The National tribune., 1891-12-17
STATE HOMES OF KANSAS.
yIsIrIYa rHE oRPnANa am vErrRANs

VISITING THE ORPHANS AND VETERANS
DEAR TRIBUNE: Upon my last trip. visiting the
Corps OF Kansas In the interests Of the National
o.h.h memOnai College, OoerliD, kan;. was
the Relief Corps, and Of the faithful work done for
the brave defenders Of our country and their de-
pendent ones. And this not alone IN our cities and
larger towns. but in the remote places, where the
work IL Often unheard ofuntl IL IL sought out. As
the time approaches when stern Winter brings adj
ditional wants. and the old soldier who has not
been blessed with an abundance casts about him
TO know where the necessities OF life shall come
from, the Corps are casting about for n program
FOR an entertainment planning social 20 repleDish
their treasury. surprising some soldiers family
with birthday party. pound social n load OF
coal not only furnishing the comforts Of life, but
In fraternity reminding these brave ones that their
services are not forgotten.
Kansas - not behind In these lines OF work, II we
have not been as faithful rs we ought In reporting
what we are doing. Among one Of the greatest
pleasures upon my trip was n visit to the Orphans
Home mt Atchison Kan. There are 1875 boys aud
girls under the able management Of President
Faulkner and his estiTnable wife. MaiTOn Of the
Home, with a corps Of efficient tenChers. TWAS on
Sunday afternoon that I visited them and found
them just opening their Sunday school, and indeed.
as watched the progress Of their drill and listened
10 their ready answers wing In concert the Lords
Prayer, the Ten Commandments. the Apostles
Creed golden texts for the entire year recitation
OF the lesson for the Sunday current. without refer
ence To the Lesson Leaves, and this too, from the
little tots from the kindergarten. well a. the
Older ones, felt that they put to shame the train
Ing our children outside an Orphans Home are
having. They were dressed in good. comfortable.
neat clothing; the boys la blue. with brass buttons
and military caps such the older Sons wear.
told them had been TO Detroit, where the old
boys In blue had been meeting. then 20 Mime
apolis where the Sons Of Veterans had their meet
lng, ana now that i was completing the tour In
visiting these sous Of veterans found them wear
Ing the same blue coats and brass buttons and
they straigbtened mp with pride that manifest
the soldiers Of tile Union.
The girls were dressed in neat, checked gIng-
ham. each having knot Of ribbon at her neck. all
showing care and neatness Ia their attire. At the
close OF the exercises, were shown through the
buildings which inadequate in size for the con-
stantly increasing applications for admission but
OF good construction, with CHEEKY rooms. We went
through the dOrmitories, dining room, kitchen,
etc, finding each department a model Of neatness
the Older children engaged In preparations for tea,
preparing the vegetables for breakfast etc. Thus
these children prepared for a life Of usefulness
and are being made selfreliant and industrious. as
well as receiving education that will IL them
for honorable citizens.
asked what was needed most that the Corps Of
our State could aid them In procuring. President
Faulkner asked me 10 look upon their white, bare
walls. and see how much pictures needed; and
said, Our Corps can help thatl" So have been
saying wherever go. Frame picture and hang
In tie Orphans Home
Then the needs OF the Library were presented,
and although the Corps have done something in
this direction, we need to do more. Christmas Is
near at hand. and no mothers hand IL preparing
Tor these motheTless ones the happy surprise; no
fathers gift Is awaiting them. They are soldiers
orphans Shall not the great, loyal motherhood OF
The Woman's Relief Corps see that they not
forgotten7
Ask the children in each community 10 bring
GIT from their abundant store to make merry
chris mas" for these our care and charge.
My next visit OF public interest was To the State
Soldiers Home at Dodge City where the old soldier
and his wife are cared for. They not separated
In their declining years IN Kansas. As in 1861,
when the brave husband went forth with a wife's
benedctiOn and blessing. she sharing the privation
tOiling to care for those he lefl to her enduring
in the iduelu vi1fa That pre her
In the battles strife, now, our State feels she
should share the comforts and care given in our
Soldiers Home. COmmandant Sweeney Ia the
right man In the right place. One hundred and
twenty-five inmates are cared for. warmed, clothed,
sheltered and fed. The location was the old Fort
Dodge, purchased by the citizens and donated TO
the State for this PURPOSE Under the skilftil
management OF Commandant Sweeney, the aspect
OF the Home has been wonderfully changed old
buildings torn down, and out OF the abundance Of
material, new, neat, home-like cottages erected.
Tho old barracks have been transformed into
pleasing quarters for the single men, and officers
buildings divided Into apartments. where the old
couples without children are quartered Paint
and plaster has made the Home as a new village,
the growth Of night as II were.
The old guaTd-hOuse, no longer needed for ifs
former use, has been transformed into a school,
house with two apartments each. under the super
vision OF competent teacher. with 20 pupils In at
tendance. Here Sabbath services are held
The Commi-sary IL attractive and general
resort, ~ here each Saturday the QuaTtermaster
issues tie supplies for each family. some with
children 70 the number Of eight and nine (ehildren
under the age Of IL are permitted To remain in the
Home), others with only the eOmrade and his wits;
but Ia each case all their needs supplied, and,
an old colored cOmrade said, "Ilell you Missus,
ives mighty comfortable, my old woman aud me-
We have NIL we need to keep Us warm, all want
to eat, no rent to pay, and good clothes to wear.
Commandment Sweeney gave this rag CARPET to NV
old woman, from your Relief Corps This old COM
rade Is nearly % years old. and he and his aged
wlfe are Oiled with gratitude for the remembrance
Of n grateful people.
The provisions are Of excellent quality; clothing
OF good substantial grade. Each old soldier Is
furnished an armchair. his wife rocking chair,
and each of them pair OF slippers la which 10
rest. / could but wish ON my tour Of inspection.
when IL was circulated through the Home that
United States Inspector, q woman, was going over
the buildings and grounds. $50 much for being
introduced rs United States officer Of the
Woman's Relief Corpsl that all the comrades and
their families out Of the Home were a. well pro-
vided for and as comfortable the inmates
there. Tn addition to the supplies regularly issued
by the State additional comforts are furnished by
the Relief Corps OF the State; and until you have
visited the Home and seen the comforts they
bring. you cannot realize how much good the
Corps are doing. Let them continue to work in
this direction. Books are needed here for
SOLDIERS HOME LIBRARY,
and they are not so well along in this direo-
ton the National Soldiers Home at Leaven-
worth, and have not yet reached the time when
bound books only acceptable. Scribner's
Harper's The Century ETC., will be acceptable, a.
we'll as the bound books. These old soldiers in
their declining years long for reading material 20
While men's clothing and women's wear are
furnished by the State. ehdren's wear for chill
dren Of all ages and sizes. eloaks. oyercoats, nit
tens hoods aprons, and all such articles not
issued by the QuaTtermaster, Of great service.
There, too. arc 20 children
WAITING FOR sANTA-CLAUs
10 come, and in the schoolhouse they will have
their Christmas tree. OF willing hands and ear
nest hearts OF tho WOman's Relief C0rpsf il there
not much for Us to dor Let US see that in our
grand State Of Kansas. In all lines OF work. we
falter not, weary not. These heroes were faithful
To In dangers hour; shall they not find US faith
fu to our obligation in their declining years?-
Margaret II. wiekins National Senior Vice-Presi-
dent, w. X. O.. Sabetha, Kan.
NATIONAL GAR. MEMORIAL COLLEGE.
DEAR TRIBUNE: The outlook for the success OF
this enterprise grows more encouraging. For a
time some distru-t was created in the minds of our
workers by an effort upon the part OF Miss l.. A.
MINIS to circulate the impression that the college
had been removed from Oberlin to Ellsworth, and