Evening star., 1898-09-29
Convalescent Soldiers.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
Knowing your kind interest in all that
concerns the comfort of our soldier boys,
| beg to call your attention to an evil that,
when known, could be easily remedied
| Monday afternoon Mrs. Mollie Crandall, a
| lady who has for months devoted her time
| to camp life and helpful nursing. etc, was
| returning with a lady friend from Fort
| Myer where they had taken a basket full
! of delicacies to the inmates of the hospital.
| They saw in a field a lonely figure of a
| soldier sitting despondently on a block. AS
| they neared him, the staring glassiness of
| his eyes and the dropping jaw alarmed
them. They walked UP to him and had
trouble to make him state his case. With
great effort he told them he had been dis
charged from the hospital cured. given
ticket to Massachusetts, his home, and
IS IN cash. He had wandered out of the
gate, leaving behind him the only shelter
he knew of, and tramped down the road
without any clear idea how and where he
could reach the cars that would take him
home Already weak. he soon became ex-
hausted and sat down, with the hopeless
prospect of dreary oDen-air night COM
ing and possible future starvation, with not
a soul to advise or comfort him. True, bug
g1eS and wagons passed the road, but did
rot notice the solitary figure in the field,
or merely thought he was resting: and he
was too weak to rise and hail them. These
two ladies helped him to his feet and he
took with him. They changed to the ave-
nue. cars and brought him at last to the
Soldiers Rest on 9th street, where the la
dies in charge. luckily, were able to give
him bed. Next morning inquiry proved
that he was doing well, though still weak.
Only just recovered from serious sickness,
the effort of a long walk and the mental
depression of his helplessness in an un-
known part of the country was certainly
not likely to brace him. Most probably his
case is that of nearly all discharged SOL
dierS. Could not some vehicle be provided
he must reach? With his ticket and a little
cash, if once he met his train, the conduc-
tor al passengers would all help him
along most willingly and see that he makes
the right transfers.
The Soldiers Rest. 415 9th street, has
proved blessing to hundreds of stranded
boys. whose grateful thanks amply repay
the ladies who have volunteered their indi-
Nidual help and out of their own small
circles have CLEANED enough to feed and
mouse so many stranger soldiers: for now
Washington is becoming one of the regular
stations for the troops they return to
their northern homes Mrs. Crandall for
ami night in their behalf Fort Myer and
the arsenal not having beds enough she
procured materials and machines and with
the help of all the friends she could enlist.
mace pads or mattresses. She canVassed
all the firms in town for delcacies and
ton1cs. She collected a large sum from the
government printing office, and is now
working to get up a concert for the benefit
OF the soldiers who reach Washington on
their way home. The work done by such
women is far-reaching and many a letter
is received from some poor fellow after he
has reached his home thankine these Ia.
dies for their thoughtful help NJ O
September 90 1898