Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1903-01-01
NATIONAL
MILITARY Home

Our former townsmau William Wal
lace, at present an inmate of the Ma
tional Military Home at Dayton, Ohio,
is spending the holidays with old
friends i'll this city. Mr.. Wallace has
now spent year at the Dayton in
stitution and he relates a very inter
esting story of life among the veter-
ans.
The National Military Home at
Dayton is one of several similar in
stitutions maintained by the United
| States government i'll different sections
of the country. The veterans at Day
ton number 5000. There is something
very unique in a description of the
Home, which covers $40 acres of land.
| The soldiers are dOmicileG in brick
buildings in companies varying i'll size
from fifty to one hundred and fifty
men. Life has some curious phaZes in
this community of old soldiers. 1t is
a'small town in itself considerably
more than half the size. of Danville,
in which the population are all males,
| all elderly and all to some degree dis
! abled, who 90 through the daily rou-
tine of life as one family. The meals
are served at two tables, one following
the other, each table seating 2000 men.
A separate table made up of the offic-
ers, musicians and other attaches Of
the Home accommodates about one
thousand.
The government is very liberal III
dealing with its veterans. No one is
excluded who can establish the fact
that he served in the Union Army and
can produce certificate from re-
putable physician showing that he is
disabled. The inmates of the home
are permitted to retain the use of their
pensions and regardless of this fact are
clothed and fed by the government
Moreover, those able and disposed to
work are given something to do about
the Home and are paid for it, the
wages ranging from IS to SIS per
month.
Mr.. Wallace soon after entering the
home was given the position of Com
pany clerk. He later became United
States Mail Carrier and on May last
was promoted to the position of drum
major, which he has since held. There
is a large farm in connection with the
Home, which affords employment to a
large number of the veterans.
There are two churches at the in
stitution, Congregational and
Catholic church, the pastor and the
rector being supported by the govern
mont. Every veteran Is given a mil
itary funeral Mr. Wallace says the
deaths are of very frequent occurrence
and sometimes number three per day
Nothing is omitted in the line of
amusement that might add to the
pleasure of the old soldiers. The
band, of 81 pieces, is one of the best
i'll the country. The open air concerts
given on the campus during the sum-
mer evenings are a feature, which at
tracts many visitors from Dayton. An
Opera House with a seating capacity
of 1900 is maintained at the Home,
During the winter season the band
concerts become frequent attractions
on the stage. There are also perform
ances by theatrical companies, lectu-
res and entertainments of other sorts.
There are also club rooms at the
Home, reading rooms, Grand Army
Hall and pool aud billiard rooms.
Everything about the home is on y
large scale. The beer hall is 80 feet
by $50 feet Strong drink is prohibit
ed at the institution and can not be
obtained nearer than two miles. The
veterans, however, must have beer and
the authorities have deemed it best to
CRAFTY them in this respect The
profits of the beer hall last year, Mr..
Wallace says, amounted to $50, 900, all
of which was applied to the support
of the music, and the purchase Of del
icacies needed by the veterans con
fined in the hospital.
Mr.. Wallace, who has fine war
record, was nearly life long resident
of Danville. Another circumstance
which adds to the interest of his mar
rative is the tact that he is II second
cousin of General Lew Wallace, the
author Of "Ren Hur, -