Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-04-12

pdtieutS ana make tnem as COMFORT
able as possible.
The deaths average. nearly one a
day, some days as many as four are
buried. two collins being placed on
the caisson, which does duty as a
hearSel at time.
As to intemperance in the home.
it is sad fact, that many. who dur
ing the dark days of the rebellion,
fought brayely for the preservation
of the union. are new faithful subjects.
(or slaves of old king alcohol. The
many saloons near the home furnish
ing continual temptation to those
who are afflicted with drink habit.
There is also canteen in the home
where beer is sold to thirsty members.
The propriety of keeping such place
on the home grounds is questionable,
to say the least, as old topers have
been heard to declare that they had
no intention of going. on a spree, until
they had first taken few drinks at
the canteen, when their appetite was
whetted for something stronger, and
their ambition fired to go 'sout on the
line" and have regular old time"
All honor to those noble women Of
the w. G. T. U. by whose tireless, and
persistent efforts the army canteen
was abolished from the militery
posts.
To some this question may occur.
Are the old soldiers contented at The
Soldiers Home? To the casual OBJ
server they appear SO. They are
cheerful and are apparently trying to
make the best of 1t and become
reconciled to their surroundings.
But there are many who, as soon as
they receive their pension money,
take their grip and cane in hand and
with furlough in their pocket they
proceed to the depot. On their way
they are jostled by much larger
crowd who proceed direct from the
pay master table to saloons s'out on
the line" there to squander in few
hours, their pension money and then
go broke until pension day again
arrives, when the same performance
is re-enacted. Some more provident
leave portion of their pension
money with the treasurer of the home
and receive certain portion OF it
each month. No money is paid to
members while they are patients in
the hospital, except on the order Of
the surgeon in charge, and then only
SIS per month, as they are apt to use
the money injudiciously and increase
their disabilities.
Members received their pension
money on the third Wednesday of the
month, in which their quarterly al
lowance falls due. Each company is
paid in their own quarters, the men
falling in line, according to the
alphabet march past the paymaster in
single file, give their name and
receive their money in paper sack,
the amount having been placed there
in and labeled beforehand. The
captain of the company sits near to
identify each man. The extra duty
men receive their monthly pay in the
same manner.
Many of the members who have no
home ties are fixtures here and have
been so for many years, some have
occupied the same bed for ten years,
some have been here for twenty years
some are still members who have
been dishonorably. discharged from
the home for continued bad conduct
and breaking of rules. They come
back with hard luck story and the
management" take pity on them,
and re.admit them. This happens to
some of them several times. They
have generally went to Col. Mitchell
the local manager, and he, having a
soft heart, takes pity on them and
gives them an order to Gov. Wheeler
to take them temporarily when they
behave themselves long enough to gel
| re-admitted.
I send you some printed matter
which gives in a condensed form
much information in regard to the
home, and in better shape than l car
write it. Hoping that this may in
terest your readers. I subscribe
| myself, A MEMBER.