Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-05-21
THE VETERANS HOME.
ITS FoRxAL DEDICATION.

Blse and the crss.
Before IL o'clock on yesterday
crowds begun to assemble IN front OF
{" Veteran Hail. on Broad street, and
70 lire the streets along the proposed
line Of march.
As the veterans assembled IL was
pleasant TO note among them many oil
our most prominent professional and
businessmen. and TO see on their faces
a look Of satisfaction that their work
was TO be inaugurated under such
suspicious circumstances. :,
The procession formed at J O'Clock
on Broad street between sixth ana
Seventh in the following order I; stuart
Horse Guard, Captain Allen; squad OF
policemen, Captain Parater command,
ing drum corps; Lee Camp, General
John r. Cooke commanding Winkler 8
Band Of thirty pieces; Aaron Wilkes
Post. G. A. r.. Captain Beach COM
manding Phil Kearney Post, Sergeant
Manning commanding; yoelker's Band !;
First Virginia regiment, Colonel Charles
j. Anderson commanding. Carriages
brought up the rear. In the first one,
which was drawn by four horses, were
seated General fitzhugh Lee, Gen
eral Peyton Wise, Colonel Arch
or Anderson, and Rev. j. Will
liam Jones, chaplain Of Lee Camp.
II moved up Broad to fifth, down Fifth
to Franklin, up Franklin to Laurel,
down Laurel to Park avenue. and out
Park avenue and the Grove road to the
Home, which is situated at the junction
OF Grove road and the new avenue from
the reservoir to Broad street.
The officers Of the Grand-Army
posts and the disabled veterans Of Lee
Camp were in carriages. -.
General Lee was warmly greeted all
along the line of march by waving
handkerchiefs, and our visitors were
heartily welcomed to our beautiful city.
The Veterans marched with something
of their old-time swing, the music was
very sweet, and the whole scene very
inspiring.
Arriving in the really beautiful
grounds OF the Home, the column broke
ranks, and season was spent in social
intercourse, followed by very nice
lunch spread in the new building, where
the inner man " was amply provided
for and the viands heartily enjoyed.
The north balcony Of the Home and
the adjoining room were occupied by
ladies, and the Veterans, cur visitors,
the regiment and the crowd generally
gathered in front.
General John u. Cooke (who used to
be known as one Of the hardest fighters
and best brigade commanders IN the
Army of Northern Virginia, and has
proven himself a most able and COM
petent commander of Lee Camp callei
the audience to order, and in few APP
propriate words congratulated Lee
Camp that the dream Of two years ago
was so far realized that they could for
mally dedicate this Home to-day.
lie called on the chaplain. DR.. j.
William Jones, who then led IN
prayer Of thanksgiving for what had
been accomplished, and Of petition for
needed blessings in the future.
General Cooke then introduced as
the speaker for the occasion "our hon
ored comrade," Colonel Archer An
derson.
Colonel Anderson was received with
loud applause, and proceeded to make
an exceedingly appropriate, eloquent,
and effective speech. which we regret our
space will not allow us topublishin full.
Beginning with beautiful sketch Of the
origin of the " Hotel des Inrdlides "
in Paris, which is dedicated not more
TO the martial glories of France
than to the national reverence
for piety and duty, and quoting great
writer as saying, Were ] prince
would rather have founded that estab-
lisbment than have won a dozen bat
Ties" Colonel Anderson drew striking
parallel between that grand charity and
the humber but not less important one
about to be inaugurated, not by prince
or Government, but by the free-will
offerings of loving hearts from
North and South, who were at
last awakened to solemn duty.
The first fruits Of this awakening to
solemn duty We present you here to-day.
What was. what is that duty, my
friendss 1t is to provide food, shelter,
and clothing for needy southern sol
diers Of honorable record, disabled by
wounds or disease, and thus unfit to
earn their own livelihood. They were
soldiers. The very name carries its
own eloquent appeal. You may hate
war-you must love and respect the
soldier. You may hope that war will
grow more and more infrequent with
the progress Of mankind; but if you
do not cherish the soldier and high
military spirit you will but invite vio-
lence and oppression.
Colonel Anderson then ably and elo-
quently, and by apt citations from his
tory, brought out the good that comes
UOin tHt tNh VI Nhis anu oppAiSN WV
principle especially to our own war
and the lessons our soldiers learned in
their thin lines, in the camp, on the
battlefield, and amid the throes of final
failure. He paid an eloquent tribute
to the private soldier Of the Conicde-
racy, and Of how he was prepared TO be
after the war, in all the walks of life,
one Of the best citizens Of the country.
lie spoke feelingly Of the debt we
owe to our disabled and needy COM
rades, gave q clear statement Of the
plans and purposes Of the Home, and
Of what has been already accomplished,
and concluded as follows;
Ibeiieve that the modest work we begin
to-day will be a great object lesson Tor
tunateiy placed here In this beautiful grove
within full view Of the thoroughfares o
weStth and fashion, 10 teach many care
less wayfarer OF this and other States the
prompt. generous and cheerful support
which ID due 10 this hitherto neglected
charity. Already has your example beer
effective In inspiring Others. The Confede
rate barear recently held In Baltimore hai
yielded fund which will result In a liberia
provision for Maryland veterans. In Texas
an1 In North Carolina state pension hai
been voted. and there In reason To hope tina
All over cur southern country decisive mea
surea will soon remove the painful reproacf
that We have neglected our suffering heroes
Ihsve now, In behalf Of Il. E. Camp. No