Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-05-14
THE SOLDIERS HOME.
Some of the Old Veterans Believe in
 the Canteen Law.

Veterans of the civil war who are waiting for the last call at the Sol- diers' home in Noroton, and who make occasional visits to Waterbury, tell conflicting stories regarding the management of that institution. Some of them are not ereditable to the management, while others appear all right, so that 1t is difficult for one not personally acquainted with the place 10 get at the facts. But it is only fair to conclude that the conservative opinions are pretty near the mark, and believing this to be so we venture to give one old gentleman's speech as follows:
 The home Is all right for fellow who has no better place. l never thought I'd have to go there. but no- body knows what the future has in store for him. After I got there I found that men of higher rank had been there long ahead Of me. l know 1t is hard to please old soldiers and if the whole of us had our way preb- ably the place wouldn't be conducted as it is. It is certain that Roman Catholics can't say that they are dis eriminated against on account of their religion. The priest and the sis- ters call frequently and we have mass every second Sunday. If Catholic is taken sick and the attending phy- sician thinks there is any danger of death the first move made Is to call the priest. To cut 1t short, the place is all that anybody could desire in this respect. It is not long ago since Inspector Curtis of Washington de- livered a short address in the chapel in the course of which he told us that if we ever noticed the slightest tiiseOurtesy towards the sisters who visit the home to make it known and that the offender never again would put his foot inside that or any place Of the kind in the country. He also gave us a description of the scenes en- acted at Antletam before the Irish brigade went into action when the chaplain celebrated mass in an open lot and then stayed with the boys un- tIl the finish. ministering to the needy regardless of their creed. Some of us were there ourselves and understood the subject as well as AIr Curtis die. but somehow he handled 1t in an en- tirely new way. and I'm blessed If any one in the crowd could help she'd ding tears and you can bet that the speakers own eyes were not dry, either.
 Hut I have given you enough of the rosy side. May I ask you to near ne for a few minutes on the other. There Is too much blue ribbon bCsi- ness there to suit old soldiers. In fhe national home and various Oil1er places If the kind you can buy a glass of beer for three cents and as much whiSkey as an old veteran would care to take for a nickel There Is no such accommodation at Noroton- and fl you want a little spirits you have to tray el to Darien after It- When you ge. there you are apt to take more than is good for yon and as a result old fellows often abuse the use of liqEor who vouldn't offend m this way fl they could get t in small quantities in tfle bufIdEug- In other places the Eroney made ia this way IS used to furnish shows for the inmates % that yna don't have to ait with your hand uu,spr vcur Jaw from one end of the vrsr ta fhe ether. Of course you ze; Iinunr if yea are in the h<spstal. buf a HftIe of 1t wauld cone In jus;
 rIxht for sa cd fellow vho is jusi