The National tribune., 1893-11-02
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON D. c. THURSDAY NOVEMBER


the Mount, and on each side are two smaller
paintings depicting religious events in
| biblical history, while on the west wall of
the church a large oil painting represents
the beautiful star of Bethlehem and an angel
appearing to the shepherds by night.
/ Without the chapel on the north side
shows four windows with dormer top, ex-
tending through gable roof low down
on the side of the building, with of course
the same number Of; windows on the oppe-
site side. sdf
/ As visitor to the Home passes up the
beautifully -shadedIfoad hat extends north
from the depot, he 'hdites first the new hos
pital, and turning in at the first gate, his
gaze rests upon Larkin G. Meals statue OF
THE RETURNED SOLDIER
and his daughter.
The value of this statue has been esti-
mated at about $4,000. Miss M. J. Davis
says that it was SAID to be worth 80, 900 Italian
pieces of money but she does not recOllect the
value of the denomination. Mr.. Benz. Fitch
furnished the stone, and Larkin G. Mead, jr.,
of Florence, Italy, did the work, and prob
ably the cash paid was not any very consid-
erahle sum.
The statue stands upon pedestal of gram
ite seven feet in hight, located in the center
of a small circular lawn facing the hospital
The statue itself is of Italian marble, and
represents cavalryman, with high-top boots
nd in a h
bard by his side. He holds his youthful
daughter upon his knee, and is recounting
to her his various trials and adventures in
the war. 1t would appear that he has just
returned home, and that his daughter is so
anxious to hear his story that she has not
had time to put on her shoes or to array
herself in very fashionable attire, but sits
barefooted and lightly clad upon her fathers
knee, listening to his account of the days
that tried mems souls Besides being a
beautiful work of art, this statue recalls
wildly to the mind of an old soldier some
of the stirring scenes of the war.
The other buildings consist of two-story
frame building, originally used as a chapel
above and a carpenter-shop beneath, but
now converted into two wards, steam
laundry, where the washing is done for the
institution and for the men; a two-story
carpenter building, small but commodiOus
barn, brick boier-house 46 40 feet, con-
tanning three boilers and two pumps, where
steam is generated both for heating and
washing purposes; a smoking-room 80 20
{ fae v.yitI oh foaf do nd ha
Superintendent's residence. fine two-and-
a-half-stored frame structure, conven-
iently located and furnished with many of
the comforts and improvements of a modern
New England home.
In former years soldiers who were very
sick and unable to care for themselves, also
those suffering from various chronic COM
plants, were sent TO one of the hospitals at
Hartford, New Haven, or Bridgeport, but
after the completion of the hospital many
invalids were transferred here.
The number of inmates in the Home is
increasing every year, and varies from
$50 and 200 in Summer to 300 in the
Winter. 1t follows, therefore, that the
Home is one of the important State institu-
tions, and accordingly when the new chapel
was dedicated, on the 18th of May, 1890 and
the new hospital formally opened, it was
thought day worthy. of special attention
by the State authorities.
ELABORATE PREPARATIONS
were, therefore, made, and invitations were
sent ont to various Grand Army Posts in
The State to send delegates on that occasion.
The Grand Army was well represented, also
the various branches of the Woman's Relief
Corps of Connecticut. Gov. Morgan G.
Bulkeley and many of his staff were present,
and interesting and instructive speeches
were made by Gov. Bulkeley, Lieut.-Gev.
Samuel E. Merwin, Treasurer E. S. Henry,
and others, including Gen. w. B. Franklin,
President Board of Managers of the National
/ Soldiers Homes. ]. c. Broatch, Depart
ment Commander GAR. of the State, and
very many delegates were present, also about
80 ladies representing the Woman's Relief
Corps in different PORTIONS of the State.
After all had partaken of an elaborate din
ner prepared for the occasion, the visitors
and soldiers repaired to the chapel, where
the dedicatJry exercises commenced, Gov.
Bulkeley acting as master of ceremonies.