The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-10-02
A Day With the "Old Boys" WHO Wore
the Gray

@]DiAONo ANfEi-t.tGENCER: ABOUT 1Our
miles from the heart of the city OF at
lanta, Mt the terminus of the street
railway, is % beautiful hill covered with
primitive forests; upon the highest
point of this hill amid large oaks is
nestled o grand, beautiful building,
built there in 1891 by tho efforts of
Henry Grady and the good and patri-
otic women of Georgia for Soldiers
Homo.
After thus writing down their sent;-
ments and generations for the grand
old heroes who wore the gray in
tangible way at the cost of $4,000 in
vested in 10 acres of land and this
grand editice by private subscriptions,
they rendered this building and land
to the State Of Georgia to house her
INDECENT soldiers in, il sho would feed
and care for them. But the politics of
Georgia were then like they arc here in
South Carolina to-day, and the Geor-
gin Legislature refused to accept this
grand bequest, and gave her INDECENT
soldiers pensions, ranging from $500
to SlOO year, or about $4,000 n year
where wo give $l9G0-and told the old
soldiers it was better for them to take
this and live among their friends at
homo. But after ten years experience
it was found that 500, or even 500,
would not half board and clothe them
and pay some one to attend to tho de-
crepid or sick soldiers, and on the first
of June, 1901, the Homo was occupied
and formally possessed by the State
with an appropriation of $500 for its
support, if so much be necessary, and
the. Home is now occupied by 20 in
mates, the sight of which wish every
member of our South Carolina Lcgisla-
ture could look upon that his heart. if
even of stone, would soften and he
wonld ut once be converted to the
truth that no treasury could hold dol
lnrs enough to rel,; y these old veterans
for their .pntriOti.n that has deprived
them OF the use oj imb or body. Some
OF them hobblink around on one leg.
some with heads bowed low down with
suffering from wounds or rheumatism,
while yet others are in bed never to
rise again.
No soldier with q heart of flesh, who
has ever grappled with the dogs of war
or experienced it's yicissitudes, can
look upon this gathering of the relics
OF our great army without feeling
choking lump rise in his throat.
- When news was spread through the
Home that an old South Carolina SOL
spect the Home, the gathering around
and the eagerness of the old boys to
hear the news and give information
during the war. (for Georgia is day
III front on duty for her old soldiers,
and South Carolina is in the rear), and
after hearty. handshaking from the
nurse I was invited to u breakfast that
would have been considered good
enough for Gen. Lee or President Davis
during our army days.
e These old veterans piled questions
and queries about their South Carolina
comrades faster than three men could
answer, and among the questions was
one that bad rather took whipping
OF Soldiers Home have you in South
Carolinn had at least two locations
offered her for a Home that was better
suited for Home than theirs, and that
there was no doubt in the minds of our
people but that South Carolina would
at the next meeting of our Legislature
step to the front and provide Home
for her worn out soldiers that would
BIZ second to none III the South.
The Home building of Georgia is
three stories high with vcranda after
the style Of the health resort hotel. and
contains 65 rooms, 10 of which are
library, drawing room, dining room,
Kitchen, and for each Office for super
1lntendent, matr0n and steward, and
basement rooms for laundry. 9as gen
orator and stOrer0Oms and dcommissnry;
% rooms ore made fer bed rcc.ls, with
Q single beds, rockers and 3 arm
chairs, bed rugs, bureau and wash
cost about 500 for each room, and
every rooms furniture, that is now
furnished and occupied, has been con-
trlbuted by some individual or society
OF ladies or gentlemen, whose namee
are written in large letters above the |
doors of the rooms they have furnish |
Of the Confederacy. nj Memorial M .G aocgas Aasocias
,tions, Camps of u. Q. VS., etc. But
the most touching of all was donation
for furnishing room from the Atlanta
Camp Of the Grand Army Republic
our once enemies in war-while the |
merchants. manufacturers, firms. etc.,
have filled ali the. other rooms, halls |
and closets with all t, necessary fix
used for all the gatherings, preaching,
prayermeetings, speaking, etc, and is |
we'll furnished with nice seats and nm |
organ. Over the door OF the large |
drawing room is the name OF Henry |
Grady. This room has nice furniture,
q good piano, violin, organ and guitar.
The library is also we'll furnished with |
cases, chairs, books, weekly and daily
newspapers. The dining room, hne !
modern hotel tables for six people, aud |
is equipped with the latest fittings. |
other fixtures to cook for 300 inmates.
MANAGEMENT.
The board is controlled by Board
of eleven Trustees; all of these, as we'll
as the other positions in the Home, are
filled by old soldiers.
The following ara tha salaried nnsi-