The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-09
THE DISABLED VETERANS
HAPPENINGS AND DOINGs AT THE
NATIONAL HOME AT MARION.
The saloon EVIL fn Neighborhood Of
mates and Recent Admissions.


Correspondence Of the Journal.
NATIONAL SOLDIERS HOME. Marion.
Ind. Oct S.-The full complement of MEM
bers that the home win comfortably ac-
commodate has been reached. The number
in barracks is over 1.700 while between four
and five hundred are absent on furloughs.
Those on the active list continue to enjoy
comparative good health and are satisfied
with their surroundings Many of the mem
beers are by occupation farmers and many
OF these are making preparations 10 earn
a little money by shocking corn. To show
how strong this element is / give the
census of vocations of a single ward: Farm
ers, Is: carpenters, 3: moiders, L; shoemak-
ers. 2; drivers 2: backsmiths, j; mortar
mixers, 2; carriage maker. J.: molder, L.
Many OF the farmers go out in the early
spring and remain away until after corn
shucking season, when they return to quar-
ters at the home. AS a general thing this
class are hardy and robust set Of men
and considering their age and ailments due
to the same, seem good for score more
years on the footstool
A number of glass factories in this vicin-
ity have started and many are run night
and day. Workmen have been drawn from
all sections and are nine-tenths composed of
young men. Since their advent the drink
cries have done a flourishing trade and
pecially is this the case about the home en-
virons. Boys are supplied with intoxicants
as are the men, and drunkenness has in
creased. Fights in and about the taverns
are of frequent occurrence, and for this
pastime the youngsters, when primed with
drink, consider it a good joke to pummel an
old veteran. These fights. however, are not
nj oil
young toughs can testify. The members of
the home are old but when stirred up they
can hold their own to a nicely.
On Sunday morning. Sept. %. there were
Knockout blows exchanged between two
comrades. The morning papers did not
reach the home store until o'clock and
the crowd in waiting numbered forty or
nifty. The employees did their utmost to
serve the men, but the clamor for this or
that paper was continuous "A burly member
wanted paper and because he was not
waited on directly he brought his heavy
cane down upon the head of the store at
tendant with sufficient force to break the
scalp and cause blood to squirt out in a
stream. The men went at it vigorously for
few seconds and both received punish
ment. The first assailant left the store
while the worst injured was cared for by
friends. Such happenings are rare within
the grounds. The first aggressor was prop
erly punished for making the assault.
The outer portals of the home approaches
from the Jonesboro pike have been orna-
mented by an archway of granite. The ma
sorry is of modern architecture and quite
colossal On one side of the drive a pretty
lodge Is located in which the guard is quar-
tered Asphalt walks surround the pillars.
sive gateway.
The score of liquor dealers whose saloons
are directly adjacent to the home are on the
qui vive and have started a movement to
counteract the feeling that has set in
against their presence so near the home
ana which will eliminate in an effort by the
next Legislature to compel their removal
70 De at least one mile and half from the
nome precedent for such move ex-
ISIS IN the fact that all saloons in the inn
mediate vicinity of the Dayton home were
ousted by act of the Ohio Legislature. The
saioon keepers hereabout. will fight tooth
ana nall TO maintain their position while
Snose opposed TO the traffic and the sad
havoc IL creates among the members of the
nolne; are equally determined on their re-
moVal &c such a distance as will afford
protection to the soldiers who at present
spend every dollar they receive for drink
Through the decision of Judge Custer. of
Marion, the soldiers resident in the home a
sufficient length of time to come within
the election laws of the State of Indiana
will be privileged to exercise their right of
FRANCHISE at the coming election This
means an Increased majority for Colonel
steele to succeed himself as the representa-
tive IN Congress from Grant county.
few days ago as member Daily r.
Drake, who served three years in the Forty
second Indiana, was walking about the
grouds, he accidentally met an old man
who was also a member. Both saluted as
is the habit here, and instantly the former
said; Why isn't your name Drake?"
Yes. was the reply, land what is your
name! MY name is also Drake-Dailv r.
Drake" Boy" the old man said. Il am
Your Iather. In an instant the recognition
WAS complete, and father and son were
linked In fond embrace. Both had served
u the same regiment. The son is in his
seven. AT the close of the war the son
drifted to Ottumwa Ia, and came to the
nome six months ago. The father was
transferred from the Leavenworth home to
this branch little over one year ago.
That the vicissitudes of life are many and
frequent is aptly exemplified by the follow
ing statement as made by a member of the
home to your correspondent. The comrade
resided in Terre Haute, and followed the
ing fairly well. and with his family was
contented and happy. / quote the story as
he tells It. Several years ago." he said
4 was the happiest fellow alive. doing nice
~ loved my family and was leading a
quiet, domestic life. 1 had Heretofore al
ways used my pension money for myself
nut this time said TO my wife Now. when
my cneck comes you can have the money 10
Go with as you desire She was of corrss
pleased, and so was l. When | came home
70 dinner one day there was nv check I
Endorsed 1t and laid ii on the sidehoard
again telling my wife to have it cashed and
spend the money as she liked | went hack
70 my work, ana at supper time / went
nome anticipating the pleasure the old
woman had in using the money. She was
az the door waiting for me. and at half a
glance could see she was mad. She iumped
on me with both feet and gave me the dog
gonedest laying-out l ever received She
called me everything and charged me with
All the crimes she could think of What is
man, was the answer; to cheat me All
these years, too, like this But / have
found YOU out at last and shall leave Won
had the check cashed, and now / know
you get double the amount YOU ALWAYS fold
me YOU did Well, she didn't spealxsfo me
after that for about nine days and lust :
lad made up my mind to break IN and
leave letter came from the pension offirs
at indianapolis stating that the wrone
check had been sent to me and demandine
should return the balance over fhf
amount due at once / showed the letter ~
my Wife and, believe me. you never saw a