St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-13


lowed.
Al o'clock Hon. tom" Downs an
nounced dinner in the large dining
room and thither the visitors were es-
corted. Eull justice was done to the
excellent, well-cocked, wholesome food
served, with the soldiers as walters.
The fare to which the soldiers are ac-
customed was served to the visitors.
They seemed to enjoy it as much as if
they were delicacies served upon Have
lin china in place of on granite-lined
dishes and eaten with iron knives and
forks After the dinner the company
put in a couple CT hours inspecting the
several buildings and adniTing their
cleanliness and comfort. The laundry,
the kitchen and the dormitories, as
well as the hospital and vegetable
cave, were Inspected and found to be
in excellent condition.
At o'clock the visitors again assem-
bled ii the library to listen to an i'm
promptu entertainment and short
speeches. Here Hon. TON" Downs
had an opportunity to again display
his good nature and hospitable nature.
He introduced Mrs. Julia E. Lobdeil,
arranged a musical and literary enter
tainment. ffrs. Lobdell made very
entertaining speech, which she wound
up with a promise TO get even with
Mr.. Downs for one Of his witticisms.
Miss Carrie z. Milward was intro
duced and entertained the visitors with
a cornet solo, accompanied on the
piano by little Miss Rosa Miller. Miss
MilWard is quite proficient with the
cornet and was heartily appiauGed
upon the completion of a medley that
began with Star Spangled Banner"
and ended with Yankee Doodle"
Master Of Ceremonies Downs then
made a speech, in which he spoke of
the ability of Mrs. Lobdell to declairn,
and announced that she would enter
tain the company. Mrs. Lobdell prov ed
equal to the occasion, and not only
made an appropriate speech, but gave
a recitation that was well received.
Miss Rosa Miller rendered piano
solo, and Mrs. NJ. j. Austin, of Mime
apolis. read poem.
Capt. Phillips was put up, by Mrs.
Lobdell, to get even with Mr.. Downs,
and did it by telling the company that,
when a lad in Nicollet county, Tom
Downs had
SAID GOOD-BY
to the Lord in his evening prayer, and
told Him that he was going to Mime
apo1is to live with his grand parents.
The joke was much enjoyed by the
company. Mr.. Downs recovered from
his embarrassment in time to move a
70 Of hoy ly- tn he tr,, Of 1,A
home for their entertainment and
which was responded to by rising
vote.
Capt. Henry A. Castle replied to the
vote of thanks, and made a speech in
which he briefly recounted the history
of the institution and the work being
done He took occasion to say that he
thought the Minnesota plan of con-
Quoting the home very satisfactory,
and in abiding to a remark of Gen.
Fairchild, said that it is the policy of
the Minnesota home to care for such
old soldiers as have no homes of their
own, and to give aid to those who have
families at their homes. He considered
that to be the better plan.
He said that some Of the soldiers who
iAG~'S iA'c@i ASu y Jung WV diI llOI Wctiil
to stay at home because it is unpleasant
for them, but want to live at the SOL
diers' home, not providing for their
families. This happens in but a few
cases, but had caused some trouble
and kicking. He alluded to the fact
that there are scarcely a half-dozen of
the 81 in the home who do not kick
about something, but that this was
taken merely as an indication Of activ-
ity There are about thirty other SOL
dierS who are given aid at their homes
amounting to about an average of S.
per month. Those who are at the home
are required to turn over to the trustees
all of their pensions above 81 per
month. This brings in between S., 600
and $1,000 to the home. The state con-
tributes about $4,000 year to the fund
for support of the soldiers, and the
United States government contributes
Sf00 for each of the inmates, making
about $4,000 more received by the
home. The work at the home is chiefly
done by the inmates A cook is hired
at cost of SIS per month. The com
/ mandant is paid $4,000 per year. and a
few others are employed. The trustees
oCl VIC WltLOuI Sdldiy. Inc nome was
established in 1887 by act of the legis-
lature passed two years before. Min
neapolis had donated fifty-one acres of
land that cost $51 900 for the home, and
had also established Minnehaha park.
adjoining, at a cost of nearly 500, 900
more. This park consists of 125 acres
besides the 81 acres of the home. The
first buildings, two in number. We're
erected in 1887. About forty old soldiers
were then
GATHERED UP
from the almshouses of the state, and
placed in the home. Since then the
number has been increasing, and will
probably increase for ten years more.
After that they will grow fewer, and.
IN time, the buildings may be used for
other purposes by the state. There are
over 10000 old soldiers in the state. AS
disabilities increase, more of them will
find their way to the home and more
buildings will be needed While the
legislature has never been asked for
anything, yet provision had always
been made for the needs of the home.
when the facts were laid before it. 1t
would be seen, from the condition of
affairs, that another building, costing
about $25,000 is needed
Hon. John L. Gibbs was called upon
for speech, and responded in happy
vein. He declared that he was pleased