The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1904-11-24
Soldiers Home Notes
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

In a household of nearly one thou
sand members, and especially when
nine-tenths of whom have passed the
three score and ten mile stone of life,
while the many are rapidly nearing the
sere and yellow leaf period, it is natur-
al to expect more or less peculiarities /
that are chiefly due to advanced age to
crop ont. Their idiosyncrasies present
themselves at every turn, and in con-
sequence we have among us men who
fill all the absurdities of the grotesque
the humorous, the painstaking, the
growing, the tale hearer, the serene,
the exquisite, the good and the bad
traits. Some will grumble at the food
supplied by generous Uncle Sam, some
will sit over books from morn till night
while the many will indulge them
selves playing cards. A strong dele
cation will seek their pillow and sleep
between meals, and snore and snore to
the discomfort OF their more robust
companions. Others will ramble over
the mountains, or jog along to the near
by town on recreation bent. There are
those whose pleasure is reading the
Bible, taking part III all religious exer-
cises not only in the Home, but outside
the institution. Perhaps all the de-
nominations are represented, even to
the "Saints of God" The fdgety man
Is numerous. This individual is ever
in motion, and he continually builds
castles in the air, only to see his ex-
pectations totter and fall fiat. The
noisy man is largely in evidence. He
is up before the sound of Ordinance
Sergeant Honner's a. m. gun dies
away. He takes particular care to make
all the racket possible. Instead of lift
ing his chair he drags it along the floor,
etc. The unpleasant man is numerous
evidently born dissatisfied. He alb
hors the success, however trivial it may
be, of others. He is obnoxious in many
ways, and is never more delighted than
when annoying his comrades. The
morose man, while few in number, is
also represented. He is decidedly un-
pstentatious, and is by odds the best
behaved, an strictly observes the dis
oipline. While it may smack of sur
| prise, nevertheless it is true, we have
the thrifty man in our midst, and while
he is not plentiful, what there are of
them, always have numerous dollars in
their inside pockets. The other fellow,
who is wont to "tip the little finer"
san outclass him in number by large
majority. "rhe Almighty Dollar, " in
the language of Col. Mulberry Sellers,
don't stop long in his possession. But
ook at the fun the thrifty fellow loses.
he philosopher with self assertive
views bobs up serenely and his mo-
iotonous harrangue must be listened
to by those about him. And so one
could go on in the enumeration, but
Wa will change the subject.
Of course in the minds of all think
ing persons the paramount duty of ev-
cry soldier, old or new, is to so con-
duct himself as to be credit not only
to the Home, but to himself. He
should not neglect to keep up an as
sociation with his comrades, and to
'oster with all his ability the soldier or
foundations of today. Such action
would accomplish greater results, as
We all know the most important effect
of the army organization is to keep
alive the patriotic spirit. The mingling
together of the old vets have their
camp fire tendencies, and keep alive
the jolly palt of ones nature, causing
him to look upon affairs less seriously
than he otherwise would. 1t seems
impossible to believe it is nearly forty
years since the war of the rebellion
closed, and how much has occurred
since then? There are men present in
the Home today who served all through
that marvellous conflict, and they walk
as erect as though they were in the
prime of life; and with us all the hear
at least is willing to join with our once
southern antagonists at the sound oi
the slogan and rush to the defense Of
our glorious country. 1t is trite say
ing that all history shows no such re-
suit as the war of the American rebel.
lion left behind it. After the surrender
both great armies returned to peaceful
pursuits, and in short time there wal
hardly sign of what had occurred
save the mourning attire of the widows
and mothers of tho fellows who hat
given up their lives in the great strug
gle. In again referring to the soldiel
organizations let me add that every
member should keep his dues paid up
aud in the near future the Home cal
be honored with an encampment OF th,
Union Veteran Legion, and Gran,
) Army Post, at whose meetings we coul,
assemble with all passions of the pas
eliminated from memory and entertain
each other with the humor Of the neve
to be forgotten experiences Of the day
of 81 to '65. Thus making us bette
able to jog along through the few re