The San Francisco call., 1895-10-13
Quarters Are Clean and the
Food Wholesome and
Fresh.
THE VETS" LIKE VISITORS.
Especial Welcome to the Loyal
Ladies' Of the State and
Children.
Especial correspondence Of THE CALL

YOUNTVILLE, CAL, Oct. 10.-The peo-
pie of California have but little idea of the
appreciation in which they are held by
$40 heroes-veterans of the Mexican and
civil wars-living in peace and content
ment at the Soldiers Home, located at
Yountville, Napa County.
Through the bounty of the citizens of the
State the home is able, under the present
dictatorship, to be not only free from debt,
but with a surplus on hand.
There is Grand Army post at the home
in which much interest is taken by the old
soldiers, who are all clothed in the fatigue
uniform of the regular army. From the
commandant down to the private all feel
upon one level and eat of the same food
and receive the same treatment. The
dining-room and kitchen are models of
perfection.
The great rows of fresh baked bread are
white and light as feather. The bake
oven is one of the largest of its kind in the
State, being some seventeen feet IN depth.
The meats are of the best, and the butcher
shop as neat as,wax. The milkrooms, the
cold storage rooms are models of perfec-
ton. One building is devoted to the
laundry and baths.
At present there are some nineteen
buildings IN camp, and still there is not
room enough for all that desire to go to
the home, but the board of directors do
not care to ask the great liberal-hearted
people of California for more funds.
Little work, if any, is required of the
veterans, but should any of them desire to
labor as an incentive % cents a day is
given them. For 5 cents they may pro-
cure of the canteen beer of the very best
| quality, whisky or wine. None may have
over three drams day, and many at the
home do not require these stimulants.
The canteen at the home is of but recent
origin and is patterned somewhat after the
National Soldiers Home and has been
found to work well, besides being remuner-
ative.
Most of the veterans are pensioners, and
| if they do not have families to give their
pension money to they receive a portion of
| it in hand and the remainder is placed to
| their credit on the books, to be returned
| should they elect to leave the home. By
this means they have little spending
money to use for wants not given at the
| home.
In the main building is splendid
| library with oceans of books and leading
periodicals and daily journals. At one
end of the library room, which is used as
an assembly hall, is small stage with a
limited amount of scenery for use in case
an entertainment is given. Here are also
| held religious services, not only by the
Protestant, but the Catholic clergy, as well
as by members of the Salvation Army.
1t is only when callers visit the home
that many of the old men see any but gray
boards and silvered hair. The other day
| Farragut Relief Corps No. 4, Grand Army
of the Republic, of Vallejo to the number
of twenty visited the home at Yountville
and with them was a little lad and as he
passed through one of the sick wards ar
old man stepping on the edge of the grave
as it were, chanced to see the lad and with
glee exclaimed, "Oh, there is little boy
come and let me see what you look like
The old man looked long and intentIy
upon the lad and bestowed blessing upor
him and then fell back upon his bed tc
rest from the excitement the sight hac
caused him.
The visit of the ladies of the corps wa.
keenly appreciated by the officers and in
mates of the home, it being the first of the
kind that had been made in three years
If the loyal ladies of California would cal
and see these five hundred old heroes theil
hearts would go out in sympathy fol
them. They are men who are not dis
consulate, but have to talk and fight theil
battles over and over.
Each Sunday members of the board
visit the home to inspect and see what, i
anything, is required. Visitors are welcome
at all times and are given full freedom.
The grounds and buildings are lighted
with electric lights, the electricity being
manufactured on the grounds, A rocl
crusher furnishes the rock for the roads
being built and material for use In cemen-
foundations. H.D.R.