The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-03
A DAY AT THE
 SOLDIERS HOME.

a OAx AZ THE
 SOLDIERS HOME.
 A party of friends. including number of the members of the Legislature. were entertained last Sunday by Colonel and Mrs. J. M. Falkner. who complimented them with trip to Mountain Creek to visit the old Confederate Soldiers Home.
 The party went up on the morning train and were met at the station by vehicles, which conveyed them to the Home.
 The sight of the completed cottages. the handsome main building of memorial logs in the course of erection, the com modious barn and smaller buildings for practical purposes. to say nothing of the absolute beauty of the landscape which the soft winter haze seemed to intensity, was a revelation to the majority of the party. No words could convey to the mind of one who has not beheld the re- suit all that has been accomplished since the 7th of last April, when work was be- gun on the first cottage.
 The cottages are of beautiful designs, each different from the other. and 8fe painted with artistic effect. They each have four rooms. so that only few may be accommodated in eachl Colonel Falk- ner's idea is that small house would be home where the occupants can enjoy home privileges, get glass of milk or a roll in the kitchen between meals at Twill, instead of being housed with hun dreds of others; eating, sleeping and liv- ing by rule and the clock. His idea Is to make each individual feel an interest in his house and his home. The evident happiness of those now occupying some of the cottages proves the wisdom of his scheme. It Is planned that each cottage is to be provided with the convenience of a modern city home.
 The members of the party who went up last Sunday were shown through the cotta~ns and introduced to the old sol- diers. @andered over the grounds and sketched l..antally the possibilities of the landscape. When Captain Falk- ner's plans are carried out there Is to be an artificial lake with two dams. the undulating ground will be sodded with grass, and the place will present the ap- pearance of a beautiful park.
 At o'clock the party was driven to Captain Falkner's country home and there the guests rested and were entertained at dinner One of the pretty incidents of the day was the making up of purse by a number of the guests whose sym pathies had been enlisted, and the pre- sentation of SIS to Captain Falkner Tor the Home. He was greatly pleased both with the money and more with the in terest it evinced. '"rhis will buy" ht said as he made an entry of the amount under the head of contributions. lot of shingles, for the old soldiers"
 The day was delightfully."- spent. It was full of enjoyment, and aroused in the heart of every member of the party 6 sympathy for the old Confederate veter' ans and fine appreciation of the grea work for the State that is being done by Captain Falkner.
 There are now besides the barn, tho commissary, and a servants house. si, completed cottages. Camp Hardie' cottage built by the Confederate Veter ans Camp of Birmingham, and the "Johr | E. Moore Memorial Cottage are particu | larly handsome. The main building O. memorial logs which is to contain th' Bob Taylor" auditorium, library. etc, il we'll on its way. In fact the Confederate l Soldiers Home of Alabama is marvel ous result of the energy and hear combined of one man within one year It Is an institution of which Alabama | may be proud and 1t Is hoped by ever, | friend of the old Confederate soldiers | that the State will now take it unde its wing and provide for its maintenance