make THE TRIBUNE so helpful and enjoyable a
paper, and not wishing to be like the sponge. that
absorbs everything and gives back nothing, l
venture TO cast in my mite
CONNECTICUT SOLDIERS WIFE.
THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE G. A. R.
DECATUR, ILL.,, July9
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
We expect to form an Auxiliary tonight to this
Post l commenced to talk the subject up July f.
and in less than thirty-six hours had fifty names
of mothers, wives, daughters and sisters who
wished to join. We viii start with one hundred or
more Tonight / had eight the fourth day, and did
not spend twenty-four hours in getting them. IF !
did not have TO work for my bread and butter, I
could spend more time and would have doubled
the number. The first q. A. r. Post started
here, and you can safely say that Illinois soldiers
favor Auxiliary Societies in their Posts Being in
the center of the State. we hope our influence may
start in all parts similar movement. Can any So
clety show greater number at its beginning,
after so short space of time? AS yet the
idea of the society is quite new; little personal
effort is required and nearly all quickly respond.
A few wish to wait and see if it viii be popular.
before they enter in We shall confine member
ship to mothers wives, daughters and sisters, and
to these only, because to-day there is a
woman who will admit she is or ever was disloyal,
no matter how she sneered or treated in time of
warrior many were the jeers In various ways,
which they gave to soldiers families. Southern
sympathiZers they were We often felt if it were
not for such, the rebellion would not have been,
and our own husbands would have been at home
TO have cared for well as theirs We could
not forget and forgive, did they ever ask U.S. And
worse than going to the amshouse to many of us.
The same class are now crying fraud, because the
soldiers are broken down and want small pension
for past services agreed upon If only our loyal
friends could he admitted we would say thrice
welcome; but the door open, all will come in, for
II there is place to be conspicuous, position
OF honor, they will get into it.
CLARINDA b. HALL.
The writer of the above need have no fears
from the class mentioned They are no more
likely to rush forward to aid the soldier than
they were in the old war days. As well migh
the leopard change his spots or the Ethiopian
his skin.
WANTS SOMETHING TO DO.
A Kansas widow, whose name may be had
for the asking, writes us as follows:
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In looking over THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE Wash
ington, ID. c.. became interested in the articles on
Loyal Womans Work. have wanted to do some
tiiiflS itINSeH gOr years. My husband en-
listed, in 1868, in company B, Forty-seventh New
York volunteers. He went as a private. but WAS
shortly assigned to service at Folly Island S. c.
General Candy commanding, to discover rebel bat
teries along the river; was taken with malignant
dysentery and died in ten days. His remains could
not be sent home. He was buried on the island
by the Masonic Order. feel l should be happier
If was employed in doing for myself. in some de-
partrnent where the work is not too hard. / could
not do night watching. | never had to work as
hard as now. feel can, with the pension have,
support myself if can get something to do.
A SOLDIERS WIDOW.
ALL ALONG THE LINE
Mrs. c. A. Chatfeld, of Wilson Colwell Post,
La Crosse, Wis, is one of those whose reply to
THE TRIBUNE circular did not reach US in
time for publication before the Denver meet
ing. The society was recently organized with
ten members, since which several have been
added. It favors secret work and exclusive
membership. 1t will not be represented at
Denver. The writer, who has had large ex-
perience in temperance work, favors secret
societies, because they have the best success in
holding together.
We are in receipt of an interesting letter
from Mrs. L. A. Houghton, senior viee-p presi-
dent of the Loyal Ladies League of New Jer-
sey, giving some facts in the history of the
Order Mrs. Houghton expresses herself as
greatly interested in THE TRIBUNE articles,
but is infexibly opposed TO the admission of
that the League was organized during the ad-
ministration of her husband, Chas. I'll. Hough-
ton, past Department Commander and now
numbers some sixteen societies, and de-
clares that it is in a fourishing condition.
She pays high compliment to the first presi-
dent, Mrs. Carrie Burge, now junior vice -presi-
dent of the Order. Mrs. Burge is not near
relative of any soldier, but enjoys her privi-
leges by special dispensation. The League will
be represented at Denver by Mrs. Houghton,
together with its president and secretary
A correspondent, who insists upon exclusive
membership, asks if Mrs Sherwood who would
open the doors to all loyal women, had any
near relatives in the war. Mrs Sherwood an
swers that her husband was one of the first
Ohio volunteers, enlisting as private soldier,
April 16, 1861; re-enlisted in the three years
service; veteranized, and was mustered out
July 16 1865, after participating in more than
thirty battles and sustaining injuries of Sc
rious character. She had three uncles in the
army, one of whom served fourteen months in
prison; two cousins killed at Chickamauga.
and a host of near relatives besides, number
OF whom lost their lives on the battlefield or in
the prison-pen. Perhaps it is the grateful
memory of how the loyal women who had no
| near relatives in the war gave her SO generously
OF their sympathy and friendly care when left
alone and sick unto death among strangers.
and how she saw them stitch and toll and
sacrifice their last comfort or deiicacy to fill
the boxes for the sick soldiers in hospital, OF
the wounded on the tented field, that makes
her feel that they should stand side by side
with her and her sisters of the G.. A. R. to-day
Their busy bands and kind hearts are as much
needed now as then.