The National tribune., 1903-08-20
HOTEL DESNVALIDES.
French Soldiers Home on the
Eve of Being Suppressed.
BY DIR. NJ. E. CHARTER, EX-OFFICER, Sd
TULCtS.

By DIR. NJ. Z. CHARTER, EX-OFt1CER, sd
| IULCtS.
The munifcence of the United States
Government toward its old soldiers would
be better appreciated if conditions abroad
were better understood. Speaking of
France alone it may prove Interesting to
cast Il glance at the Hotel des Inva-
lidcs," tile only soldiers home provided
| for French veterans. At an architectural
view point there is not single institu-
ton of the kind the world over which may
compare with it; but one may truly say
that as a resting place for veterans it is Il
rank failure. This fact is recognized by
the French themselves, and the ''lnva-
lides" will sooner or later be devoted to
some other purpose. Sentimentality alone
has prevented the French Parliament from
taking steps in that direction.
| In the first place the conditions to be
admitted to the ..Invalides" are almost
prohibitive. The applicant has to produce
a certificate of morality establishing that
he has led an exemplary life in every re-
spect; he must be Il regular pensiOner, at
least 60 years old. and be blind, or depriv-
ed of one of his limbs, or suffering from
infirmities equivalent to the loss Of i limb.
An application establishing these facts
and Endorsed by Major-General in active
service is forwarded to the War Office,
which grants or refuses the request. The
only exception is when the veteran is 20
years DID, in this case the War Office is
compelled to act favorably, providing,
| however, that the other conditions are full
filed.
The "Invalides' are divided in three
! classes: The active invalides, who are as
signed to regular duties in the institution,
such as orderlies, watchmen, guards on
police duty, etc, etc; the "Grands MONIES
lais" great lay monks, who are too Grip
pied for active duties, but are nevertheless
able to wait on themeslevs; the ''Petits
moines lais' 0ittle lay monks, who are
absolutely helpless, and on this account
are given personal attendants.
The '.Inyalides' of these three classes
l-ex-officers, nOn-comnissioned officers and
prvates-are amenable to regular military
discipline and tried by martial courts when
accused of any offense or crime. Their
pension is suppressed, and instead they
receive monthly pay according to the fol-
lowing scale: Colonel, 5000; Lieutenant
Colonel, $500; Major, $500; Captain,
$500; First and Second Lieutenants,
SLIGO; Adjutant (Sergeant-Major), S1.20;
Sergeant-Major OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
$1.O0; Sergeant, so cents; Corporal, 60
cents; private, 40 cents.
| Non-commissiOned officers and privates
are quartered alike in regular barracks,
the privates having no private rooms; they
receive two meals daily, the regular al
lowance for these meals being one pound
and half Of white bread, half pound of
meat and a sufficient quantity of vegeta-
bles. Officers are provided for more lib
orally; their table is provided with fish,
game, poultry, fruits and delicaces. Their
meals are served in their rooms.
Formerly the 'Invalidcs" were permit
ted to act as private watchmen, floor
walkers in stores, gate-keepers, ETC., for
private individuals. This privilege has
been of late years taken away from them,
because, it is said, they made use of the
little money thus earned to lead a riot
ous(9 living. They have a caDteen, how
ever, and the Government supplies them
with tobacco; they receive also an occa-
sional ration of wine.
Useless to say that the "Invalides" are
clothed by the Government; their uniform,
which is obligatory, reminds one of the
fashion in vogue during the reign of Ma
poleon I. 1t is made of royal blue cloth,
with fiat brass buttons. The coat is dou-
BILE breasted and the cap is fiat, resemb-
ling very much the headgear worn by the
modern chauffeur" of automobiles. On
duty the "Invalides" carry sword of
ancient pattern dangling on the left hip
from strap thrown over the right
shoulder. They may be seen mounting
guard, with sword drawn, at the door of
the Hotel des Invalides," near the IS
old guns from which they used to fire a
salute in honor of the old Napoleon on the
18th of August of each year.
Previous to the institution of the "In-
valides" the French sovereigns tried in
many ways to come to the assistance of
the old soldiers. Charlemagne forced the
converts to take care of them. Louis IN.
(St. Louis founded later on Q25G the
hospital of the "Quinze-Vingt" Q5x2O)
to take care of the chevaliers who
contracted blindness in the Crusades.
name. "Quinze-Vingt" is yet in exist
ence, but not as n military institution.
Henri I'LL, in 1875. established the Order
of Christian Charity, the members of
which were disabled soldiers; the converts
in which they were assigned as servants
took care of-them. This proved unsatis-
factory, and III 1895 the Hospital of Chris
tian Charity was established for their ben
eft in the Castle of Marguerite of Prov
XIII. transferred them to the Castle of
Bicetse, dependent from the commandery
of st. Louis. In the present time Bicetse
is an insane asylum.
Louis XIV.-called also Louis-Le-
Grand-is the one who conceived the idea
of the "lnvalideS" as they are to-day. The
plans were devised at his command by
Liberal Bruant, and the cornerstone was
laid down March IL, 1910. The great
architect, ]. H. Mansart, however, is the
one who gave to the buildings their pres
ent imposing appearance. The gided
dome under which lie. the remains of the
Great Napoleon, is due to his genius. In
1914 the "Invalides" took possession of
their quarters, which they have occupied
ever since. Expenses during the reigns
of Louis XIV, Louis Nv. and Louis XVI.
were paid by the Kingdom. The number
of 'Invalides" taken care of varied in
those times from 1000 to 6,OO0. many of
them being old servants of noblemen not
entitled to the privilege. This abuse was
suppressed at the revolution in 1889,
when the establishment received from the
Government of the Republic an endowment
of 100000 livres ($34O ,OOO); this amount
was raised to 100000 francs ($1,2OO,-