The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-07-05

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represented in the person of A poor decren
II Old soldier III need of charity. Tie
! writer OF this communication was but n
| stripping when hc entered the service II,
lS'l tnd Ii Is a matter of regret now that
he could not enter INTO ana ap,rrci,fn
m're keenly the trials, the hardShip, and
| deep patriotism of the men nf fauih.,; atlI
| especially thc poor men who wcr,, l.d jrtin
| that struggle. For u few years past hc
has been thrown INTO daily Intercourse
with them again and his wonder and ad-
mlratlon and sympathy grows more and
more. Ii 4 young man who has grown up
since the war and who now has a family
on his hands wants to get an understand
ing of this feeling let him imagine that ia
morrow morning he Is to take leave per
hapS good bye foreyer-of his Wirp and
little ones and shoulder muakct with n
blanket and haverSack and enter the real
hardshlps and dangers Of private SOL
dier's life-and full knowledge of these
can come only from actual experience.
Let HIM imagine that he feels cold and
hunger and thirst and sickness himself
trying to obey orders and do his duty. Let
hlm lie down at night and dream Of home,
OF wife and dear cu,s, and on the morrow
get up and receive a real letter from them
like this:
''MY DEAR IIUsBAND-I write you fcw
lines to let you know we are all well now
and doug the best we can to make ont
whilst you are gone. But winter is com
ing on and am at a loss to know what
to do. The children have no shoes. their
clothing Is scant and we have hardly bread
enough to carry US through. Can't You
get a furloush Just for a few days to come
home and make provision for rs. know
they VIII let you come, because Won have
been gone 50 long and thcy tell IL you
have been a good soldier and We are OH
the verge OF suffering. The captain prom
ised me he would let you come tell Inn
we need yOu nov. Whilst 50 many OF oul.
neighbor5 and friends have been Killed
and wounded We feel thankful THAI you
have been spared. We prJl o God That
he will protect you for Us. The little ONO
can now lisp your name Oh, how long
Will II be- Come, husband, me quickly
TO J orH LpNtNG WIFE.
That is but a poor sample Of what was
written IL those trying times. Put Your
self into that position and yuo VIII lluo5,
what IT costs TO be a faith III soldier. That
man went into the army frof a high, pure
sense OF patriotism. He wa. poor, hc hal
no property to protect. III one drSpcr
ate struggle in Northern Virginia he has
left an eye, an arm ora leg He comes
home at the close Of the war - enter INTO
competition with strong mel 20 make iii
honest living. How unequal how unfair
seems the fight, II 40 PROV on is made
for him. if no consideration shown him
how bitter his lot in life must seem,
| have been moved to thcs reflections.
Mr.. Editor, by reading OF tie efforts nov
being made in Georgia for tIe establish
menl of a 'Solders' Home. When lie
South was admitted into th- tuiou ui
given the right Of States, she -a0uld have
commenced then 10 make provision fr
her manned herocs-to this i bri,r.
dier al the North could hayc 5hi ated hu1
the politicians waved the bio tt> shirt aud
our people have been too SLOW to ;tct IlI
TINS matter quarter OF u century Is
now gone and we should begin to make
amends. For soon the rear guard viii he
crossing the river and resting ~ the Shadc
But 1t was my purpose to talk about the
soldiers Home. " There is something u
these words that is utterly tppu.sivc ta
my idea Of the deserts Of q W tan,lrd nero
1t smacks of and is too much OF the North
ern idea of "old ladies ana 0ld mons
homes" for my Southern Instinct Love.
and care and consideration for he oitt
around the family altar, is one Of tie
most beautiful characteristics 81 chris
tian people. Let Us keep TINS rs precious
impossible TO divest a ''Suldlcf,' Home uf
its hosptaI-like appearance ana assoca-
tlOns, and to thiS any old soldier ha ali
lnsurmountahle horror.
There would be but precious few of
these men, certainly those that | served
with who could be induced 10 resort to
such a place, and who would not prefer 4
crust of bread and the care and sympa-
thies Of their loved ones around their own
cabin tiresides. No, don't shorten their
days. Leave them scattered as they are
to transmit to their children and Grand
! children the incidents and anecdotes and
lessons Of the war. 1t looks as il This
means is the only hope we Of North Caro-
lima have of learning the rising generation
| anything Of the history of the times in
which they We're actors.
There are bat a few OF these old SOL
diers IN each county 50 destitute and
| helpless as accept the charity Of Il
| Home Land is very cheap in North
| Carolina, and would suggest t9 taose
who have this 'lIomc' idea i'll our state
to use their money in helping these old
men TO get real home, not only one for
| themselves but for their families ba-
| lieve if something ike a '~oldie,S Ioae
| Executive Commlttoc' was formed lC4ch
| county in the State the mos Fl eds la
| deserving Of these men couid be provided
| for in very short time. There are but
few, certainly of the old property holders
| (and the Younger ones WOuiU itc uuuittI
raj did they not admire and syn. III, hizo
| with herOis:n IN need and allli1' pn Wha.
if properly appealed to, could rel a-ra "a I,5.
dollars To get an old soldier ,iIe pos
Of land upon which to build d cat : Il
which he could leave to his family
slight reward for his suflcrlug7 ai
| |.