Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-07-24
C.,r,I nor.

all Il In q primcyal woodland, AMI
through IL run 10 miles ~ winding
walks ami macadamiz~l ruads. linc'l
with shrubb,ry ~ all American and for
eign yaric,ic. which will grow Ia thi'
climate. 1T wherever an opening Ia the
native timbcr gives place II i indeed q
delightful retreat, and yet, ~ the vet
Gran said. there l. bcrc abiding mclAn.
choly. and many an inmate has sought
release frorI the druad mou0tony BY
rushing voluntarily into the grUat MI
known
On the day u my tirst visit thcrc wa
unusual animation In the summer
house AMI at each group of benches in
the grounds discussion was In prugrc,s,
for the old soldier. werr wonderfully
interested In the strikes and riots, aud
THAR views were we'll worth listening
to Perhaps IL was from professional
feeling. but they weru without cXccf-
ton severe In dcnunciation ~ the riot
err, and many curious story was told
by actual participants Of timcs when the
regulars were called out TO face mul',
the "reminiscences extending NJ far hack
as 1881. and this leads mc ON 90 spak
of the fact which astOnished me most
the great ago ~ many Il the inmates
The most noted veteran went into h"-.
pital in 1891 at the age of Dj aud dlvd
a few weeks later ~ purc old age An
other one died few weeks ago NJ tho
age ~ 0i. The youngest man Ia the in
stitutiOn IL but %. aud the oldest one
at present IL 90 II mus, b. noioi that
this differs from the various soldiers
home. scattered through the country IN
that IL wa. established 10 year, brfOrr
tho war, and II i for the regular army
exclusively. although q few men ~ the
volunteer army have bccn admitted TEN
porarily.
\ veteran of F.ar...r..
Equally remarkable isihc variation IN
the length Of service OIo inmnt" had
served but four months when admitted
and 10 but cue year OF less. The aver
agc thereafter l. about 20 for each term
of two, thrvc. four years. etc, until the
eighteenth year term il reached. after
which 10 increases rapidly. Tlpre are
i'm the home - men who served ~
years, % ~ 20 years service, 30 of ~
years. 3j of - years, 40 u - years,
bud ~ on. with a gradual decline to ilIo
Two hOnorcl veterans. One OF whom
scrvcl - years AMI the other 80. tlic
last Icing NJ present among the old,s'
:lon ia the institution anl not uiily ~
o0l prcseryatiOn for aman ~ 20, but "a
very pleasant aud intelligent gentleman.
Ills name u fr,doIick l.. Colclas.r IN.
tive of Pitisburg and hi first enlist
ment was dated sept. ~, 1892, for ili'
Black Hawk war. his discharge anh
admission to the home occurring 30
kcars, s months aud 20 days aftcrwari
lie served in the Florida war under
Colonel Lindsay. Second artillery. IN
the Mexican war In the Fifth infantry,
In several Indian wars In various cOin
uiands, and four years In the war Tor
the Union aud thereafter IN years IN
New Mexico The home datcs frCm
1851, and IT, founder. u IL hail any one
founder, was General Winfield Scott
In February. 1879. he urgcd upon con.
grcss the duty ~ an establishment ~
this kind. supported by dues from the
soldiers and fines and forfeituros, and
In 1910 Captain Robert Anderson. since
% famous outlined q plan. In 1874
General Scott induced the house com.
mittce on military affairs to take the
matter up. and la isis, la Transmitting
90 the secretary of war draft Tor $780,.
900. part of the tribute levied upon the
City Of Mexico. he urged that II b. used