Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-09-04
Letter from the "Gem CITY,"

Letter from the ''Gem CITY,"
Ed. CLAR1oN-Several of your readers
few years ago went out from their early
homes to meet new activities In lite have
found themselves settling down in the "Gem
City" Dayton, Ohio.
Oftentimes we hear it said that men are
mere drftwood being borne along with the
tide; only here and there one found battling
the waves and performing his own will but
whether the tide" brought US or purpose"
we at any rate are here, and, notwithstand-
ing the desire to indulge with old familiar
friends, we are sometimes almost willing to
believe ourselves enviable for the pleasant
surroundings.
Dayton is unquestionably beautiful city;
the principal streets are straight, wide and
level, sidewalks wide and well kept The
business portion Of the city is graced with
large and costly buildings of pressed :nd
common brick, Uhe former is now being
much used) and also fine stone which is
found in abundance here. There are a great
many wealthy citizens, and they sccumula-
ted their wealth in home enterprises, 80
there are many fine and costly residences.-
But one feature of the city which l like to
dwell upon is the very, very few mean loath-
some tenements which find so much place in
some cities To be sure there are poor pco-
pie here, and yet there is little OF extreme
poverty such as we sometimes hear of and
stroll through the city shows many pleas
ant workingmcn's houses.
Our churches are very fine and many in
number Some one visiting the city re-
marked that he could not understand how
we could have so fine churches and yet sup
port the many saloons that abound mot to
our credit
The Soldiers Home about three miles out
almost part of the city because of the
nearncss and connecting tacilitics,--is spo-
ken of by men who know as one of the
most beautiful grounds under the sun.
Persons who hear of the Home in q gen
cral way, DO not realize that it is "A square
mile of grounds most Of which is bcautllicd
by large and small huildlngs-not less than
seventy fve-all of which are comfortable
and many of them elegant, broad solidly
picked avenues leading everywhere through
out the grounds by beds Of flowers, groves
of shrubbcry, beautiful lawns gardens, green
houses and beds of rare plants, rockcricS and
springs, beautiful lakes and wooded parks.
Hundreds Of thousands of dollars have
been already spent and much is being added
yearly to make the Home Il place deserving
the name it bears.
Remember this Home cares for, and com
fortabIy keeps, about 1000 inmates, and you
will readily sec the necessity of having much
room under cover. Excursions to the Home
are almost as frequent as to your popular
resort, the crowds sometimes numbering
10000.
Several years ago project was set af'ot
to raise funds to build monument in mem
DRY Of the soldiers from our county who
gave their lives to their country in the late
Rebellion. BY legislative cooperation the
sum $22 500 was raised and a monument of
granite capped with colossal statue of the
private soldier in Italian marble, standing 81
feet in mid air now graces our proud city as
the outcome of the project.
July 90, 30, and 81 are memorable days in
the history Of Dayton because Of the great
mass of people who thronged our streets to
participate in the reunion Of cx-soldiers and
sailors, and the monument unwilling and
dedication exercises. Train after train came
over the many railroads entering the city,
bringing visitors from far and near until
hundred thousand persons were in our midst
and more would have come had there been
accommodations obtainable on certain lines
of road. So many strangers in city of 40
600 severely taxed the accommodations but
we got through nicely.
The leading features of the occasion were,
fireworks such as have seldom been witness
ed, sham battle on the river between gun
boats and forts, so well executed that some
old soldiers who have seen hard service said,
THAT sounds natural; that is something Of
the din and noise of battle, only ii is not hot
enough"
But the scenes which stirred deeper emo
ton in the breasts of all and especially in
the old veterans breast WAS the march ,hro'
the streets under the same old flag that led
them in battle with army associates about
them, and bands playing the dear old songs
Hail Columbia, The Star Spanglcd Banner,
Marching through Georgia accompanied now
as il was then by the hp.hp hurrah and
three cheers.
The three hundred flags that came back to
Ohio from the war were all carried in the
procession, though few only were unfurlcd,
they by the marks they bore, tell tales Of
bullet and shell told volumes Of untold his
| tory TO some who never saw war. Several
veterans said to me, II have been down TO
the barricks time and again to see my Oil
flag. never miss seeing it when can see
it and do not tire looking at it,"
Prominent among the visitors were Gen
Hawley, orator of the occasion, eXPresldcnt
Hayes and wife, Gen. Roscncrans and Scna-
tor Sherman.
Soldier Boys! you should have been here
to see again the evidence of Loyalty and
Love of country that abiGes in the soldiers
heart, and ! doubt not some of your home
readers, especially those of Creagerstown,
will take pleasure in knowing that one of