The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-05-30
soldiers ana Sailors Home.
ERIE, PA. MAY 30, 1890,


brief d scriptiou OF the home, its sur
roundings, and it's inmates. | arrived here
on the evening Of the 10Th inst after a
long, wearisome ride, well nigh exhausted
(being quite sick at the tlrne) ,agrecby sur
prised to find such magnificent buildings,
grounds, and kind and careful attendants.
Commander w. W. Tyson is christian
gentleman, and no better OF more qualified
person for the position he so ably fills,
could be found should the authorities care
fully rake over the whole commonwealth.
He Is a thorough disciplinarian, not barsh,
but kind, careful, and ever watchful OF his
flock. DIR. 8. F. Chaplin, with his attentive
assistant, has charge Of the hospital. AT
present this department is not entirely filled
with the sick. Very few deaths have oc-
CURED here, considering the large number
OF sold soldiers" present from time to time.
At this season Of the year there are fewer
men at the home than IN the rougher
months Over 400 n wv. Some take dis
charge, others fuilougb, and few a
"French leave" No man In compelled to
stay here, and there 10 no reason to go
away other than honorably. The sick are
attended with the greatest Of care and best
medical skill, while the others are all well
cared for 10 every particular. The food is
OF the best, well prepared and plenty. The
clothing is of good quality, no 'shoddy
stuff"
The whole staff, from commander down,
are gentlemen, and selected with view to
getting the best men for the various posi-
tions. To enumerate and particularize
would consume too much Of your space.
The officers 10 a body on every Saturday
make general inspection Of all the quarters.
The comrades, generally speaking, are q
lot OF fine looking old gentlemen, neat and
clean, hair and whiskers trimmed, shoes
polished, and broad and cheerful smile
all over their faces. Their duties are not
very numerous: They who are able, attend
roll call, appear for their meals, dress up
their rooms, and perform such other work
as is necessary to keep the halls aud pas
sage ways In clean and neat appearance.
The main building, the Home, has the
appearance somewhat in front, in sha pc
and size, OF the upper Normal School
building at your place. The home is a
much larger building, more wings and
annexes. 1t is srtistically and well built Of
brick, three stories high, heated with
steam, lighted with gas, of a good quality,
and supplied with water in abundance.
The rooms are large, airy, light and cheer
ful. Many Of them accommodate four
persons, each with his neat little iron bed,
softly matted and amply blanketed. The
floors are carpeted, and especially the
halls in such a manner that would surpass
many Of your finc hotels. The rooms are
furnished with small bureau to each per-
son, with rocking and other chairs, besides
many articles that go to make up COM
plete room outfit. The halls are wide,
with rooms handsomely numbered or let
tered, on each side. These. halls all lead to
wash and bath rooms, with water closets
connected. These necessary conveniences
are hourly looked after and maintained in
the most cleanly manner. On all the
floors will be found these conveniences
guarded with the same diligence and care
The dining rooms, large and cheerful,
are all situated somewhat central in the
building and on the first floor. The cook
ing departments are connected and manag-
ed by experienced and skillful persons.
Details are made from among the men to
wait upon the tables. Everything in this
department as well as others, is system
atized. All march iu by tiIe and comneu ce
the meal at the sound OF little bell, No
hotel In the country sets a better table.
They, some Of them, may have little
more variety, but what they have can't be
any better than ours. We can beat them
on fish, every time; ours are fresh from the
Lake-jump out Of the pan il not guarded.
On the second floor, almost Immediately
over what might be called the "invalia" or
"diet" tables, is fine, spacious room,
called "The Chapel" in which there are
services twice on Sabbath and prayer meet
ing on Thursday evenings. The sermons
are delivered by the Chaplain, selected for
that purpose from amongst the city minis
try. The prayer meetings are generally
conducted by the people of the Home.
They have splendid choir. The accom-
modations are good, comfortable seats aud
chapel easy Of access. The stairways are
all easy and roomy. There are five large
and substantial fire escapes attached TO
Home, but from the manner OF heating the
building and the care taken to prevent a
confagration 1t is hoped they may never
be used.
We must not forget to mention the fine
reading-room, with its excellent and taste
fully selected cases full of miscellaneous
reading, and its ever obliging librarian.
Besides the varied collection of books,
there is received great many newspapers
both daily and weekly. Many an hour is
pleasantly and prohtably spent by ouI
comrades In this room. Ii is open al
hours of 1.-THE day and the forepart of TIE
evenings.
In the spacious basement will be found
properly arranged barber, tailor, chair
and shoe shop, with skillful workmen in
each department. There is also large
smoking room with all the conveniencei
for the comrades to pass time, smoking
rta''ing. listening to instrumental music ol
| telling army stories. The laundry is alec
found In the basement. All heavy articlei
ar washed by The regular laundrymen
the small ones such as hsndkerchiefs anC
socks are washed by the comrades them
selves IL able.
The hospital is brick structure tive
stories with capacity to room at least tw,
hundred. 1t Is complete in all its de
| p rtments and conducted by DR. ChapiI
and assistants in the proper way. 1t /
reached from the Home by a walk O
one hundred feet through green house
At times walk through this house is al
most sufficient to cure the sick. Every
thing here seems a little late, especial
shrubbery. flowers and vegetation; but /
this extensive hot or greenhouse it seem
the season has not been consulted
The inclosure is marked off in circin