The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-08-30
A.
For the VlRGINIAN.
National Soldiers Home. DAYTON. o.

For the VlRGINIAN,
National Soldiers Home. DAYTON. o.
i Having recently visited the Nationa
Soldiers Home, located about four miles
west OF. Dayton. Ohio, feel as if l ought te
give the readers of the famous VIRGINIAN
a short sketch of the place. This is an
instit ution already famous for its beauty
and interesting features. and is annually
visited by more people than any other
travellers resort in the United States west
of the Alleghanies.
Upon arriving at the grounds, one is
almost startled at the beautiful scenery.
The grounds are interspersed with various
kinds OF ornamental trees, and the walks
which wind about through the flowers and
shrubs, are more than lovely. Besides
this, he sees arrayed in uniform about five
thousand soldiers scattered here and there
as if in quest of exercise.
The visitor then casting his eyes in q
westward direction. beholds the Home
church, where religious services are held
each Sabbath by the chaplain. and resident
ministers such as to suit the different de-
nominations,
Beside the chapel STANDS the Memorial
Hall, stately and magnificent building,
in which relics are TO be seen, and
where amusing entertainments are held
such as we see in the theatre halls. Upon
on of the curtains is the painting of the
hpaufifu1 Shenandoah Uo1Iou
The library building is also an interest
ing feature of the home. It is valued at
$S7 900, and con tains over fifteen thousand
volumes, of the choicest literature. I was
told by the librarian that out of all the
soldiers, twelve per cent. of them were
novel readers. He issues about 1000 vol
umes per month. They receive at present
Al daily papers, llS weeklies and 81 maya
zines, Mrs. Putnam has presented the
| library 1892 volumes.
will now call attention to the monu.
ment that towers above the Getty of the
Dead, ;" where lies hundreds of fallen com.
rades. The cost of this monument was
enormous, the main shaft being column
in facade of United States Bank vetoed by
Gen. Jackson while president.
They also have a laundry on the grounds.
About $4,000, doz. pieces are put in for
washings. About barrels of soap are con-
sumed per day for that purpose.
There is also beautiful chain of arti-
fetal lakes. these lakes were dug out by
no uni fol lodi 70 In a
cents per day. 1t is a natural looking
scene, while in the center of one is foun-
tain. which rises to the he light of 40 feet.
They are we'll stocked. with numerous
kinds of fish. Boats can be procured and
pleasant row enjoyed. The connecting
streams are spanned by beautiful rustic
bridges. Upon one of the lakes rides at
anchor the full rugged miniature ship
Garfield" WHICH was carr led in the in
augnraI procession of the late president
Garfield,
The grottoes about the lakes are blessed
with living springs OF pure water and en-
livened by the music Of birds, which gives
to it an air of fairy-land.
atories, where the rarest plants from all
sections of the globe are eli exhibition and
for sale. To the Deer Park, Amusement
Hall geological garden, shooting galleries
and bowling alleys, to tie great dining hall,
seating 1920 persons. and also the grottoes
paradise of flowers and fountains.
Rare birds; swans and aqu attic fowls of
various species ,alligators, beavers, monkeys.
deer, elk, and variety of wild and domes-
tic animals, are in the groves, lakes or
cages, affording points of interest on every
hand.
| will now give you the statistics of the
Home, as have them in my possession, as
regards the food they consume. Bread per
day, 2,700 lbs: butter per day, 500 lbs;
coffee per day, 200 gals; tea per day, 900
gals; milk per day. $50 gals; biscuits per
meal, 200 lbs; ham per meal, l. 500 lbs,
cheese, per meal, $50 lbs. / was also told
by the cook that they consumed so bushels
of potatoes per meal-mashed.
The most attractive and instructive en-
tertainment at the Soldiers Home, is the
panorama Of the Battle of Gettysburg
This wonderful piece of art is exhibited
in building erected especially for that
purpose, being three hundred and sixty
feet in circumference, and forty-iye feet
in height. The interior is entirely COW
cred by circular canvass, containing
twenty thousand square feet, upon which
the battle ground, with its dead and
wounded soldiers, the smoke of cannon.
the bursting of shells, and the blood
stained ground. are all drawn with real
ism that is almost painful. The spectator
can well imagine that he hears the rattle
of musketry, and the yells of the gallant
regiments as they charge upon each other,
TO sink amid the smoke and carnage. The
panorama must be seen in order to have
any idea OF the striking realistic effect.
Many more things remain untold. but for
fear of taking up too much space 1 will
close, leaving the readers to mediate upon
what S beyond. M. H. B.
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