The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-21

III
to. Hos provided for, and that's ALL
Say what you will, sir, there no wanting
like tho wanting of u man who doesn't
know what he wants and does know
there's never u chance to get it.
A Delightful Retreat.
In these words an Intelligent vetcr-
All of 20 years gavo mo his explana-
ton Of tho prevalence of suicide Mt the
Soldiers homo. We stood by tho beau
tiful lake i'll which several of tho in
mates have drowned themselves. The
day was beautiful beyond description.
"A soft south wind gently stirred the TO-
liago of the magnificent forests The sky
was but lightly flecked with hazy clouds,
and looking OH the soothing beauty of
the grounds it seemed unreasonable to
suppose that corroding care should find
the place in such paradise.
From various points on the southern
slopes tho outlook is full and free, AMI
ono may overlook the whole valley of
tho eastern branch of the Potomac and
beyond it take i'll n beautiful picture of
the eastern hills. From the point of
view the land falls off in gentle slope
and ridges toward tho city, and this
long slope reduces IL sort of illusion
which makes it seem as if one were
higher than the dome of tho capitol or
even the peak of the Washington monu
'ment. But Il small part of the 500 acres
i'll tho property is cleared land Nearly
Iall is i'll IL primcval woodland, and
through it run 10 miles of winding
walks and macadamized roads, lined
with shrubbcry of all American and for
eign varieties which will grow III this
climate. set wherever al opening in the
native timber gives place. 1t is indeed Il
delightful retreat, and yet, as tho vet
Gran said, there is here abiding melan-
choly, and many an inmate has sought
release from tho dread monotony by
rushing voluntarily into the great un-
known.
On the day of my first visit there was
unusual animation. In tho summer
house and at each group of benches i'll
the grounds discussion was i'll progress,
for the old soldiers werc wonderfully
interested i'll the strikes and riots, and
their views were we'll worth listening
to- Perhaps it was from professional
feeling, but they were without exccp-
ton severe i'll dcnunciation of the riot
ers, and many curious story was told
by actual participants of times when the
regulars We're called out to face MODS.
the "reminiscences extending as far back
as 1897, and this leads me OH to speak
OF tho fact which astonished ne most
the great age of many of the inmates.
The most noted veteran went into n hos
pital i'll 1891 at the age of 03 and died
a few weeks later of pure old age. An
other one died fcw weeks ago at the
age OF 81. The youngest man in the in
stltution is but %, and the oldest one
at present is 90. 1t must DO noted that
this differs from the various soldiers
homes scattered through the country in
that it was established 10 years before
the war, and it is for the regular army
exclusively, although few mon of the
volunteer army have been admitted tenn
porarily.
Veteran of Fourscore.
Equally remarkable is the variation in
the length of service. One inmate had
served but four months when admitted
and 40 but one year or less. The aver
age thereafter is about 20 for each term
of two, three, four years, ETC., until tho
eighteenth year term is reached, after
which it increases rapidly. There are
in the home 32 men who served 10
years, 92 of 20 years service, 10 of 81
years. 30 of 20 years, 40 of 80 years,
and so OH, with gradual decline to the
two honored veterans, one of whom
served 33 years and the other "a. the
last being at present among the Oldest
men i'll the institution and not only in
good preservation for man of so, but IL
very pleasant and intelligent gentleman.
His name is Frederick L. Colclaser, ma
tive of Pittsburg, and his first enlist
mcnt was dated Sept. 90, 1882, for the
Black Hawk war, his discharge and
admission to the home occurring 81
years, months and "a days afterward.
He served in the Florida war under
Colonel Lindsay. Second artillery, in
the Mexican war in the Fifth infantry,
IN several Indian wars in various com
mands, and four years in the war for
tho Union and thereafter 19 years in
New Mexico. The home dates from
1851. and its founder, if it had any one
founder, was General Winfield Scott.