Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-12-04


rest Does it require no discipline? lust
what is required in any good society.
Seli-respect, soldiers honor, reluctance
to tarniSh the glory of v"'orous' life,
and pride in sel-disciplry are pickets
whom Col. Coffey keeps constantly on
duty. Do | think it an elegant place.
an ideal home, you ask? No, indeed,
do not. Those words are too fastidious.
K is a good, nice sensible home, with q
paternity and maternity. full of hospi-
| tally, kindness, care and good judgment.
with everything for comfort. white
sheets, and floors as clean as. though a
New England mother had just secured
them, nice potatoes, best Vermont but
ter, cOpious draughts of fresh milk, and
not particle of periumery. Let us go i'll.
They give Callers just as good fare as the
soldiers have. a hearty welcome, then
all are at ease. All share alike, are
treated alike, even the bird says good
morning" and good night" to all alike
But it seems to say Hello. Col. Cotfey"
with a more familiar accent and good
night Nellie" little more tenderlv than
when engaged in more business like con-
verSation. Passing through long cor
ridor flanked on either side by dense
rows of flowers and shrubbery we come
to a hospital as wholesome as could be
kept 10y the best housewives clearly care.
Considering everything about it, especi-
ally the homelike care bestowed on the
patients under the direction of DR.. Rog-
ers, a skilltul and humane man of much
character, it is one of the most common
dable features of the home. There are
some very peculiar characteristics about
the institution. Everybody is tree to go
everyw here, into the Office, among the
family and visitors, and still there is no
, rudeness, nor offensive familiarity.
Everyone has an air OF obeisance which
|, indicates that there may be in the mind
an idea of law backed if occasion should
require it by physical force, the knowl-
. edge of some illustration OF which tends
to avoid the occasion for its actual fire.
: quent use. In any event there are no
| outward manifestations OF compusion.
r Another popularity is the interest in and
, devotion of the inmates to the manage,
: ment. All confidence is conferred in the
nj h.,
f focused iii Judge Henry, who seems to be
/; the ne plus ultra Of the whole business
= But the great mystery is who does the
work for so many men. The matron, a
! strong intellectual versatile, yet kind
amiable and good woman can instantly
lay down the needle, the shears. the
, bandages or the broom and tttinglv en-.
: terrain even a Mrs. Logan or Mrs
$ Grant. Her personal influence with the
many little things to assist, and many
more to prevent work. Strong, easy, adj
G Unstable movements accomplish much
! with very little friction. But how about
: the other part of this dual management
e Here is farm to be managed, an &C
counting to be conducted involving sup
plies, expenditures, and many other
q things as extensive as would be re
I quired in mercantile establishment. Ar
account of transactions with each in
' mate respecting pensions and pension
, moneys and other items is kept, also a
a record of each inmate as elaborate as
I that of an old fashioned parish register
besides reports, correspondence and calls
' to meet the private wants and grieis o
e everybody, and the staff for doing al
! this and more is - Col. Coffey. He il
, superintendent, landlord, steward, but
Ter, clerk, comrade, farmer, mechanic anc
1 porter all at the same time. He can lay
down the hoe, rake or hammer, take W
t the pen and write, visit, and direct about
= the details of the management all at The
/ same time. But the intelligent economy
!. of railroad corporations does not pre-
i scribe that one man shall be conductor
!. brakeman, switchman, and baggage
l. master at the same time. The efficenc,
of kind, good work that comes from two
G harmonious lives so perfectly adapted &c
=. each other, and to their work, invites oul
1 most ardent admiration. But although
the work up to date is as clear and &C
curare as the sun, and has been done
1 openly and in full view of the public, anc
4 is not only above suspicion, but is tn,
y pride and admiration of the whole State
:. is it just or wise or economical to ex
), cessively work one man to sustain it
and that one too as brave as any of the
e rest? l say this solely on my own re
e sponsibility and incur whatever peri
c there is in prophesying that no nerves
J. were ever made that can long endure
n such tension as this various work pro-
J. duces.
c In a little time the last soldier will be
:, at rest. He fought not for plumber
8 neither for indolent ease, nor yet for an
. idle place on the hands Of others, but for
+ all the institutions of his country, for
: every acre gifts sacred soil, including a
:. place on which to make soldiers home,
and in that spot of ground he is tenant