The times., 1898-09-24
THEIR HAVEN OF REST
Homeless District Volunteers
C0ntented and at Rest.
SURROUNDED BY COMFORTS
The Returned Soldiers VIII Be Ten
to Enter Active Life - Elevating
Influences of the Temporary Home
Fully Appreciated.

uries, their every desire apparently antici-
pated, women's tenderness and sympathy
to ease their bodily sufferings and sooth
their distress of mind, the homeless sol
diers of the District Volunteer Regiment
have reason to be content with the ac-
commodations provided for them by the
Legion of Loyal Women. at No. A3 Ninth
Street northwest.
Throughout the day and evening the re-
ception room presents an appearance of
quiet enjoyment, peculiarly grateful to
those who are privileged to witness the
homelike scene. and who remember the
terrible hardshiDs through which those
now centented soldiers have passed. 1t is
a commodious well-yentilated apartment.
containing an organ, piano and iounging
places of every conceivable kind. Read
ing material abounds, while tobacco, pos
sibly the greatest comfort of all, is every
where in evidence.
Stretched out in picturesque attitudes
throughout the large room dreamily and
cententedly contrasting their present sur
roundings with the miseries of the
trenches and the horrors of the camp, are
many who possibly never before in their
poor friendless lives realized the comforts
of home, for, be it understood this
charitable undertaking is a home in the
broadest acceptation of the word. and IL
Is provided for the homeless heroes re-
turned from the war.
In that gallant company of upward of
sixty men. the weary, hopeless, forsaken
look Is rapidly disappearing from their
worn features. giving place to brightness,
gratitude and faith in the future They
are uplifted by their wholesome surround
ings, OF which cheerfulness is the key
note They are beginning to realize too
that they are in a safe haven where they
viii be tenderly nursed until their shat
tered health shall be restored. and they
are in a condition to again take their
places in the country for which they
fought so braVeiy. endured so uncom-
plainingly. and suffered so terribly.
1t is pitiful sight, indeed, to see many
OF these men bereft of the vigor of man
hood. emaciated, pale hollow-eyed and
sunken-cheeked making an effort To
cheer up as sympathiZing visitors gather
around TO congratulate them upon their
safe return, but the listIessness Is disap-
pearing- they are eager to get well, clear
ly indicating the effect produced by a
shelter in the temporary home.
IL,
been confined in distant hospitals, are
constantly arriving and seeking this
refuge. They are all i'll and weak. suf-
fering from chills and fever or some
kindred disease. These are taken care
OF right at the home. bundled off into
their careful sick room and tenderly
nursed back to health and strength
Those, however, whose conditions are too
serious TO be successfully cared for at
the home, are taken to one of the Dis
trict hospitals. where they remain until
able to return.
Thank God. I'm home again." said
one of the poor boys yesterday, as he
tcttered into the outstretched arms of his
comrades. gathered to receive him at the
door Of the home. He had reached here
in such condition that it was thought
necessary, after few days. to put him
in a hospital. He had however, tasted
the sweets of home life before going and,
while receiving such attention as his case
demanded from the hospital attendants,
was unfeignedly glad to get back again.
This is but one of many instances tes-
tifying to the excellence OF the system
adopted by the management of the home.
1t is a mistake to suppose that all of
the homeless soldiers sheltered by the
Legion of Loyal Women are from this
city OF IT'S lTn!ncul8Ie many are
from far distant points. The State OF
Washington furnishes a convalescing
hero. while others hail from Texas, Wis
| ccnsin, Massachusetts. and other remote
| States. Mrs. Calyer the kindly president
of the organization and chairman of the
hcme committee, is even succoring a Ca
madam. Three men were imbued with the
| idea that the capital of the nation was
| the proper place to enlist and that a
| regiment from the District would be
! awarded at least all the privileges con-
sistent with propriety- Whether or not
! they were disappointed in their hopes
| they decline TO state, but as one of the
| boys put it, I'VE got TO the front any
how" and this expression received the
approving mods of those gathered around
However, it makes not one particle OF
difference whether the boys are from
near home or from far away, they all
! receive the same careful. tender, sympa-
thetic treatment and to a man, they ap-
preciate it.
Previous to my enlistment l had led
an aimless. wandering, devil-may-c
sort of a life, and, as l knew nothing.
OF course, cared nothing for home, "
said one of the poor boys, as his eyes
rested contentedly on the profuse decora-
tions of the reception room and he in
hailed the perfume of the flowers scat
tered about in such rich profusion; "'but
now all Is changed. ! have found in this
| place such comforts and wholesome
pleasures that i am determined, through
| honest, hard work, to obtain them for
| myself, and to live hereafter as / should
| live"
This sentiment universally prevails
| among the homeless soldiers of the Dis
| trict regiment who have been so fortu-
nate as to become the inmates of this
| institution. II has had an ennobling up
| lifting, inspiring influence. unquestionably
| creating a desire for better things, and
a determination to lead such lives as to
| bring about the results desired. There
/ is an entire absence of sentimental gusf
| in all this. 1t Is the genuine outpourins
| of the soldiers heartfelt desire for The
| comforts of home In the future
They have suffered men have rarely
/ suffered before. They want rest here.
| after, and they deserve it.
The organization of the temporary
| home is thoroughly systematiZed, under
| the able management of Mrs. Calver anC
| her corps of assistants. Everything
works with soldier-like regularity" saic
Mrs Calver. "The object of this home
is to provide shelter, nourishment, care
| and attention for those of the District
| of Columbia Volunteers who have nc
relatives or friends in the District to care
for them, and to afford them the abso.
| lutely necessary rest and recuperatior
| that their enfeebled condition requires
| This they have received to the best OF
| cur ability and ] believe that the boys
| appreciate IL.