The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-11
THE RICHMOND VA SUNDAY DECEMBER Ill 1910

stipend, whoHe vaults are swelllna
with revenues to which even thu old
soldiers Of the South contribute OF
their means, a pittanco though IL be.
The system, as remarked above. ,s
essentially wrong md has becn from,
it's inception These men should not
| be looked on an objects Of charity. Ia
| be cared for In a general roundup. In
a plnce which by scant courtesy Ia
called "soldiera Home These man
are cmphaticaiiy not objects of charity
They stand before the peoplo of tho
South, tho last Representatives az those
intrepid, matchless lcglons which sven,
| UP tho hill Mt Gettysburg and achieved
victory in tho face Of overwhelming
odds.
Through all history. from Caesars
Sixth Legion and Napolcon's Old Guard
down to tho present day, the word has
mover looked ON their cquals. Not dc.
foated but oyerpowered, they returned
to their homes after 1t was all over
Tho tine had come then for tho states
at whose command they camo fo,n
| mountain peak and valley to do battle
for their homes. No reward was too
great, no honor too exalted. They
deserved to be crowned as the heroes
OF cause lost but loved. They re.
turned, not In triumph, enriched by the
spoils OF war, but bowed in grief. with
nothing TO greet them on entering
their humble homes but the love OF
those for whom they had done battle
four long years. Shall these mon.
bending under the burden of wears ana
the heritage of exposure in camp life,
when they are physically no longer
able ito speed the shuttle in tho woot
of life" and stand for mans estate. be
taken from the comforts, scant and
hard though they be. OF an humble
home. leaving relatives, friends, the
associations and memories of life
:ime, and be herded together In a re.
treat which. by strainins the uses OF
the Kings English, is designated .Thc
Soldiers Home?
When these old men left their homes
fifty years ago for the iicld OF battle
their sensibilities were unshocked, and
saddencd as they are fifty years later
on knowing they must go TO sol
diers' Home" to cke out the span OF
life. dare say they left for the front
With more cheer and spirit than they
do to-day when they bid good-by to
friends aud relatives 10 answer roll
call at a. Soldiers Home There can
be no more discreditahie misapplica-
ton of that sweet, dear old Saxon
word home" which. when spoken,
brings up scenes OF happy. endearing
memories, peace and quietude, a bright
hearth. cheerful greetings. livong
words. hospitable board and thous-
and other associations which can be
found nowhere else There also is
the gentle hand and sympathetic voice
in sickness; there is one to smooth the
pillow when the supreme hour comes
and the long roll called Look on the
picture here presented. and contrast 1t
with the one to be seen ut any of these
Soldiers Homes" And what would
Jackson, or Lee, or Stuart or any OF
these immortals say IL they could re-
visit earth and call on their old sol
diers at these places? What would
they say? Who would face them in
their wrath and righteous Indignation
on seeing their old veterans in their
last contest on earth--the struggle for
existence? Fierce denunciation would
fall from the lips of these fold mar
shals over the treatment. of tho men
field and never failed or quailed
After listening to the tale of hardship.
which all of these homes can supply
of the complaints of the men about the
cooking, the want of delicacies in Illness
the want OF many comforts which old
ago demands. who would defend the
present system? Woe be TO the man