The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-04
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ways having one or all OF them on the pro-
gramme for every special occasion This
time we will do something different and dis
tinguish ourselves above all the committees
that have gone before us" So they sent
East. and invited Mrs. ". the famous club
woman and ex-officer of the Federation, to
give US an address.
The retiring president made a graceful
speech. rerigning her Office TO her successor
IL was too long. and would have been better
with touch of humor. but nobody was
really bored. Then the new president who
had been selected rather for the distinction
with which she could I'LL the chair on public
occasions than for literary gifts. made her
little speech-little by courtesy, only. She
told us how honored she was by our choice,
and how inadequate she felt to succeed Mes
danes A. B. and c., her predecessors. and
what great things our club ought TO do. IN
about ten different ways-an rresome, IL
the truth must be told.
Then Mrs. X. arose. She had on a really
wonderful gown. of the most complicated
architecture. and for fifteen minutes or SO
every woman was agreeably occupied In
studying that gown and considering wheth-
successfully by her dressmaker. But Mrs.
X didn't stop when that subject OF interest
had been exhausted. She went on and on.
telling us Of the great mission Of woman, OF
the wonderful influence of the clubs, and OF
the great benefit to be derived from fedora
ton. All she said was true enough aid well
enough expressed, but it dragged on inter-
minably, unrelieved by one flash OF genius,
one sparkle of Wit or one CLEAN OF humor.
1t was marked, also, by faint touch OF the
gracious condescension OF the Fastener en-
tightening Western Ignorance condescen-
sion the West never has received with graf
itude. Every time we thought she was
through, she turned over some more leaves
of her manuscript and took a fresh start.
But the end of all things fair must come,
and our imported speaker ceased at last.
Then Mrs. c., the ex-president. got up TO
move the adjournment OF the formal meet
ing. She had her mind so full OF her own
ordeal OF resigning her office, that what she
said was: Mrs. President, move that we
resign" Good whispered Mary r. 70 me
I've been practicing resignation for the
last hour, and il would be quite just 70 make
1t unanimous"
However. we adjourned, and the supper
was delicious. We were all introduced to
Mrs. X. and told her how instructed and
elevated we had been by her lecture
N. B. Next year we will depend on home
talent.
The history Of the last, and longest and
hardest battle OF the civil war will never
be written; the battle fought by the veter-
ans against increasing weak
The Last ness or sudden breakdown.
Battle. or the untimely coming on OF
age at forty-five or fifty; the
struggle against the physical weakness left
by the hardships and strenuous exertions OF
that tremendous conflict Only one-half the
battle has been their own, the other half
has been fought by their wives; by the de-
votion and care and tender nursing that has
held them up body and soul, and kept them
still able each day to do their days work,
by grace of their nights nursing-that has
kept them from sinking into the misery OF
helpless invalidism. Any Of us can recall in
stances. Here is a young man of character
and ability, just rising to eminence, with the
brightest opportunities of his profession
opening before him, breaking down at thir-
ty-seven from the weakened heart he
brought home from the army; yet supported
and held UP by wifely care. so that, with
superhuman resolution and courage he did
his work for ten more years before death
gave him final discharge Here is another.
man holding a high position in a federal
court, whose eyes failed him in middle life.
His duty in the war had been to command
cavalry engaged in the far West. and the
glare and dust of the burning lava plains
49, III
blindness ensued. He kept his position and
discharged its duties successfully. because
his wife became eyes for him, and by con-
slant study and labor kept up his knowl-
edge of his law cases. And then the army OF
women that have cared for their husbands
through the slowly increasing mis.riss OF
creeping paralysis; the other army OF those
who have heroically labored to earn the liv-
ing of husband and children, since the brave
soldier boy the girl married so proudly
when he returned In triumph from the war
proved to have strength left for only few
years of labor.
Yet these are the men and women 10
whom a large number Of their countrymen
grudge the pittance OF their small pensions;
these are they who are reproachfully re-
minded that the pension list is the largest
expense of the government; Ii Is these sur
vivors who are treated TO the joyful an
nouncement that they are now dying or so
fast that the pension list is decreasing In
spite of new pensions granted Yet the man
whom a grateful country pays sl2 month
very likely would be earning his thousands
a year If he had stayed out Of the army.
And If the veterans are now decrepit in
valids or feeble old men, IL is the war that
is responsible-the majority Of them are
probably now between hfty-five and sixty
five years OF age, and should be still hale
and strong and at the height OF usefulness
What do the grumblers suppose 1t would
cost this Nation TO defend constantly a
boundary line of some two thousand miles
between the United States and the hostile
Southern Confederacy? That expense would
| make the pension list look small And that
| is the task we would have on our hands,
| if these men had not given their young
| lives to keep the Union whole. The small
| pension of the Union veteran is no charity
il was earned, if ever money was since the
| world began.
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