Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-08-10
Heroes ON THE SHELF
Burnett Visits Old Soldiers
Home in Milwaukee.
BIGGEST FAMILY.

Judges-fhe Big Dining Room-Twen-
ty-One Deaths in One Month-The Mill
tary Funeral - "Capteen" on the
Grounds--so.dicrly Governor Wheeler
Madison, Wis, Aug. Sit is con-
venient." the guide said. as ho took the
card from metal frame at the bottoa
of the bed. when he dies we have
here all his record
The man in the bed stirred uneasily.
1 looked at the card.
He was born in New York-so many
of our Badger men of 20 years were
But he went out to the war with a
Wisconsin regiment. There was no
mention If his titles or his honors, for
the national soldiers home near Mil
waukee is democratic in this regard
There is a brigadier general; there are
some colonies and other heroes, once
conspicuous, but hard luck followed
them after the war; and at the home
they are treated equally and ask no
favors.
The man on the bed must have been
somebody once. The card sp Ike of his
nearest relative as a sister in the north
ern part of the state.
Handy, you see" said my escort in
she may want the body or the effects"
Again the patient scemed restless.
He was white-ka.red and women had
once admired his fine-lined face and
kissed 1t, but it was marble now with
that pallor that the angel Death paints
machinery is worn out. He lay on his
side on hospital cot. His eyes were
closed.
Memories Round u Bedside.
1t was big frame and once it had
been young and full of fire He had
marched from home with cheers in his
ears, and he had seen the foe. He had
thought great thoughts on picket duty
under the stars, and he had done a
mans work in the world. But the
sands were nearly run. The world had
no more pleasures for him. He was so
tired that his lower jaw fell and he
was so needless of what we or anybody
saw that he did not close his mouth
if he could. He locked and was, man
ready and willing to turn over the clay
to its maker. In stronger days he prob
ably unused on those majestic words
II am the Resurrection and the Life"
but he was passed any religious in
structton of consolation now. The rec
ord was finished. He was rather
tired child-this big, old man, who
once marched with Gibbon and Bragg.
And as he lay on his pillow, the white
bed clothes wrapped about the thin.
gaunt frame, he brought no explana-
items or beseechings. He seemed to
want nothing of God but a chance to
sleep for ten million years.
1t knocks a mans theological systems
into little pieces to see an old man who
fought for a nation on his death bed.
Biggest Colony in the State.
There are $3.50 old soldiers In the
home, and last winter there were 2. 500.
1t is one Of a system of seven homes,
handsomely supported by the federal
government. The others are at Au-
gusta, Me; Hampton, Va; Dayton, O.;
Marion, Ind; Darlington, Ills; Leaven-
worth, Kan, and Santa Monica, Cal
The Milwaukee build nes are in a tract
Of 400 acres, heavily wooded, and it Is
used by the people as q park. There
was formerly a st. PauF railroad sta
ton on the grounds but so many Grip
pies were killed on the track it was
abolished. The soldiers may be seen
all over the place, walking, reading,
nearly all with their pipes, and young
people picnic in the groves. There is an
artificial lake, with swans lazily float
ing on the water, and there are daily
band concerts. The head OF the home
is Governor Wheeler. He has been
there seven years and was formerly
bank cashier He lives in a handsome
home under the trees, and as he makes
the rounds in his uniform. with high
rank shoulder straps, he looks like the
stout. determined general in the war
plays who receives important Dispatch
as and issues orders to respectful lieu
tenants in clear-cut, commanding
tone of voice that makes them fairly
fly to execute.
Under him is Major Armitage, the
treasurer; Major Rowley, the quarter
master, and lot of other officials, and
DR.. Clark is at the head of the medical
staff, with two assistants and three
internes." dapper young fellows, who
throw their shoulders back and whose
smart uniforms, marked with the Red
Cross" are in contrast to the palmer
blue of the old veterans
The veterans themselves are divided
into sixteen companies, and each COM
pany has quarters in one of the big
buildings. The high officials live in
double houses. The veterans are from
all parts of the United States, and as
the war recedes and the men get old
the number is increasing. Nine-tenths
of them receive pensions of from Sc to
s45 a month, and add to this by doing
work about the institution, some earn
ing $40 a month. The theory is that
a veteran should be unable to earn his
living outside to secure admission. but
I take it that admission is not difficult
But many of them are thus saved from
the poor house.
They Have Seen Better Days.
Among the veterans are men who
have held high positions in war and
peace. One was an Illinois county
judge, and there is a lawyer who as
sists the adjutant general; there are
dentists and engineers and doctors of
high ability. | suspect that as rule
drink has incapacitated men of first
class capacity, who have not made a
success of life since Appomatox But
hundreds of them are pursued by the
wounds of battle. There are forty-flve
blind men in the institution One Of
them sits near the reception room and
makes exquisite bead work. which Is
tD fE