Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-13

outer walls, which are provided with huge,
| closely clustered windows, each ward in
itself provides about 500 lineal feet oi
| splendidly lighted and ventilated prone
made floor, for use during inclement
| weather.
If the allowances to the Chelsea pension.
| ers in the matter of clothing, food and ale
money are somewhat meager, their duties
and restrictions are exceedingly light On
entrance to the hospital the pensioners
previous total Government allowance of
shilling per day is entirely relinquished.
This refers exclusively to private soldiers,
of whom there are over 500 among the about
$50 inmates of the Hospital.
The Discipline Very Lenient.
In lieu of this shilling per day pension
they receive each room such as previously
described, a yearly allowance of two pairs
of trousers, one cap and fatigue jacket and
four complete suits of under clothing, with
a flaming red Prince Albert coat, decorated
with blue cuffs and huge brass buttons with
the monogram, "R. H. c. P"-Royal Hos
pital of Chelsea Pensioners, once in three
years
Their food consists of half loaf of bread
and an ounce of butter daily, per man; with
q bowl of cocoa for breakfast, soup, mutton
or beef and potatoes for dinner, and bowl
of tea at $3.50 for "tea" which is the last
meal of the day. Besides this they are each
paid 1 penny per day for ale and tobacco
money, and each also receives q quarter of q
pound of tobacco every three months.
There are practically no restrictions upon
these old wards of Chelsea. They 60 out
and come at will; and punishments for in
fraction of always lenient discipline are
confined to the wearing of black cap for
extraordinary revolt against good order, or
few hours in the guardhouse for pen
sioner taken red handed in battle with John
Barleycorn at the ale house. They are
royal grumblers ALL To them their cloth
ing is "shoddy," soup is 'sswill" cocoa and
coffee are "pizen," butter Is ''Thames skim
MINIS" and, in scornful intimation of the
officers appropriating all the joints of NUT
ton while leaving them but the ribs and
briskets, they stoutly assert that "Every
sheep killed for Chelsea has nine breasties!'
But believe they are, on the whole, very
comfortable and considerably treated. and
fully as well served and cared for as are the
veterans of our own Soldiers Homes.
The Most Interesting Places.
The most interesting places in Chelsea
Hospital are the ward rooms, the kitchen
when the MONDAY meal is nearly ready, the
chapel and the great hall. In the ward
rooms 1 discovered one chipper old fellow
who will be 90 years old in October He is
William Merrill, late of the Thirty-frst
Foot; is a native of Bedfordshire; enlisted
in 1919; and has seen over 40 years of actual
service. NV companion said he was the
'slyest rogue and joker in No. 10 ward"
Gay old William also has the record of
countless firtations over the area ratings
of Chelsea's mansions. Carlyle chased him
all the way back to the hospital one day
for too vigorous badinage with the serving
maids of the philosophers family in Cheyne
Row.
Any Sunday forenoon you may see 800 or
400 of these grizzled pensioners at chapel.
They are not very reverentIal, and are un-
easy as children in the pews. They shuttle
their feet, get into complications with their
wooden legs, canes and crutches, and there
is much snuffiing, clearing of throats and
hard asthmatic breathing. But Herkomer's
great painting does not e1aggerate the
pathos of their collective and individual
aspect. So many of these white heads and
battle-scarred, bent frames together look
very pitiful indeed when all are bowed and
still at time of prayer and benediction.
The great hall is a spacious, lofty paneled
room, in which are famous frescoes and
paintings, many tattered battlefags, a raised
dais for the Queen, a good library, many
newspapers and periodicals, and fine benches
and tables where the pensioners may come
and fight their battles over at draughts and
chess Wellington lay in state here, and
Nell Gwynne is not forgotten. In one cor
ner of the huge partly allegorical ffesco she
is depicted in her first and most honest voca-
tion, London orange girl.
EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.