The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-13

the largest facing the south the lhaihes
81 ,ba masses of foliage OF Battersea
park, across the river .-.
tn wings Of the great southern court
are 8s5 feet long and are ~ ieet "loe'
In these are found the pensioners WARDS
raoh o,,e il about 200 feet in length.
T,ror.v.six compartments are situated on
.acb side Of a division partition running
olono the center Of each ward. THESE
,,a,,;tio,,s are open az each end, where the
- oFicers have ROOFS, and az the pen
sionere' compartments or rooms lace the
outer walls. which are provided with huge
closely clustered windows, each ward In
ftself provides about 800 lineal feet OF
sniendidlv lighted and ventilated prone
made floor, for use during inclement
weather.
These neusiouers' rooms within the wards
are tight little cubby holes indeed, almost
as tiny and snug as the hunks Of salilng
crafts forecastle. They are seven feet long
and six in width, but are given the entire
height Of the wardroOm. A curtained
entrance IL In the center. Az either sloe
e n large sliding window, its sllls at tne
height Of an ordinary table top. Az the
left of each door as you enter Is loialns
or falling table for books, writing ana the
like. Opposite, and precisely oil the same
size and pattern, is the little taDie "here
ne nensjoner takes his solitary meal his
bunk t on level with the WINDOW slils
and tables. Below il is his trunk, or DoA'
and ON shelves above are any knicknacks he
NAV possess. A sort of privacy may be en-
loved but doors and windows remain open
under the rules. so that even unexpected
INSPECTORS may observe the condition OF
everything in each compartment, prison
like, at glance.
II the allowances to the Chelsea pension
ers in the matter of clothing, food ana ale
money are somewhat meager, their duties
and restrictions are exceedingly hight. On
entrance to the hospital the pensioners
previous total government allowance OF
one shilling per day IS entirely relinqulshed'
This refers exclusively 10 private soldiers
of whom there are over 500 among the
about $50 inmates of the hospital.
In lieu of this shilling per day pension
they receive each a room snch as previous
~ described, a yearly allowance OF TWO
pairs of trousers, one cap and fatigue
iacket and four complete suits OF under
clothing. with flaming red Prince Albert
coat. decorated with blue cuffs and huge
brass buttons, with the monogram, II. ID.
&. P"-Royal Hospital Of Chelsea Pen
sioners-once in three years.
Their food consists of half a loaf OF
bread and an ounce Of butter daily per
man. with a bowl Of cocoa for breakfasts
SOUP. mutton or beef and potatoes for din
ner and a bowl Of tea at $3.50 for tea"
which is the last meal Of the day Besides
this they are each paid one penny per day
for ale and tobacco money, and each also
receives q quarter of pound of tobacco
every three months.
There are practically no restrictions upon
these old wards Of Chelsea They 90 and
come at win: and punishments for infrac-
ton of always lenient discipline are con
fined 10 the wearing OF black cap for ex-
traordinary revolt against good order or a
few hours in the guardhouse for a pen
sioner taken redhanded in battle with John
Barleycorn al the alehOuSe. They are royal
prumblers all. To them their clothing is
"shoddy," soup is "swill, cocoa and coffee
are "pizen," butter is Thames skim
minsO and, in scornful intimation Of the
officers appropriating ell the joints Of
mutton while leaving them but the ribs
and briskets, they stoutly assert that
Every sheep killed for Chelsea has nine
breastiesl" But believe they are, on the
whole, very comfortable and are consider
ately treated, and fully as well served and
cared for as are the veterans Of our own
soldiers homes.
The most interesting places in Chelsea
hospital are the wardrOOms, the kitchen
when the MONDAY meal is nearly ready,
the chapel, and the great hall. In the ward
rooms / discovered one clipper old fellow
who will be ninety-two years old in October.
He is William Merrill, late Of the Thirty
first foot; is a native Of Bedfordshire, en-
listed in 1919, and has seen over forty years
Of actual service Ny companion said he
was the "slyest rogue and joker in No 10
ward" Gay old William also has the
record of countless flirtations over the ares
ratings Of Cbelsea's mansions. Carlyle
chased him all the way back to the hos
pital one day for too vigorous badinage
with the serving maids Of the philosopher
family in Cheyne row.
Any Sunday forenoon you may see 300 OF
400 of these grizEied pensioners at chapel.
They are not very reverential, and are as
uneasy as children in thepew. They shuttle
their feet, get into complications with
their wooden legs, canes and crutches, and
there is much snufiing, clearing Of threats
and hard asthmatic breathing. But Her
/ komer's great painting does not exagger
/ ate the pathos of their collective and indi
vidual aspect. So many Of these white
heads and battle SCARED, bent frames to
gether look very pitiful indeed when all
are bowed and still at time of prayer and
! benediction.
The great hall is a spacious, lofty pan
eled room, ia which are famous frescoe'
and paintings, many battered battle flags
a raised deis for the queen, a good library
many newspapers and periodicals, and fine
! benches and tables where the pensioner.
may come and fight their battles over al
drafts and chess. Wellington lay in state
here and Nell Gwynne is not forgotten. In
one corner Of the huge partly allegorica
fresco she is depicted in her first and most
honest vocation, London orange girl
What interested me most in the great
hall was large glass case of medals, hun
dFeds upon hundreds OF them, stained and
grimy, attached to varicolored ribbons
the magenta plain for good conduct
magenta and yellow stripes for heroes il
China; rose red for special valor in Turkey
the blue and yellow stripes recalling I'll,
horrors Of Crimea, and many others o
whose significance was ignorant. askeC
my companion how so many came TO bt
! collected here