Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-08-18
HEROES ON THE SHELF
Burnett Visits Old Soldiers
Home in Milwaukee.
WISCONSIN'S BIGGEST FAMILY.

WISC0NSIN'S BIGGEST FAMILY.
High Positions, Brigadiers, Even, and
Judgcs-The Big Dining Room-Twen-
ty-One Deaths in One Month-The Mill
tary Funeral A "Cantecn or. the
Grounds-soldierly Governor Wheeler.
Madison, Wis, Aug. cit is con-
venient," the guide said, as he took the
card from metal frame at the bottom
of the bed. when he dies we have
here all his record"
The man in the bed stirred uneasily.
l looked at the card.
He was born in New York-so many
of our Badger men of 70 years were.
But he went out to the war with
Wisconsin regiment. There was no
mention Of his titles or his honOrs, for
the national soldiers home near Mil
waukee is democratic in this regard.
There is a brgadier 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 spoke of his
nearest relative as sister in the north
ern part of the state.
Handy, you see" said my escort in
|, Il
she may want the body or the effects"
Again the patient seemed restless.
He was white-h haired and women had
once admired his fine-lined face and
kissed it, but it was marble now with
that pallor that the angel Death paints
us with when nature reports that the
machinery is worn out. He lay on his
side on a hospital cot. His eyes were
closed.
Memories Round Bedside.
1t was a 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 looked 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,
am tha IRaCl1rrnrtion and tho
but he was passed any religious in
struction of consolation now. The rec
ord was finished He was rather a
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-
lions or beseechings. He seemed to
want nothing of God but chance to
sleep for ten million years.
1t knocks a mans theological systems
into little pieces to see an old man who
fought for nation on his death bed
biggest Colony in the state.
There are $3.50 old soldiers in the
home, and last winter there We're $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 buildings are in tract
of 400 acres, heavily wooded, and it 10
used by the people as a park There
was formerly a "St. Paul" railroad sta
ton on the grounds but so many Grip
-. nm Il.
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
os and issues orders to respectful lieu
tenants in a 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 a lot Of other officials, and
DR. Clark is at the head of the medical
staff with two assistants and three
'internes, Gapper, young fellows, who
throw their shoulders back and whose
smart uniforms. marked with the Red
Cross" are in contrast to the palmer
NJ nr hn nj
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 reeedcs and the men get old
the number is increasing. Nine tenths
of them receive PENSIONS of from Sc TO
Si5 a month. and add to this by doing
work about the institution seine earn
ing $40 a month. The theory is that
a veteran should b. unable to earn his
living outside to secure admission. but
take it that admission is not difficult.
But many Of them are thus saved from
the poor house.
They Have Seen Rctter Days.
Among TIE veterans are men who
f,~I, -, ~