Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-03-24
SOLDIERS HOME MOST
INTERESTING PLACE
Il Is The Largest Institution for
Disabled Veterans Maintained
BY this Na|Ion.
HALF A MILLION PENSION MONEY
That is the Amour. the inmates Re.
ccivo AnnuaIly-Whlle It is Con.
Quoted on Military Plana the Old
Boys arc Given Great Frcodom-
They are Lovers OF Sports.

They are Lovers OF Sports.
Tho Southern branch u. the Nation
al Soldiers Home, lo::atal On Iinmp.
ton Roads, Is ;he largest institution
Tor disablcs jn.3n veterans c,nduct.
cd by tho Goynr ln,ont. The hnmc hcpe
IL Ideally 'ccalei and Tho Veterans
have n splendid vinw nf tho IESpos!.
ZION grounds. w:,Ih IS 'iSt ncrnss the
big led of wataf Of Hampton Ilonds
Tho home co7urs more than aoG
acres of grounds M i.ierr are state.
~ looking buliili lSs used l,y the vct.
Grams ut barra iks, hospitals and
amusement halls.
The main building on the grounds
was used ms n female college prior to
ana few years after the Civil war.
when the government determined to
erect home for disabled veterans I'm
the Old Dominion the site OF Hampton
was accepted because OF It's peculiar
uttractiveness and the pleasures tho
waters would afford the crippled and
WORKOUT former soldiers.
One Of the sights to the thousands
OF visitors who come to the National
Soldiers Home here annually Is tho
dinner hour ut the institution. In
the big dining room there are four
long tables, and 1890 veterans sit
down to eat at the Same time. Tho
regulations OF the home respecting
the meal hours causes the veterans To
march In line, and the meal is dis.
pensed with almost equal to clock.
work. AT present there are $500 In.
mates OF the home, although about
1000 OF the number are now on leave
OF absence. During the summer
months many of the veterans migrate
10 their native states. but when the
chilly winds of winter reappear they
again return to the institution. The
largest population of the Hampton
nome Is from Pennsylvania, although
there are veterans here from every
state that furnished soldiers to tho
Union forces during the four years OF
unpieasantness between the States.
ihere are also about 100 vet.
Grams who fought In the Mexican war.
while the little scrap between snain
and the United States has sent n
small contingent OF veterans" hero.
Inc present governor of the home
is Colonel Thomas r. Knox. who on
account of injuries received mt San
Juan. was forced to give up n brIl.
liant future in the United States army.
Col. Knox was wounded SO badly that
Tor several months his recovery was
not expected. He succeeded Colonel
William Thompson as governor of the
nome here on January /, 1906 Major
Is. a. Beeson. OF Iowa, Is treasurer
of the home.
During the year more than 100000
are paid out to the inmates OF the
nome In pensions The pensions arc
paid quarterly, and on last Friday the
treasurer paid to the pensioners the
March pension, which amounted to
more than $125,000. Under the terms
OF the new pension bill the quarterly
sum paid out In this branch In the
future VIII be greatly increased.
While the home Is conducted under
the strictest discipline, it is not term.
ed military post" The veterans
are given their freedom during the
day and until III o'clock at night, pro.
yided they conform to the other rules
and regulations.
During the winter the theater Is
conducted for the benefit of the In.
mates, and some of the best attrac.
lions on the road are brought here.
.ii' NSteiahS are duHnlLCcQ TO the
theater free. Up to a few weeks ago
the beer hall' was place of amuse.
ment for the inmates. but this has
been discontinued by act OF Congress.
There is a large campus on the "res.
eravtion," and during the season base.
ball and football are in vogue, much
to the delight of the aged warriors.
In fact there is little that is not done
In this branch of the home for the
comfort and pleasure of the men who
fought to preserve the Union.
Saturday morning the entire com
mand is called out for instruction and
reviewed by the governor and his
staff.
According to the number OF ipaui-
ries received almost daily thousands
OF veterans will be asked to be trans
ferred to the Hampton Home during
the Exposition.
The National Soldiers Home Is ac.
cessible to visitors. and during the
day 1t is expected that Exposition Wis
itors will be seen on the grounds from
carly morn until late i'll the evening.
Continued on Sixth mage spciinn 81