Morning journal and courier., 1892-12-16

}ofK, p681 ana mutton 6b6#6s E14A fA erved every Friday. The staff dining ! oom is also in the basement. The room | s ftted up for tho officers, and ia quite a ,eat place. The clothing store room, where | he regulation blue suits are given out, is | h this department. The offices are in the | south end of the building, and fitted up in I ,legant style. South of the main building, md almost in the center of the grounds, is l ! large round building, which is the water l tank from which water is distributed through the various buildings. The laun- l 1ry is short distance from here and is fit- ted up in the most modern manner. Another small building is fitted up as smoking and reading room in which are all the daily newspapers, the principal periodicals and most of the current literature. The Wo- mans Relief corps have done much toward making this desirable place for the men to spend their time. They may amuse here also with cards and dom- inoes. Another small building is utilized as dormitory for the carpenters which work about the grounds. The next point of interest Is the home chapel Itis 8 neat little structure which was built about three years ago, and Is done off in oiled woods. A fine Haines Bros.' upright piano and reading desk has been contributed by the Woman's Relief corps of the state. A number of the paintings from the Fitch collection which was donated to the home are hung about on the walls. Divine serv- ice is held every Sunday afternoon. Rev. Mir. Francis, pastor of an Episcopal church in Noroton village, conducts the service the first Sunday of every month. Rev. MT. Requa of the Noroton Presbyterian church conducts the service the third Sun day of the months, and on the other Sab hoth he Ivsk So lad 1xyN To naan ministers, generally Rev. MT. Hoyt. Almost every week an entertainment of literary and musical nature is given by parties from Stamford and South Norwalk. They make very enjoyable evening for the old soldiers.
 The Connecticut soldiers hospital which was erected about three years ago is by far the most modern of any of the buildings, as we'll as the finest There are in 1t ac- eommodations for ffty-two patients and at present there are forty -four patients in it. Dr. Lynch, the assistant surgeon, says that most of the diseases are affections of
 the heart or nerves, which were contracted
 during their exposure in the service.
 Barnes, the man who was shot In the head
 last Sunday, is doing we'll. The diagnosis
 regarding the location of the bullet has not
 yet been determined. He has no unfavorable
 symptoms yet. He'@hss undoubtly lost
 the use of his left eye. Dr. W. G. Brown
 son, A. M., Is the resident physician and
 surgeon, and Franklin Pierce Lynch, M.
 D., the assistant surgeon. As soon as the
 legislature meets they expect an appropria-
 ton which will enable them to add to the
 building. The deadlock in the legislature
 for the past two years has greatly crippled
 them. In front of the hospital is very
 fine bronze statue of returned soldier
 telling the story of the campaign to his
 little daughter, who he is holding on his
 knee. MT. Fitch was the donor of the
 statue.
 The grounds, which embrace 12 acres of
 land, lie on commanding eminence about mile from Noroton village, and in the summer time present @ beautiful appear ance. Across the road which runs in front of the home there is grove of trees which
 belongs to the establishment. Next season
 1t is to be fitted up as picnic ground for
 parties who may wish to visit the home.
 The srtesian wells which supply water to
 the buildings are at the lower end of this
 grove.
 Noroton Heights itself consists of post
 office and grocery store combined, a depot
 and half dozen houses. The only object of
 interest is the home. And 1t does make 8 pleasant retreat for the old warriors who
 have fought and bled for their country's
 flag. Here they may spend the closing years of their life in peace and quiet amid congenial society and surroundings. In the business office hangs 8 life size oil painting of Benjamin Fitch, the founder. He was good sized man, with high fore head and features bstraying the kindness
 and benevolence of his heart. He wore bis
 beard in the style of fifty years ago, called "galways." The officers of the home are Captain James N. Coe, superintendent; L. G. Logan, assistant superin tendent; Frank lin Dart, adjutant and quartermaster; Gen. eral l.. A. Dickinson, treasurer, Hartford. The following is the official board: His ex- cellency, Morgan G. Bulkeley, president, Adjutant General A. H. Embler, Surgeon General Henry Hungerford. Executive
 committee, Captain Alfred B. Beers, Gen. Secretary, William B. Morgan, New Haven l and Captain A. B. Beers, chairman of the executive committee, Bridgeport.
 Captain Coe, formerly of New Haven, has been the superintendent since July 12, 1891. He is an eminently humane man, painstaking and efficient, and possesses admirable executive ability, and great inn provements have been made during the time in which he has had charge. Thelbooks for December IA, 1892, show 221 occupants present at the home, 24 absent
 with leave, in state hospital, which are | emergency cases, 32 in the insane asylum
 at Middletown, and absent without leave, making total of 61 absent and an aggregate of 282 connected with the insti- tution. For the corresponding date in 1891 there were 235 present and an aggregate of 295. This shows that the number of those who seek shelter here is on the decrease, possibly owing to the ever decreasing | ranks of the veterans. One of those at the. insane asylum is MT. Ithamsr W. But
 Ter of New Haven, who kept bakery on Portsea street.
 Majer David F. Lane has established an I enviable reputation as a guide about the premises. Major Lane Is from Collins l vile, Conn, and has been in the home
 seven years. He is ready and willing to
 show the placs to all visitors and treats all whom he meets with certain military
 dignity and respect which Is so character I istic of true old soldier.
 Any old soldier who is unable to support himself and who belonged to Connecticut regiment or was resident of Connecticut | previous to his enlistment may gain admis- sion to the home.
 | The government pays $10O into the | treasury of the institution for the support of each occupant. Many receive besides [
 small pension.