The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-30

DD1Iu. dQu u S&NTGLdIE 10 Is Ddlu 60
a month, only.
In addition to this We pay for sew
ing. washing, etc. hat the servants
employed at the home cannot do.
You will see from this that our an
nual expenses for officials and servants
are more than 5000. being ebout 20
per cent of the amount appropriated
for maintenance.
This appears TO be quite a large
slice, but We r using every economy
possible compatible with the comfort
OF the inmates OF the home.
We ave appeared repeatedly be-
fore the various committees on the SOL
diers' home and appropriations, and
have failed TO u any great interest
in the soldiers home
They have been generous in their
appropriations TO all institutions, white
and co4ored. but never to the home.
1T was u intention TO talk this
matter over with the Daughters of the
C~onfederacy at their recent meeting
here, but no opportunity of addressing
them in a body appeared possible.
W. do hope. however, they will take
the matter in hand and that every
Daughter of the C~onfederacy will see
that h and representatives
from the various districts Ink counties
shall be Informed and come here with
their sympathies enlisted in behalf OF
the home.
Sincerely yours.
w. G. STRONACH,
Chairman Executive Committee"
"P. S: 1t should have been stated
that he donations in money and sun
dries have not amounted to $500, includ-
mig Mr.. j. 5. Carr'S donation to the
new hospital OF $3.50 worth of furni-
ture."
Now | think the matter is very clear
ly stated as TO the extreme poverty of
that institution. which above all others
should appeal TO North Carolina wo-
men.
We did o spare labor and sacrifice
t~hirty-five years ago, to feed and clothe
these men, who hungry and barefooted
were marching with Lee G the hills
and valleys of northern Virginia. Should
We do less for them nov when those
very campaigns have made them even
more dependent now than then upon
our love and care? Not so do women
love! And l appeal to every woman In
North Carolina to do her utmost to
supply the men at the soldiers home
with food AND lime and bed cloth
ing, not only now, but just as long as
they need it; until the Legislature
awakens to a sense of its duty to these
men and provides for them as it should,
for the state is not a bankrupt, and she
owes a debt TO these men. l appeal to
every chapter of Daughters of the
C~Onfederacy in the state to take up n
collection at every meeting and send
the amount no matter how small it
may be. to Mr.. w. c.. Stronach at
once to use as he thinks best for the
home.
And, also. l do beseech all the chap
terS in the state to unitedly entreat
their respective senators and represen-
tatives in the next Legislature to see to
it that whatever appropriation is ask
ed for by the executive committee Of
the soldiers home be granted at once.
There is no question as to the right
and justice of UGH appropriation or Of
its popularity with their constituents.
Too long has this been delayed! The
death rate at the home averages one
every -four weeks. They are going very
fast. 1t will not be a great while that
they will tax us, willing or unwilling,
as we may be, to bear the sacred bur-
then
We say we love the southern cause
and the men who fought under the
starry cross. If we low let us prove it
by our deeds while these men live.
Prove it by sharp personal sacrifice
if needs be. If any need to be cold and
| hungry let it not be, oh let it never
| agani be the men who tracked the Vir-
! ginia SHOWS with bare and bleeding
feet, and starved from the Crater to
| AppomattOX,
REBECCA CAMERON.
HillsbOro, n. c.. October q, 1900.