The times., 1899-07-02

their carpets of green, build leafy canopies,
furnish space for stone structures and give
life to luxuriant vegetation-all for the
benefit of veterans residing at the Soldiers
Home.
The visitor who goes out TO this beauti-
full place, after entering the southern gate,
will be compensated for his long trip out on
the hot asphalt of First Street west, in the
shady hooks along his way. where rest and
clover laden atmosphere dispel sensations
of fatigue, and the grey stone dairy of the
Home, short distance to the left of the
entrance, conjures visions of lowing herds
vending homeward with their refresh
ing supplies of pure milk. This dairy
furnishes nearly all the milk used at
the Home and a large quantity of butter.
! Between forty and fifty cows are its prop
erty and as Times reporter passed
through it one day last week the thump-
ing up and down of dozens of churns gave
promise of a cool draught of buttermilk for
the nights supper.
Further up the road another reward pre-
sents itself in what has been named
Capitol Vista" Nature by some ca
price has SO arranged the trees in the
grounds that, by standing on certain
spot a perfect view may be had OF the
Capitol three miles away. This has been
accomplished by no cutting OF leaves or
branches: it is purely accidental, and since
its discovery by an observant eye many
wears ago has been source of unfalllng
delight TO all who behold it. Down in this
part of the grounds the dense growth OF
trees and shrubbery makes all slgnsSoI
habitation seem thing remote; and IL is
not until one is well up on the brow OF
the hill that the sight OF the old blue uni
form brings to mind the object of the Visit.
Here seated or reclining on benches, or
strolling along the walks, numbers OF the
veterans spend these warm summer morn
ings. Retired officers and priyates mlngle
in friendly converse and outdoor recrea-
ton while others, following the bent OF
varied inclnations, dream away hours In
the shade or indulge in reveries OF other
days, SO delightful to those who live in the
past and for whom the glories OF the pres
ent have but an impersonal interest The
first sounds of active bustling life which
reached the reporters ear proceeded from
the quaint summer house in front of the
main building. Two groups of men were
within engaged in lively controversy; 1t is
notable that when old men get excited
they are usually very much so, and it
would be difficult to determine which group
was the more animated. One discussed
while in the centre of the other stood a
white bearded veteran. executing a series
of gyrations, which eliminated, as the re-
porter passed the door in big lunge of
his fist at a comrade. and the words, Il
tell you that is how Jeffries did it!''
The Scott building.
Before the summer house looms the main
building (named for Gen. Winfield Scott,
| dazzling in its whiteness, and pointing
from its stone steps two cannons, whose
mouths are ominously open, but whose
voices are silent as the muskets of the
Homes inmates. This building OF Nor
man Gothic design, is 25l 1-2 feet long by
| 15S 1-2 feet wide; II will accommodate 4, 400
| people and yet leave room for offices, Ii
brary, and mess-room. 1t requires cour-
| age on n warm day to climb the great
| clock tower on It's summit; but once there,
the heat is forgotten in the sweep of the
breeze and an enchanting view or a min
iature Washington nestled among the hills
near a cleaning thread of water From
down on the Washington Monument, the
| the point of the tower.
| After The Times representative had in
| spected that feature of the place a SOL
| dier was requested to play guide for the
| reporter through the buildings. He readily
complied with the request and enlivened
the way with graphic descriptions of pIac-
es of interest and the inmates.
The Scott building Is occupied chiefly by