Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-10
Yin Los Angeles

OF the many public institutions in and
about Los Angeles which make for its
upbuilding, the Soldiers home, near Saw
telle, is the most unique and attractive
Munifcently endowed by the government,
and singularly ably officered, this branch
of the several, which in the aggregate
make up the national institution, Is the
Mecca toward which the faltering step OF
the veteran is turned as he knows by
report and experience from its members
that here he will find welcome and
kindly entertainment for his declining
years.
There is ever a leading spirit in all
great concerns, and Brigadier General o.
H. La Grange the commandant, is the
man in this case. Nurtured in his young
manhood amid scenes of bivouac and bat
tie in which these men were the actors
he has deep and pathetic interest in
them now, and 1t is current among the
thousands of old men who throng the ave-
nues and walks in the beautiful grounds,
that well-behaved and manly soldier
has no better friend in the world than
General o. H. La Grange. The stamp of
his individuality Is patent In all the many
activities of the great institution, and
no matter, however small that makes for
the welfare of the veteran soldier or
sailor escapes his eagle eye and personal
attention. In the vernacular of the days
that are gone forever, they are his
boys" and he maintains control of the
many-sided nature of them by simple
kindness.
In recent interview held in the head
quarters office, from the windows of
which scores of aged and feeble veterans
could be seen passing and repassing.
lame, halt and some of them blind, he
was impressed with the sight, and said:l
'I am especially proud of these men;
not because they are members of this
home especially, but because of the
things they represent. There are men
there (and he waved his hand to cover
the several barracks) who stormed the
heights at Lookout mountain, and who
faced the hell of Gettysburg. Some of
them were with Farragut when he
passed the forts below New Orleans, and
scores of them marched and fought with
Sherman from Atlanta to the sea-
Others again spent months and years in
Libby and Andersonville prison pens. and
there was not a battle of record in the
great struggle for the Union but that
some man in the crowd was in it. The
glory of action Is gone from them now
and the infirmities of age are with them.
but as I often recall the days of old
when it took brave men to meet brave
men in defense of the nation, I see
greater glory about these old fellows. and
try to forget their petty weaknesses In
the grander view of their great services
when the nation needed them.
Successful in their battles for the ma
ton, many of them have failed in the
battle of life; yet it is true that they
have held places of distinction and trust
We have among them artists, medical
men, lawyers, editors, authors, actors and
musicians, and representatives of all pro-
fessions and occupations known 1T is pa
thetic in the highest degree to fneN teh see
these once powerful men, reduced by age
and i'll fortune to weakness and physical
suffering. recall vividly the many try
ing tests of endurance and courage which
came to them, and having been of them
and among them then cannot but honor
them now.
This branch of the home now has 1905
on its muster rolls. about one-third OF
whom are constantly coming and going
on furloughs. / am gratified at the gen
eral good behavior of the men, with the
exception of small percentage of ha-
bitual offenders, and find they are will
ing and cheerful to do what they can
and are even anxious to forward the in
terests of the home. AS "a whole they
appreciate the care OF tne government 10
enable them to end their days in rest
and comfort.
''It is evident to those of US who are
in close touch with the veterans that the
next ten years will witness the decimat-
ing process, and the great host of men
who faced the ordeal of battle for the
preservation of the Union will then be
but a patriotic memory Los Angeles
has much to see by the visitor and pos
sesses many attractive features, but the
view of these soldier citizens. when
paraded for muster, is to ME the most at
tractive of all. Such weaknesses as they
have l know full well, but they are due
to age, and the patriotic heart can forget
them in the light OF the glorious services
they gave to their country in its hour of
need