The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-28
SOME UNWORTHY PENSIONERS.
a Patriotic woman's Observation In a village
or New ENGLAND.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUS-Sir. While
stopping in a little New England village not
long ago. l was quite astonished at the large
number Of heroes and patriots" as Tanner
calls them. who were drawing pensions. Hero
No. l, after the war closed. followed the sea for
several years in almost every capacity known on
board a coasting schooner. A much harder
life cannot be imagined for exposure and hard.
ship. Then he applied for a pension on the
ground OF and heart trouble.
superinduced by the exposure and hardship of
war" His back pay amounted 10 several hun.
dred dollars, which was safely banked at once.
Hero No .. brother Of No. l, also applied for and
received a pension on the same ground. He,
too. followed the sea several years prior to his
application for n pension. rheumatism and
heart disease were troubles characteristic of
this family, two sisters having died of them.
Hero No. 3 applied for a pension on the plea
Of general poor health caused by exposures,
&C." yet he is an able bodied man and able to
cope with any man in his employ. His back
pay amounted to 5000, and having no imme-
date use for the money. it was lent out at 6 per
cent. interest.
Hero No. As complaint was chronic bowel
trouble. He was a paper hanger, house and
sign painter. glaZicr, shoemaker, also tho vii
IaGe barber. After getting mis- pension he was
more independent. and often shut up his shop
and placarded the door, CLOSED for the day
ana then went off on his wheel for a spin Of
twenty five or thirty, miles.
Hero No.. .. a well.prescrved old man and
father OF No. (. made an independent living
from the sales OF n patent medicine OF his own.
ne divided up his property among his children
anu an tb 1s m y E nng s G"nte en- bily ana cpintortabiy
keeper. the widow of some veteran.
No. q, who is neither a hero nor II patriot. ap-
support. a son. was lost during the war. His
application was made while he was in a posi-
and while he had three or four children who
were abundantiy able to support him.
Maybe these csc cases Tanner would number
there but if a half dozen or moro cases OF this
kind are found in every little village OF four or
gate be in the whole United Statesi
have no patience with men OF this class. l
Will NOT admit they are among the few fraudu-
lent cases" | believe their name is legion.
They went TO the war. they contracted 20 work
Tor so much, they DID what they were called
ably discharged, but they were never called into
action; they don't know what a battlefield
hospital. they we're not among the sick. dead,
and dying soldiers | saw i'll the hospitals during
It was from these last that came the request
will you write 10 my mother. but don't tell
her ! have got To die and If the last word was
less heroic or patriotici All. these, Mr.. Tan
nIer: were your heroes, ronr patriots. who gave
their life blood for their country" and to the
memory of such is all honor due. To such as
these or theirs should pensions be given II
needed; and an honest man would neither ep.
ply for nor take n ps nsiOn unless in absolute
need.
Am | not right in my viowsi Can any one
accuse me OF laci Of patriotismi | belong to u
race who certainly were patriotic. My grand.
father and two Observation-Disclosures were in
the Revolution. two OF them were officers. and
oil we're entitled TO pensions which they re.
fused to either, apply for or accept. Finally a
widow OF a'.oldier, poor and with a large family.
applied for a pension; but as there were so many
delays In the case. one OF my grandfathers,
who was a widOwer. got out OF patience and re.
marked, he would fix things all right for the
widow" No one doubted Capt. DS's word.
His friends We're. however. somewhat surprised
when the Captain Immediately applied for his
own pension, married and brought the widow
and all her children home. remarking. when ap-
preached on the subject: Didn't ! say ! would
fix things all right for the widowl' J. j.
BROOKLYN, y. V, Feb. %.