Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-06-14

Z. T. Johnson's article with the above
title in the June Atlantic, describing the
strange human drift-deposit which flowed
through the doors of Sanitary Commis-
sion soldiers home in northern Ohio during
the war, is rarely entertaining chapter of
reminiscence In it he says:
The wandering caravans of refugees
were like meteors in the orderly regions of
planetary space. They roamed aimlessly
from county to county, from town to town,
and when the conditions appeared favora-
BILE made deposits of one or more families,
who remained, generally the charge of the
citizens, unassimilated, foreign, distinct,
until the return of peace restored them to
their former homes. Wherever the tents
of these nomads we're pitched in the un
known, despised North, some sweet spring
of charity was sure to bubble up to the
wayfarers' refreshment. How many of
these strangers we're loyal through inward
conviction, or were converts to the Union
plenty, we we're wise enough not to inquire
too closely. The immediate question re-
garding those pinched, hatchet faced men
and women, with compilations of cafe Gu-
lat. was the one so satisfactorily answered
by Mr. Dick, who when asked by Miss
Betsy Trotwood what to do with David Cop
perfeld, replied, 'Give him something to
eat" The soldiers homes of the Sanitary
Commission were ordinarily the objective
point of all or any whose sufferings could
be traced even indirectly to the war. In
the hurry, the hot haste, of stirring times,
these Homes afforded the relief of immedi
ate want even to those who applied with
all their equipment of public and private
prejudice,
With the opening of 1864 came an influx
of deserters from the Confederate army,
| and the passing charity of meal or lodg-
! ing was never refused them by the sol
diers' homes There were sometimes al
most as many gray as blue coated men in
the common sitting room of these institu
tions, where, gathered about the huge
stove, war stories were told and favorite
commanders discussed and compared. But
the strangers were silent these men, seem
ingly of alien race posing as that historic
prodigal, confessing sin and imploring pro
lection, men who had fought three years
for cause, and deserted only when success
under its flag became uncertain. They con
tributed nothing TO the fervid discussions
as TO which general was the best leader
Grant, "who "led his men straight up to
Notifications" OF Sherman, who always
Aanked EN-" The prodigals were on other
thoughts intent how to get away from the
drafting wheel of Union provost marshals,
and on what degree of the map of the
Northern states the line of perfect safety
from enlistment could be drawn. Any
thing more hopeless can hardly be imagined
than the attempts made by the local officers
of the Sanitary Commission to help these
truly loyal applicants, who had no re.
mOtest idea how to help themselves. II
further progress northward could not be
effected, employment must be obtained fol
the brevet martyr, a peaceful old age spent
by the freside of soldiers home being the
alternative. Philanthropy has ever q
weghty profit and-loss account to keep, and
even subsequent enlightenment cannot in
duce vain regrets over the occasional un
worthy recipients of the bounty so broad
and free of the great North.