The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-05
STATE SOLDIERS HOME
FORMAL DEDICATION AND TRANS
FEB OF THE INSTITUTION.
Speeches by Governor Matthews, Gen.
Lew Wallace, Commander Walker,
General Carnahan and Others.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. July 4.-To-day the
State Soldiers Home. near this city, was
dedicated. The attendance was very large
and all sorts of vehicles were employed
to take the people from the city to the
home grounds. Before s o'clock the line
CT wagons tended in that direction. While
the larger part of the people were from the
Immediate vicinity, the attendance from
different parts of the State was so large
as TO indicate that the people have deep
. interest in the new State Soldiers Home.
The grounds were tastefully decorated
while the forest trees afforded a grateful
shade. Long before 10 o'clock there were
literally acres of horses and carriages in
the surrounding forests. The trustees met
the Governor and other distinguished Wis
itors on the TOP of the hill on which the
home is located.
The exercises began at 10 o'clock, with
music by the Lafayette Band. After fur
ther music and prayer. Col r. p De Hart
delivered an address of welcome. Into it
he wove the romance and the beauty Of the
location and the noble design of the in
stitution. Colonel De Hart introduced Gen.
eral Carnahan. chairman of the board of
trustees, who gave interesting account
of the inception and establishment of the
Soldiers Home. He clearly outlined its
purpose and set forth all that has been ac-
eomplished. In conclusion he turned the
grounds over to Governor Matthews, the
representative of the State.
Governor Matthews followed in an ad-
dress which showed careful preparation.
He spoke In high terms of the veterans of
Indiana, referred TO the part which they
took in suDDresSing the Debs strike, an
proved the purpose of the Soldiers Home.
ana heartily commended the trustees for
their efficiency in so prudently exDending
the States appropriation.
General Lew Wallace was the next
speaker. As he rose he was generously ap-
piauded. He referred TO General Carna-
han as one of the soldiers he had made
DeIore the war and then proceeded to give
an interesting description of the soldiers of
European nations, all of which he had seen.
They had discipline. he said. but they
volunteer and his capacity to do thngs-all
things-and indomitable persistence as a
fighter. The Army of the Potomac was
engaged in four years of terrible fghting.
but one Sunday morning there was an APP
pOmattoX. He told an amusing story of
forged money of the Confederacy. He held
that il could be no harm to help ruin the
credit of the Confederacy by debas;ng its
currency if it was permitted TO shoot its
soldiers There were those who saw an ap-
lication in the Illustration.
Commander-in-chief Walkers address,
which was next, was an eloquent lesson
drawn from the day and the history of the
Republic He was frequently applauded.
Department Commander Caylor set forth
the duties of the Grand Army the Sol
diers Home and what the institution should
be.
diana Department of tine W. X. c.. gave a
history of the rise and progress OF that
most useful auxiliary of the Grand Army
in its great work. She briefly summed up
the work which the corps has done for the
home and pledged it's assistance TO the ut
most for the future. Mrs. Sims was at
tended by Mrs. Agnes Hit, Mrs. Ella ID.
linn. Mrs. Mcbride. Mrs. Nettie Ransford
and Miss Alexander Hitt, of this city. Mrs.
II. Nj. Caylor and other prominent ladies
of the w. x. were present
Mrs Eta A. Toby. president of the In
diana Department OF the Ladies of the q.
A. r.. made an address, piedglng cooper
After the exercises were over. n lunch
was served in the dining hall to representa-
tiVes from Il distance. After the lunch.
Sneaker Adams and other members OF the
last Legislature spoke briefly, congratulate
ing the State and the Grand Army on the
success which had attended the establish
ment OF the institution
The visitors then inspected the public
buildings. the cottages and viewed the
Surprise at what has been accomplished in
so short a time with so little money: There
is a great need for cottages, and the zeal
which some OF the smaller counties have
displayed makes the neglect of some of the
larger ones who send the most benefciar-
les, very marked.
Foster. James b. Wallace, j. B. Mcdonald
and c. j. Murphy, were present. The pub
lic-spirited citizens of Lafayette showed a
most commendabie interest in caring for
the visitors.
a meeting of the board Of officers of the
Indiana Commandery OF the Loyal Legion
was held at the State Soldiers Home yes
terday afternoon A number OF members
were present in the consultation. General
Wallace presided. His words were: The
Legion will build this library building" il
was voted 10 press the work Of securing
subscriptions. General Wallace said that
during the autumn be would devote a doz-
en- lectures 10 the securing or the fund IL ii
should then seem necessary. Thus far $i25
of the & 900. which must be raised by SUBJ
c,,.ir,tinr has heen pledged.