The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-07
THE STATE SOLDIERS HOME.
A Travelling Man and Old Soldier
Tells of u Recent Visit There.
% the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal:

To the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal:
Since the Board of Charities has deter
mined to investigate the causes of insubor-
dination and murderous attack on the
commandant of the Indiana Soldiers Home
at Lafayette, public attention has been
drawn towards the home to an unusual de-
gree. Visiting the institution a few days af-
ter the occurrence l found the most cordial
and friendly relationship existing between
the inmates and the officers of the home.
The Indiana Soldiers Home is the only
one in the United States that has no guard
house. It is a place where the soldier, sin
gle or married, with or without his wife, or
the soldiers widow they find a home. No
roll calls, no exacting system of red tape
supervision. If you are worthy you are
treated as an honored guest of the State,
and if you prove not to be then you are
escorted to the bottom of the hill and you
are out for good, dishonored homeless and
an outcast These same characters. the
sneaking. Sinking. hospital nuisances, we
had in the field, where they We're soon
The home is a most favorable situation
in which to study sociology. Here are
found people of both sexes, differing in
character, condition, nationality, desires,
wants, necessities, and a station in lfe-all
mingling in comradeship doing their best
to overlook the hobbies of one another. One
meets here the mild crank, the grabbed
crank, and the good fellow who never
grieves. 1t is a great family of the blue
uniforms of 81 united with the gray hairs
of 81. Colonel Magrew is especially fitted
for the position of commandment of a camp
of this character, being himself an old sol
der, whose executive Abilities were tested
in the front ranks of patriotic vigilance
early in the war; whose natural kindness
was so we'll understood among his early
military associates that he was known BY
M ~ Grew. There ic no
residence provided for the commandant
and his family, who, from necessity, live
scattered about headquarters, which are
very poorly arranged for domestic pur-
poses The soldiers and their families are
better provided for by their counties than
the commandant is by the state
All that a person can take out of the
world when he leaves it is what he has
learned while in it. The most noticeable
deficiency in the home is the want of a Ii
brary. The best excuse that Adjutant Ha-
'vens can show for library is an ordinary
dining table piled full of old magazines and
newspapers with a sprinkling of light lit
erature in paper backs. There is an open-
ing here for some one or half dozen or so
of our wealthy citizens of benevolent pro-
selves by building or stocking a trst-class
library. Bear this in mind when making
your last wills and testamentS. one of the
most interesting features or the camp
is the building known as the "Old Folks
Home" This building is in command of
Lieutenant Williams, and is occupied by
orally. The rooms are well lighted and well
ventilated and plainly but comfortably fur
nished, with hot and cold water supplied
in the corridors: bathrooms, closets and
Mushrooms are on all floors. The building
is lighted by electricity and heated by
steam The home has its own ice. electrical
and waterworks plants The occupants Of
the home are the pioneers of this camp"
having cleared the ground on which the
home is located. and being still surrounded
by the primeval forest. The inmates are
allowed pay for working, many finding oc-
cupation in the kitchen. dining rooms, hos
pital. and in care of the grounds. There
is an organization among the field workers
known as the anti-sweaters. Recently, a
tenderfoot from the vicinity Of Monument
place was husilY engaged in demolishing
an old stump i'm new clearing, when two
comrades approached him and one OF them
in a loud stern voice demanded TO know
if ne We're not new man. Knocking off
another chip he said. Il am" whereupon
the old comrade informed him that he was
violating the rules of the camp" Taking
off his hat dropping his ak, and wiping
the sweat from his brow. the offender said
What have / done?" You're sweatin' -
was the reply. Go lay down in the shade
and cool off or you'll be sentenced by a
arumhead court 10 a Wabash duckn'."
VETERAN.
Indianapolis. June ).