The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-01
INDIANA'S BENEFICENCE
NOTES OF A DAY IN STATE SOL
prERs- HOME NEAR LAFAYETTE.
A woman writes interestingly Of the
Institution, n People VINO Live
There and the Management.

ushed in 1894. This institution olheiS 80
the national homes in that not only Is the
needy soldier admitted but provisions are
also made for his wife. widow and mother.
To the visitor this home, composed Va
many homes, cannot fail to be OF interest
rs situation Is both romantic and his1Ol-
icaI. Its members are those heroes arouhu
whom cluster a thousand patriotic memoir
les. Some OF them may be but common
place old men now. but IN Inauguration VIC
can see them IN the prime OF me- respoho-
ing TO the call Of the great chie1taln TOT
men to defend the countrys nonor anu "
maintain its institutions. We see thela
r-oudlv march away in all their strength
and manliness. and we do not torget tna'
thew and such as they redeemed the Nation
Co.. > curse that held millions Of human
hs;nes In bondage and so firmly united the
states that the dark threat or secession
can never again spread terror through the
- The ride from the city of Lafayette
N the State Soldiers Home is delightfully."-
Dic,,,resoue- With a small party OF friends
the writer boarded the electric cars near
,ha business center OF the city and a few
r,,rutas brought us to the banks OF the
u-ahasb THE view from the river is very
,ntsrestinr. Behind US lay the city Oh La
f.vstte. with its busy industries and beau
.ifuI homes: in front stretched the broad
xsu-kept streets of West Lafayette whle
40 the right and left cleaned the bright
.s.ers ~ the river. A little steamer was
archored 70 the left, while on the right d
tinv houseboat lay close to the shore. AFTER
c-oss,ng the bridge we entered west Lid
favette and the car whirled us rapidly past
hsautiful homes surrounded by tastetul
lawns and the travellers caught a glimpse
., the substantial and artistic group OF
hufldtngs which compose Purdue CnlVer-
sitv. Leaving all this behind we soon iouho
ourselves In the country. The houses De-
came fewer and ever; fields and oreharus
stretched away to the left, while through
the trees we caught occasional eimpses
Of the river. A sudden turn OF the car ana
a delightful scene was presented. on the
-,zbt flowed the Wabash. beyond which the
o,tv arose high on the hillsides' the I'd"
church spires shone bright and stateiy III the
duIl light: above and beyond a dark green
linz ~ forest trees extended back among the
nIIs and was strongly outlined against the
sxv The accommodating motorman WIN
Dause here. IL requested TO do so. that MS
Messengers may drink in some Oh the beauty
ond grandeur Of the scene. Another turn VI
the car brought US face TO face with nature.
WIN has dreamed that such deep ra'ihes'
s,ch forest-covered hills lay so near a popu-
ions Indiana city? Native forest trees, many
var,eties of beautiful ferns. t9ngie vines anu
,bick. Srush-wood fill these charming oeHs'
xhiIe myriads OF birds fit hther anu
,bitber through the branches Of the trees,
but the music of their voices was uromneu
nv the hum OF the motor whlen propeile" inc
~ II was the tire of purple aster and
--,aon-rod and the rich gold and purple
hlossoms added a charm to the landscape
that is indescribable, while the CRIMSON
sumac presented a harmonious contrast ~
the dark green foliage Of the early autumn
InstinStivelv we felt that We were nearing
- 6os,,nation although there was nothing
a. ,na,cate II. for nature has been left I'M
s...,~hed save by the curved steel tracks
over which the car passes An! WHAT ID
80 eIeam of white marble through the
trees, Our introduction to the soldiers
uome Is the little cemetery IN the FOREST
We would have had it otherwise. for IL Is
saddening 10 be reminded that the days OF
,ha veterans are numbered and that some OF
them have already crossed the silent river
.i,ca the State SO generously provided this
home for their declining years. On through
,ba trees We go. but now appear evidences
80 care Art comes in and crosses nature 5
80, Wild will. The underground and failen
.,,hsr have been carefully removed; rustic
s.ats are placed temptingly here and tnere'
,atbs wind I'm and out among the trees.
soon buildings a~ppear-groups OF Ihem III
49, forest. and now our car stops and we
ara met by the commandant, General Pack
81 Who welcomes us to the Indiana state
Soldiers Home.
AT THE HOME.
We we're conducted TO the commandments
new residence, just completed, anc pre-
sented 10 Mrs. packard who. with easy
1000 ~ once made US feel at home. The
rew building is 2 substantial brick building,
IN the colonial style Of architecture with
7oan veranda. the roof of which is sup
rorted by imposing white pillars. Two
hronze sentinels guard the entrance. Inc
,,.arior also purely colonial. is strikingly
artistic. The woodwork in the hall, parlor.
dining room and chambers above Is painted
= n,ra white. TIL floors throughout are
stained a rich mahogany. while In the walls,
80. baneincs and other furnishings the
.olor scheme- Is carried out with pleasing
variations. Particularly attractive Is the
large reception hall, with Its broad STAIR
way. and here the visitor Is inclined TO
linger. tempted by the comfortable easy
chairs scattered about. To the left of the
entrance are the offices of the commandant
and board of trustees: TO the right, the par
Tor and dining room. The latter is particu-
iarIy attractive. A fireplace OF rich onyx is
a leading feature of the apartment. Above
the mantel is an interesting war group in
has relief. a duplicate Of which cannot be
produced. since the cast was broken as soon
as a. was completed.
With General Packard as guide we started
on a tour OF inspection. Soon our footsteps
LED Us 10 the cottage of the matron, Mrs.
Laura Z. Ingersoll, who IS well known
throughout the State. who has been at the
home from the beginning and has greatly
assisted IN its establishment and develop.
msnt. TIE visitor Is strongly impressed BY
TIE newress of everything he sees about the
home. Nature has been left intact so far
az practicable; only such trees have besT
removed as became necessary Cor the con.
struction OF the buildings, making the
streets and laying out the grounds. A
others are left as nature designed them
Thrifty young trees have been planted alone
the streets not shade by natural growth
The streets are clean and well kept. BoarC
walks are provided for foot passengers
which will in time doubtless be replaced b,
cement. Among the distinctive features O