Telegram-herald., 1890-11-27
gHk SOLDIERS aonE
xk~ s4As4kaes Ar&y - a&kiRs shs osa
fsssf&As &sel 4arsa


e tAe Eslssx e. IAs Iz-keA AA~Hsa.lns
II tAe kepUelscAa 2dn4a a.sErStion a.
tas SoldleEs' Ho8s dsss no4 retire
frola control IL a bisas u slsEy, sAS
smsa = tl.sl Il tEamps.s, twlli not bs
sne fxu.I OF s4lsai.on Array ads zn1
lzSses, Ter, Il tee veterans themselves
are ~ be believed. the sFny = .'pzlns-
ID TIE Home reoS'' "wnoop.ng : np
lively, Srying Siond VERY ioadl DAY
ana git, "ilEung ap the,T sOlces even
unto th@ nllse tack 81 the hoas, al
0t Whica makes the veterans fesl very
ufed. fne Toys sAy they dSn'G { mlne
meetings three ~ four times = week
but when thsy are neld three OF four
tunes dzk-the seaO OF one meeting
not having died aWas beiofe .the
racket beglhs agAln-they are ready
70 cTy ouk give 0s = rest
Their pelltiOns and protests seem 10
have 10 ght With the cenlmandSnt,
bat they never ald Tor Ehat matter.
Mnfn the religious matters AZ the
home were cona Uetea recently aud Ia
order, With meetings regularly twice on
Sunday ana also on "Wednesday even
lng, wlth grace" thee times day,
the majority st tue 'boys" were well
satisfied, and the attendance and inter
est steadily grew for the iatt tHo years
Was there. The funerals especially were
largely attended and the results were
marked. Since Left, however, saying
grace" has been suspended, ana the
men rush N ike so many sheep, "the
devil taking the hlndemost." Iney see
the chaplain but once week there be
ing but one service on Sunday and
great dissatisfaction has prevailed.
Now, matters have run 10 the other
extreme 30 that they almost feel dis
gust for anything sayonng or religion.
The veterans need 4 resident chaplain
even more than a resident surgeon.
They need man with large warm
heart, man who understands iuHy
their wants and feelings, because he
has been smpted IN all points with
them. No proud aristocrat has any
business in the Soldiers Home, IN any
official capacity. The home needs above
all things sOul-a mothers soul, such
As II had when Mrs. Wells was there.
/ do not believe there was a man in the
home who was worth 10 be called 4
man that did not love her, and
did not feel the influence OF her quiet,
loving and pure spirit. The institution
above all other things needs a mother,
aud on behalf of the veterans, | hereby
petition Gov. Winans TO appoint a
matron, a woman who has soul large
enough 10 love those unfortunates Tor
their mothers sake, If not for their
own. III the State Is so poor that It can
not afford a matron and a comman-
dant, by all means dismiss the COM
mandant and let the maron manage
affairs. / will warrant that they will
not be mlsmanaged.
At least, | trust Gov. Wlnans will see
10 1t that that the Soldiers Home is as
well cared for as the States Prison. /
have been filled with disgust continual
ly, as l have seen the striking differ
ence between these two State institu-
tions, Nothing seems too good for the
penltentlary, and nothing has been too
mean or stlngy for the Soldiers Home.
If the State can afford resident chap
lam and assistant at the penitentary, il
can also afford one at the Soldiers
Home. Whenever the boys at the
home are treated as If they were al
least equal to the inmate of the State
prison, shall feel / have much less
cause for complaint than | have now;
and although the Democratic party is
not supposed to be particularly fond of
the soldiers, trust Gov. Winans Will
clearly prove to Us that he has as ten
der regard for the country's defen-
ders as he has for its convicted crlmi-
nails.
Respectfully submitted,
CHAs. X. GIBSON.
November 26, 1890.