Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-10-24
uNpER WHICH BANNER.
An English Paper Contrasts the Treat
ment of Veterans

a writer IN the Sunday Chronicle Of
Manchester England, contrasts the
treatment Of soldiers and ex-soldiers
by the government in England and
America He first shows how much
better of is the American while in the
regular service than Is his brother
across the Atlantic But it is when
we come TO consider the question of
pensions, he says, that the American
system is calculated TO make the Brit
ish soldiers mouth water with envy.
After four terms or i've years each, or
twenty years service in all the sol
der of any rank. from the general
down TO the private, is entitled TO re-
tire upon three-fourths Of his last
years salary. This gives the sergeant
something like e los per month. But
beyond this-and here the marvel to
English ears begins--the American
government reasons thus: while
this man was serving US we feo him
and clothed him. Therefore it is only
fair that that portion of his income
should be considered in his pension"
! Accordingly they reckon up his rations
and his clothing on cash basis, and
allow him three-fourths Of that also.
Thus 1t Is quite possible for man
who enlisted at 20 years Of age to re-
tire at 40 with sufficient to live upon
for the remainder OF his days. Ir the
case Of hundreds Of Frenchmen and
Germans now living who became
American citizens by the act OF enlist
ment AID have returned to their birth
places n France or the fatherland II
is evident that the difference in the
purchasing power of money enables
them to enjoy the condition Of gentle
men at ease and put on glide, much
as an English officer on half-pav, who
could not keep up his position in Lon
don, can 60 to the Channel islands and
live in style or settle down in Nor
mandy and be regarded as a grand
seigueur. The pension is always con-
tinued to the soldiers widow for life
or to his orphans until they attain the
age of 10.
But above and beyond this envable
state Of things for the retired soldier
at large the single man with twenty
years service enjoys privileges which
makes one feel sore when he thinks OF
the poor old Crimean veterans whose
case Mr.. Stanhope informs us he is still
considering, The map OF the United
States is cut up into six military sec
tons, In which there are seven or eight
soldiers homes for full time expired
men, which are really noble institu-
tons. Take the establishment at
| Washington, for instance and contrast
1t with our Chelsea hospital, which is
best described as an asylum into which
the British veteran can not get Three
miles from the white house, where the
president resides. in a fine park of 600
acres, is palace capable of accom-
modating about /, 900 men at a time.
! Therein the old soldier is lodged and
boarded as matter OF right at the ex-
pense OF the state, with all the accommo-
dation of a good hotel. Each man has
his little room, and public apartments
| of all kinds, including a library, bill
lizard and every convenience Of
life, with only the restriction that each
health and sanitary regulations for the
general comfort And for ali this
! IL ere is no deduction from the PEN
ron. Il is bachelor hall, but even an
old married man has the privilege Of
residing there and supporting his wife
and younger children out OF his PEN
sion, outside. Moreover as the men
are in great measure their own sery-
ants, every inmate who accepts posi-
-, h., al.
gardener bookkeep2r, or what not
even TO waiting on the table, receives
q salary for his services. AS the old
men mess in common, the expense is
Of course not very great; but the point
is they are not in the workhouse, nor
subject to anyb3dy's commands cap
rices or insults Even the president
himself could not enter the place and
order one OF the inhabitants TO bring
him chair. He would have to ask
for it civilly. They are the houored
proteges of the nation, held in rever-
ence and treated with respect
But they do trot out as many Of
their hou0red veterans as are able to
walk on eye,'y occasion of national re-
joiciug or 70 lend grace to the nyeil-
ing of a statue or the opening of a new
public building or what not And
then it is the custom 10 make much Of
them. and men crowd around to shake
hands with them and women TO kiss
aud hug them. And they give them
to est and drink of the best and a
front seat at the theater Strong
young men get ont 81 the way Of the
old veterans on crutches and take of
their hats 20 them. And the people
who arc a nation Of sharp traders cute
! dealers and sharp practitioners in all
the ordinary affairs OF life, just put
their smartness in their pockets and
make use OF their hands to clap and
their lungs to cheer whenever the sur
viyors OF the war OF secession turn out
In body to honor the public festival
And the young recruit as he presents
arms To the shattered fragments Of
/ Grants or Shermau's command way
back in the SOS. has a tear OF pride
in his eve as he reflects: "Nhat
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