Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-04-01
OLD SOLDIERS PLIGHT.
Unable to Bear Separation from His
Wife he Goes in Search
Of Her.


TO his rescue and relieve him from
situation so humiliating that the old
man can scarce speak OF il with dry
eyes.
i was commissioned officer in the
First New Jersey cavalry" he said.
sadly, "a participant in 80 battles and
man who had made and lost two for
tunes. and now l have only this home.
and that only through the generosity
OF member of the board of freehold
ers OF Morris county l am thankful
TO John NJ. Mills. who has been kind
enough to provide me with this shelter
until | can get relief. only tor this
kindness | must have persisted.
For the last six months have been
living at The soldiers horie in Dan
vile. III. Previous to going there I
lived in the little town of Homewood
near Chicago. and there [ was police
magistrate for eight years. Growing
old and feeble my wife and / decided
that ii would be best for me to go TO
a soldiers home. where | could be
properly cared for thought also that
this step would relieve nay children Of
any Idea that we were a burden on
them. My wie thought she would
visit one of our sons and some of her
relatives in Philadelphia for awhile
And SO last spring I was admitted to
the soldiers home in Danville.
Well. now. even though the sol
diers home in Danv'lle is a splendidly
conducted in-titution. YOU can mag
Inc that after IA ing lied toEeiher for
60 years the separation iron my wife
was not easy. We thought at first
we might not mind IT, but il nearly
broke her heart. and became so lone
ly for her that concluded at last
would not be allie to remain in sol
diers' home without her. So on Oc-
tober 20. having received my pension
money. $50. concluded To go TO the
soldiers home at Waupaca. Wis.
where they receive soldiers with their
wives
When l got 10 Waupaca they told
me | could not be admitted until
had been a resident OF the state six
months. At that time had but one
idea in my mind. and that was TO get
where | could be with my wife So |
boarded the first train tor the east
knowing that there was a soldiers
home in Nineland. y. J.. where they
took old soldiers with their wives.
Il arrived at Newark ten days ago.
and. feeling very much fatigued. I
thought ! would stop over for a day
or two az the soldiers home at Kear-
NY. The major in command there
said:
I've got 10 stop YOU old soldiers
from running all over the country.
You can't stay here. IN give you lodg-
ing and breakfast and then YOU must
get out
Il was thunderstruck. but too tired
TO make a protest. so took my lodg-
ing and breakfast and then was forced
10 leave. walked over 10 Newark
and stopped al hotel there for q
hours and then my money was nearly
gone. got train that came along
and when the conductor came through
gave him what money had left. That
took me TO Summit. Getting of at
Summit. asked where the poorhouse
was located. aud was told that they
had no poOrhouse in Union county
Well. I was pretty nearly struck dumb
| asked some one where the nearest
pOOrhouse was. They told me at Par.
sippany. in Morris county. So start.
ed TO walk from summit TO Parsippany
distance OF is miles. IL was then ten
O'Clock in the morning and | had no
breakfast. II was a long. hard walk
but | arrived at Parsippany about foul
o'clock In the afternoon. only 10 find
the poorhouse had been removed 10
Morris Plains. seven miles away. Al.
though rather tired and hungry. I saw
there was nothing for me TO do but
continue the journey.
las ! walked along inquiring INV
way they told me TO continue on past
the asylum up over the ill. and that
could not miss the house, which was
big building on the top of the hin.
| passed the asylum. but by that time
IL had grown dark. and could scarce
ly see my way. However. followed
the road as hes. I could and at last
arrived at the top of the hill and be.
san descending on the other side.
After walking a long distance and
seeing no trace of a building. also
finding that the road was very rough
and little used. concluded had made
a mistake and started back. II was so
dark that / could not see anything.
Presently I stumbled and fell into the
gutter at the roadside. How long I
lay there | do not know. but | knew
that to lie down meant death. for IL
was very cold night so gathered
my nerve force and descended the hill.
and after weary. long march found
myself again in Morris Plains.
There some kind lady provided me
with something to eat and bed. And
the next morning her grandson went
with me TO the poorhouse. where / ar
rived In safety"