The Somerset reporter., 1893-09-21
The Woman's Relief Corps
Home.

The Department of Maine Woman
Relief Corps AT their annuel conycniios
last February decided to establish a
Home for the support Of aged or di--
abled veterans and heir wives. widows
who are disabled. army nurses pat la
Dor, aud the dependents of Union sol
diers.. \ committee WE appointed Ia
present the matter to the q. 4. Il. Eu-
campment then assembled, ask their
endorsement aud assistance. It VA, en-
Enthusiastically received by them. and Il
committee Immediately appointed to CO.
operate with Il like committee from ".
Il. {. To formulate plaus. etc.
The necessary legal Incorporation hlv-
ing been completed. we now a. an or
ganization are earnestly striving TO az
complish the work we have pledged our
selves to perform.
The need of such Il Home must be evi-
dent to all; ;he "boy." of ISL are now
aged men whose Whitening locks and
tagging footsteps proved that they have
passed the summit OF the hill of life and
are descending into IA valley in which
those without homes or dear ones TO
care for them, must depend upon the
cold. Srudging and unsympathctic hand
OF charity for their personal needs I'M
less some such Home stands with open
doors to receive them. The aged and
needy veteran without kindred. whose
pressing need of a place of refuge where
he may eat, drink and sleep until the
final bugal call, is fairly well met at the
National soldiers Home. But for the
aged couple who together fought for the
| Mon, he AT the front target for shot
and shell, she at home tiling the farm.
caring for and directing the steps of the
little dependent ones. and in heart fol-
lowing her soldier husband in his ,lrcarv
miles of marching, in fancy standing
with him upon the fearful field of battle.
or suffering agonies at thoughts of his
Imprisonment, who sent the loving epis-
ties which so cheercd and strengthened
the wayering courage and made possible
the victory, who physically broken
down and destitute, longing for the
home comforts once theirs, but now alas
beyond their reach, the thought of sepa-
ration in their declining years, one to go
to the soldiers home the other to the
county poor house, is Il calamity TO be
dreaded equally with death itself. Think
also of the soldiers widow with her lit
tie dependent children, and the father
whose motherlcss ones make greater de-
mands upon him than he is able to sup
ply. all forcibly present the need of
some such effort as this.
This idea of soldiers homes is not a
new one nor confined to our Department
alone. As early as lSsS the National
Womans Relief Corps inauguratcd Il
plan the out come of which is the Ma
tional W. X. &. Home nj Madison. Ohio.
which has been in successful working
order for years. Beginning with this
central Home the W. X. C. have pushed
the good work into other states. There
are now in California, Colorado, Penn.
sylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, Iowa and
other states Homes of this kind, and
New York and Illinois have alrcady
commenced work in the same direction
Two years ago the state of Ohio appro.
priated Sl0,O0O for ii cottage to be built
and furnished for the use of the Ohio
veterans their wives and widows, said
cottage is finished and occupied. Last
year Iowa dedicated ten separate cot
tages to this purpose, located on IN,
grounds OF the National Home. why
shall not Maine do likewise:
The Department of Maine Woman
Relief Corps is made up of subordinat,
corps. it is mt the home of these corp,
that the work must be done. Russell
Corps of Skowhegan has pledged assist.
ance and various plans have been pre-.
pared by which to raise the needed
funds. Two entertainments have beer
given with considerable success and now
the ladies have decided to provide din.
ner at the &. A: Hall on Wednesday
Sept. 9th, the proceeds to be used fol
this purpose. Ii is hoped that the citi
zens of Skowhegan will prove by word
and deed that this enterprise has theil
cordial endorsement.