Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-02-24
NATIONAL SOLDIERS HOMES
WHERE THEY SPEND THEIR
LAST DAYS.
Places of Refuge From The Storm
The Haven of Rest of
The Sailor And
Soldier.

Nations, like individuals, are not
always grateful TO those whose sacri-
fees have been broad and varied, but
the poets fusion of lover the Hills
to the Poor House" can never be ap-
piled to the old soldier who has horne
himself so we'll in all our wars, and
who has won not only the admiration
of the American people, but the plan
dts of the civilized world.
The act of Congress, approved March
3. 1865, just prior to the surrender OF
the Confederate Army, was 1the origi-
nal act which gave birth to the Sol
diers' Home. The act approved Janu-
ary 28, 1901. which now obtains, makes
the following provisions and stipula-
tions as to eligibility, etc
1.-THE following persons shall be en-
titled to the benefits of the National
Home for disabled volunteer soldiers
and may be admitted thereto upon the
order of a manager. name-all honor
ably discharged officers, soldiers and
sailors who served in the regular or
volunteer forces of the United States
in any war in which the country has
been engaged. including the Spanish.
American war and the provisional
army authorized by act of Congress,
approved March 2. lS99), who are dis
abled by disease, wounds or otherwise.
and who have no adequate means of
support, are not otherwise provided
for by law, and by such disability are
incapable of earning their living.
''Soldiers and sailors whose pensions
exceed SIG. 90 per month will not be
admitted to the Homo unless for spe-
cial reasons, and be it further enacted,
that all members of the Home shall be,
and they are hereby made subject to
the rules and articles of war and will
be governed thereby in the same man
ner as if they were in the army of the
United States.
There are at present nine Soldiers
Homes under national supervision,
distributed throughout our country, as
follows: Eastern-Located at Togus.
Me-. opened in 1866. CentIal-Orig-
inally located at Columbus, o., in 1857.
aud the same year was removed to
DAYTON, o. hwestern-Milwau-
kee, Wis, a place ever dear to every
German heart, and whose stills are
daily brewing that delightful beverage
known as Milwaukee beer, opened in
1867. Southern-Hampton, Va, open
ed in 1870, covers an area of about $40
acres and has a membership of nearly
4. O00 Western-Leavenwor Kas.,
opened in 1885. Pacific-Santa Monica,
CAL, opened in 1885,. Marion-Mar-
ion, Ind, opened in 1890. Danville.
Danville, ILL.,, opened in 1898 and
Mountain Branch. Johnson City,
Tenn, opened in 1908.
In addition to the National Homes
cited above several states have estab-
lished what are known as State Homes,
and the old soldier, in his declining
years, can have those years prolonged
by the cheerful thought, the whole
some knowlege that when he is no
longer of service in the battle of life
and strife, haven of rest is offered
him by a grateful republic. The
Southern Branch, of which the writer
is an inmate, is under the able and
experienced superintendency OF Colo
mel William Thompson, whose affable.
courteous aud straightforward manner
makes one at once at home and con-
tented, and whose armless sleeve at
tests the part he bore with those over
whom he now has care.
In q future letter the writer will en-
deavor tc portray some of the phases
of life in the Soldiers Home--the
greetings and the partings, the pleas
ures and sorrows and the varied char
acteristics of the aggregation of old
.inen of fixed habits OF life. j