The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-13
THE OLD SOLDIERS H0NE AT DRIFTING.

Al ortinr. or the rain nne % the North
or Pacific railway tftrty-esght niles
from Sea:tIe : signbosrs rear me station
houxs coEfron,s the passs-s BY. II bears
this Sign 10 bold letters:
TT road leads 20 the Soldier Home
TT gieosny. muddy road nearly swe
miles distant. are the 10 acres OF Lard
dorsted 10 the STATE Of Washington 81 isss
by lie good citizens - orffnz for the pur-
pose C whfrh The grounds we're formally
Dedicated CIR J0ns - fs9i provided by tbs
legislative act es 1900 70 establish Sol
dses'z Home commission. The action Of
Our legislators was simply in conformity
with the constitution 81 the state. which.
recognizing the patriotism. FaioT and SUI
ferfng OF tne "boyS ia blse. empnssszsd
the sane in unrElsfskable terms at tbs
adoption Of the Instrument
The enabling aet OF the Legislators To
1sss provided for the establishment OF
soi1lerss Horne sccessini= to all honorabiy
discharged Fns0n soldiers. sailors and
snaffnse ard also members Of tse wash
fn0f0. ssate sSl.sIfsa disabled while In line
OF daty Ar appropriation of 10000 was
made for fhe purchase OF the necessary
grounds.
A more undesirable location for a homo
for TIE aged invalid or crippled veterans
% .he Union army cannot he found else
l. 10 located. az sosne OF zhe inmates apfly
term &C. ~sn hole la the woods IL IT,
located in CLEARING and is entirely fur-
rounded ty deuse woods cottonwood. ar.
cedar. maple. efcb and lowlands. quite
marsny 80 places and therefore very moist
fuzzy elk months in the year In winter
dull leaden sky, reinforced by the dark
shadows protected on the landscape by tho
unlngiting woodland. casts a spell of gloom
oyef the entire Surroundings and fllis each
veteran heart with something closely
approxtmatlng horror. There - absolute
~ nothing ou the grounds or surrounding
country upon which the eye can lovingly
lager no eaanxefnl kaieidsscoptc pictures.
such as couie be hourly seen had the home
hsen erected along fair Puget Sound. our
inland sea.
When IL remsa 10 location. the home OF
the nen who fought for and prrpetuated
ths tfrior has usurDed the preserves and
breeding spot Of tie frog whose resonant
voice fltls the air At all hours II the day
and night. vleing with the reyeille bugis
and with the instrument at taps
No matter how much money may be ex-
pended hy tie state in the Effort 30 inn
prove the surroundings. bat very little
bcitasmens II possible. for the landscape
Is too dreary, the horizon cireum&criaed
and ths range az human eye confined 10 "A
mile or so, unless directed upwards toward
the sky.
The broad acres of mingled swamp and
swamp-timber land. upon which the home
Il erected. viii ever b. colossal monu-
meat 10 mans elpidity. stupidity or ahso-
lutte ignorance. They are. in very fact.
disgrace TO a generous state. and insult
TO the 10 noble veterans who are conn.,
PEELED by adversity 10 breathe the MAS
matte air.
Hut there Is n bright side 10 the picture.
A generous people through the state leg
isiatufs IN 1851. appropriated Sl.i0 for
building the home and clearing the land.
The erection ~ the main building tsee H.
iastraiionl. saxss feet. two and half sto-
ries high, escirclsi by bread verapdas on
the first and second floors. and elegantly
finished throughout, quickly folloged. In
this building are the assembly room. quite
"a large Apartment 81 which religious ser
vices and public gatherings are held when
ever oeeaslon requires. a fine library. bath
and toile; rooms. the waSlfstands being
fixed sud OF white marble. In addition
there arc on the first floor three reading
rooms barber shop. three bedrooms and
laundry office. There are eighteen bed
rooms IN the house. and bath and wash
rooms on the second fioor.
The new main building is almost coun-
terpart Of the cid ore 1t contains how
ever. large dining room cerahle OF seat
room T. a modern Kitchen. pantry. vege-
table room and bakery On the spme floor
are sitting rooms. reading rooms. wash
rooms. With hatlas. aud one sleeping room.
a marked feature Of the sitting room IL
In the massive. expansive open CRATE, fully
foslr feet wide
The cor ulodleas hospital under the Inn
mediate charge og ore OF the beat known
men In the state. rr ". =. Newell. form
efly governor af the territory Of Washing
ten. cogAAins a din.nw rom kitchen pan
trx. two washroonz with bath. etc, linen
aus stare rooms and eleven sleeping rooms
containing from two 10 four beds each
There are tofty-eiglf beds IN The hospital
and the capacity 81 the home is lai beds
Ther. are thlrfy-two buildings. large and
small en the grounds,
The daily routine or inc home contains
hnr few variations. II IS as follows:
So NJ lleves.le
-spe n IA Breakfast {sisst table,
s.St a ~ breakfast esecOnd tablet.
$40 n @tifEeon's ssE
$50 Roll can tsunday and Monday
aniY1
+ p g. ne -ntnneF call
L % noon Dinner sar~f fahiel
lega p. dinner tserond tablet.
/ ~ y. ~ Fatigue Cati
- =. n fifsf supper call
sN y II supper sdrHf table,
ssa y N SappeT tseeona tahl-
30 q ri.~Tttton
So = ~, -~Tsps Lights out
Thr eating department 81 tAr honie "a
presided 0ver hv Steward 4 s $ut4Fnon
TIE menu IT. varied EVERY 6ay aud O. s.
quite excellent ARD fsr superior So shxg
furnished tnc xue-es 81 SOME rs3aoe hotels.
97se hsH or fare fr ias, acaaay wlH rfvo
- ldea u h'avS fae eia velerans are ireat-