Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-26
GRIzzLED VETERANS
GREET CHRISTMAS
Old Soldiers Give Cheers
AS Popping Fire Crack
ers Announce the
Dawn of Day.

with dark. lowering clouds the morning
vas ushered In and sixty old. grizzled he
roes AZ the Soldiers Home aroused them
selves for their first Christmas in the
hcms thar their state provided. No pratt
ting children. no exchange OF presents.
none OF those happy things that make
Christmas a season OF Joy to most OF US.
greeted the old soldiers and yet It Is doubt
II there are the same number OF people
anywhere in Atlanta, who are happier to-
day than these same old soldiers.
Merry Christmas" was shouted back
and forth from room TO room. Greetings
as merry as the most fortunate Of earth
ever give were exchanged and as the
bursting OF the big cannon crackers be-
came louder and louder. one old here ex-
claimed:
saet Up. boys. the Yankees are com
sngl''
And with the laughter and retrots that
Rhis brought forth the little band OF
sixty Eathered In the halls OF the Thomp-
mon hotel. where the inmates OF the home
aro quartered until the property destroyed
by ere can be rebuilt. "A frugal, sub
stanfial breakfast was served and then
ne company divided. some to roam about
the streets. some to smoke ana gossip
about the stove IN the front room
one OF the soldiers. +. NJ. Bearden, OF
AKorxan county, Is n and was not able
20 isave hts room. IL is this old hero s
last Christmas on earth Perhaps. even
before the New Year comes he VIII nave
answered 20 the roll call above Never
wance he entered the home has he been
prsn. and his strength has gradually fail-
"a until he has been forced 10 keep 10 his
xoou- Paralysis and complicated troubles
are gradually overcoming the vitality
ehaf ouce knew sickness. Superinteno-
nuR J. Z wilson says he fears the man
eannot live over ten days.
Ftxe OF the soldiers secured leave OF ao-
renee and have gone 10 spend Christmas
,-ifh friends or relatives. These fortunate
ones who have relatives or friends TO so
10 are H C. Crossley. OF Dekalb county;
Dan Davis OF Polk: g. s Paul. OF tul-
ton; +. n Leverett, OF Morgan, and NJ X
Brown. OF Burke.
The raanagement OF the home have done
everything possible 10 make the day
merry one for the old soldiers The men
are happy and not a complaint hass-oeen
heard except from one or two Of the n
valIds bat the people OF Atlanta could add
much 70 these old fellows enjoyment dur
INK the holidays. A few cigars here. pipe
or Sc there. pair OF gloves. any little re-
rnembrance vith Merry Christmas or
q Happy New Year would cheer things
considerably.
me men do not need anything. They
have plenty to eat and fairly good cloth
ing. but Christmas without a remem-
brance from some quarter cannot be what
IL should. The men themselves do not real
ire that anything Is lacking ana are max
ing a very merry day OF IL among them
selves But not a single gift has been
sent to the home during the week.
supsrfntendert Wilson. when asked II
he should not like 10 call on the people
OF Atlanta 10 bring something to the
home. said: 3 - -s+
The people are begged too much.
don't see how they stand it 1 never saw
anything Ike II. They have been so gen
erous 70 the home. too. at an times. The
men don't really need anything,
wouldn't like to ask. Still, II they would
bring some little things. just to show the
old boys they were not forgotten, II would
brighten them up a great deal
President Calhoun. who early this morn
fnx went 70 visit the home, see about the
dinner and drop a happy word here and
there likewise did not want II stated that
nothing had been sent in. lt-
In the rush OF other things. the people
Just didn't remember. he says You
might say the men could be cheered up
good deal during the holidays BY calls and
little remembrance"
Atlautfans have ever been generous 20
the home and there Is no doubt that they
VIII remember the old soldiers during the
balance OF the holidays. their atlehllon
now being called 10 the home.
As IL is though. the old men are enjoy
inx the day. II was long ago decreed by
the management that real Christmas
dinner should be served and the word was
passed along the line. At go o'clock this
afternoon the dinner was served Twelev
large turkeys, aggregating over hundred
pounds. was the chief feature. Of course.
Cranberry sauce, pickles. prunes. baked
rice, oysters fried. oysters stewed, ham,
potatoes. sweet and Irish. jellatine, cake,
tea and coffee completed the bill OF fare.
The dinner had been anticipated with
10Y for a week or more and was enjoyed
with a relish that only men who have in
the past been deprived Of good things 70
eat can have
The day has proved a pleasant and hap
py one at the home. but let Atlantians re-
member these old soldiers. some OF whom
A days gone BY defended this very town
from an invading foe Let the good peo-
pie send them something TO show that
they are remembered. that they are hon
Cred.