The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19

The land. eighty acres. belonging to the
home. has been enclosed with a strong
woven wire fence topped with q barbed
wire. Twenty acres Of land, leased for the
purpose OF putting the COW barn on Il.
has been enclosed with the same kind Of
a fence. as IS also a three-auartcr acre
plat to be used as a cemetery. Inside
the large enclosure Is a plat OF four
acres enclosed with a similar fence and
prepared for a garden to be used for
the benefit of the home. A pair of ex-
cellent mules. a mare, a two-horse wagon.
a dump cart. a wagonette, a buggy and
implements and tools for cultivating the
land are among the conveniences and
necessities possessed by the home Sew
eral milk cows furnish wholesome milk
for the inmates. The eommandant has
procured about forty pigs that are fed
largely on what would otherwise go to
waste
In the course Of my work I visited
the home and spent a day with the COM
mandant and inmates, minglng freely
with the latter. while tia commandant
busted himself with his many duties
about the home I took dinner and sup
per in one of the cottages. Joining my old
comrades who occupied that cottage. Both
meals were ample, of excellent quality, of
sufficient variety to satisfy any reason
able demand and well prepared Every
thing here was as homelike as 1t was
possible to make It under such cireun1-
stances. At the table there was that
decorum and gentlemanly demeanor that
characterizes all well regulated homes.
During the day I saw the inmates en-
gagged in various light employments and
amusements. I was informed by Com
mandant Brooks that all were encouraged
to engage In some employment, but none
were forced to work that did not wish
to- One old comrade was digging at
stump in the garden. Another was pre-
pairing his flower yard for early spring
planting. This flower yard showed con-
siderable taste in its construction, and
/ was informed by Commandant Brooks
that he has given this eomrade permits
sion to enclose 1t. An old comrade took
much pride in plotting me to a little
woodshed adjoining the cottage in which
he lived. and stating that he and his
companions had built it and stocked 1t
with wood for the coming cold weather
Another was interesting himself with
several springs on the grounds, and enter
tains the harmless 'delusion that they.
each. give forth some different mineral
water bearing some ife-giyng property
Others were ehopping wood Some were
engaged in games OF dominoes and check
ers
In the midst Of all these pleasant scenes
In one of the cottages was one of an
entirely different character. A comrade
had been recently stricken with paralysis.
His mind obscured and his breathing la
bored, Indicated that his life was fast
ebbing away. Around him stood sympa-
thizing comrades and nurse ministering
to his necessities and comforts. lie has
| since crossed over the river and is rest
ing under the shade of lie trees" zone
less on earth, its pain, its sorrow and its
taA 20. 1.t1
| cross to bear"
The visitor to the Alabama Home for
| Confederate soldiers cannot fail to be
impressed with its homelilxe surroundings.
| The caclSling and singing of the hens,
| the shrlll crow of the cocks, the lowing
kline, the grunting, squealing pigs, whose
| ravenous appetites are hard to satisfy,
| the sunny. cheerful greetings of the COM
mandant to his comrades, the inmates.
the asslduous and kindly attention of his
good wife to the "old boys while not
the least, are but a few of the incdentals
of the home.
The buildings are so located that there
are ample grounds around each cottage
! giving the whole the appearance of q
well arranged village of homes. Those
/ who think these cottages are a chear
or shoddy character should Danish such q
| picture from their minds. They woud
1
our well-to-do city residents. The pro
moters Of this home, at the outset, con
sidered nothing too good for the faithful
decrepid Confederate soldier. 1t is stu
ated in the southern edge OF Chiltoi
county. about twenty-eight miles north
west of Montgomery, in high. pine SEE
ton, sufficiently rolling TO furnish gooC
| drainage. with no natural local causes
for sickness not over three-quarters of {
mile from Mountain Creek, station OF
the north and south division of tn,
Louisville and Nashville railroad. and Il
reached over nicely graded dirt road
Already the surroundings are pleasant
and comfortable. but the management Is
not content to stop Other improvements
looking to the beautifying and adornnt
the grounds, are projected The dam OF
lake to be formed on the grounds !.
now being graded 1t Is proposed IL
plant flower beds in the grounds sur
rounding the cottages.
The religious and moral atmosphere /.
healthy. All are required to practice
morality. There is a Sunday school con
nected with the home, attendance upor
which is voluntary. church, at which
regular services are held, is conveniently
located.
what makes a home? Tis where thi
weary come
And lay their burdens down, assured o.
rest;
IT'S where we learn to know our deares
rest;
Where we meet friends. blessing ant
blest-
Though walls of coarsest clay enwarpi
the nest"
"a world of strife shut out-a world o.
love shut in"
1.-THE spot on earth where the faults ant
faiings of fallen humanity are bidder
under the mantle of charity"
where you are treated best and grum
BILE most"
What a satisfaction and qualification Il
must be TO the great hearted promoter
of the Alabama Home for Confederate
Soldiers. to see the goal of his ambition
rapidly nearing completion Less thar
| three years ago with an unmproved plat
of land and donation of FIVE dollars
| he set out with n brave and noble pur.
pose to build home for his less for
| tunate comrades on whom old age. dis
| ease, misfortune and poverty had erept
and for whom nothing seemed left ex-
cept the ordinary poor houses of the sew
| eral counties of the state He does mol
| belong to that class who look upon pow
erty and disease in old age as a crime
| Almost single handed and alone he ac-
| cnmpllshed this great work. True he has
| had contributions and aid from others
| But II took his master hand to bring