Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-09-02
Tt Is OfHge.
BY }. A. watrOus.

II one desires something new, inter
esting, cheering, Inspiring, relative 10
the Wisconsin veterans home at Wau-
paea, one should visit the place THAI
is what number OF people did this
week, Gu the occasion of the Homes
twehty-frst birthday, and some OF the
visiting delegation were present at the
birth, in August 1887 The transfer.
nation at the home during those
twenty-one years, the length of time u
takes to make voter of an American.
born boy baby, is so Marked so very
striking, that one is we'll nigh lost la
amaZement as one contemplates the
change; change from one cheaply
built summer resort lumber structure
and few small cottages in forest,
to a village with population OF $50,
SO buildings, many of them of brick
and stone, the main buildings with all
modern improvements; graded streets,
cement walks, modern, and the best Of
electric lighting and steam-heating
plants, cold-storage, and hospital as
perfect and as we'll managed as any
in the state, large enough to accOmmc-
date 200 or more, steam laundry, as
amusement hall, a chapel, as pretty
a park as can be found anywhere, A
perfect sewerage system, small but
scientifically managed farm, upon
which tons and tons of vegetables are
grown, and where hundreds OF hogs
are raised, nearly enough to supply
the homes demand; with grounds SO
beautifully laid out and kept shat one
may be excu sed for imagining that
one is lookil over millionaire's
premises with scores of flower gar
dens as beautiful as the city florists
best efforts.
Look upon the two pictures-as the
home was in 1887 and as it is in 1908.
Wisconsin leads the world in the
matter of an abiding place for her sol
diers whose misfortunes have called
for an out-stretched hand of help
them and their wives and widows
Wisconsin was first, in all the world.
to undertake a home for soldiers and
their wives and widows. 1t ould
seem as if a more delightful spot for
such home could not be found, 9ithra
in our own or any OTHER country. The
lay Of the land, the natural groves, thf
Chain -of-Lakes, glistening in the sun
shine and moonlight, dancing in tsSte
storms-lakes for all sorts of pleasure
craft-the abodes of fishes by the mil
| lions-lakes and lake banks as pretty
as any that sunny italy boasts, as
Ipretty as any he father smiles upon.
Besides all of this beauty in location,
it has become noted as health resort.
Such is the place chosen for The de-
clinging years of the stranded veter-
ans and their companions. A
glimpse, and only a glimpse, of the
improvements made in twenty-one
years. has been biven. At this home
Of rare surroundings in buildings good
enough for any of Gods great FANNY
to live in, is gathered a population Of
more than 700 men and women whose
ages run from sixty to one hundred
and three There is an aged couple
in each of the many cottages-snug
homes admirably furnished and
Equipped These and the single men
have their meals in the main dining
hail. In Fairchild, Rusk and Mars
ton halls. all large. fine, modern build
ings. each containing many ample and
lastly equipped rooms, far better and
1 hn
most first class hotels. is another
army of old me- and women. In each
OF these halls, or palaces, more like,
lis dining room that would do credit
to almost any hotel, kitchen where
the cooking is done: hot and cold
water, bath rooms. electric lights, sit
ting. reception and reading rooms.
jAre these halls, or palaces, clean and
wet managed9 How they could b.
Improved It is difficult to tell There
is not a bad odor from basement %
Igarret. III any of them.
Is there a thing about the entire
home that is a reminder Of a poor
Ihouse? No more than there is in that
Epalatial summer home OF a Vanderbilt
down south Only first class cooks
are employed 70 prepare the best ma
IteriaIs that the markets afford The
service is better than in three-fourths
LOT American homes. The Wisconsin
veterans home Is pretty nearly a pars-
Edise for any one who could appreciate
the real paradise All honor 20 The
lGrand Army OF the Republic which
founded this model home and has had
| fuIl management Of its affairs and rs
!, httEfsfr.r mn. I'll hnrn- II, thn Van Al Z