The National tribune., 1911-01-19
The Illinois Institutions.

Maj. James, A. Connolly, Commander,
Department of, Illinois, G. a. r. APP
pointed very efficient committees 10
visit the variosis veteran institutions in
the State and make tboro investigation
of their condition.
The committee to visit the National
Home at DanNille was headed by Past
Department Commander Philip c.
Hayes. 1t found that there were 2,1Sl
veterans in tho Home. that the Home
was well managed, with every possible
care taken of the inmates in health and
in sickness; that the grounds and
buildings We're in excellent shape, and
the operations were carried on in the
most satisfactory manner. There is an
excellent band of / ) performers, and
the Governor of. the Home, Comrade
NJ. j. Barser, impressed all as a thoro
business man, kindly and sympathetic
to the comrades.
C. c. Jones was Chairman of the
committee to visit the Illinois Soldiers
| Orphans Home at Normal. Depart
ment Commander Connolly and eX-
! Gov. Fifer assisted in making the in
! spection. There was found in the Home
2O9 children of civil war veterans and
| ~ children of Spanish War veterans
/ Number of girls, los, and number OF
! boys, 1Si, with the average age IL X
I years. During the past year AZ inmates
reached the age limit of 16 years ana
were sent out. The school carries tho
children thru all the grades until they
| can enter the high school at Normal
I where they rank with the best pupils
! in that school as regards conduct and
scholarship. A kindergarten is proyid-
| Cd for the children too young to enter
| the grades. Manual training is given
! the boys of Is and over, with excellent
| instruction in blacksmithing and car
| Try l1n trit1.- f,,,.. -,
! nestle science and general homework
: me committee sat down to an excel
lent meal, entirely cooked and served
1 by the girls. 1t is almost universally Z
rule that all the children do well after
leaving the Home. Not a few become
teachers
John Underfanger was Chairman OF
| the committee which visited the Hi
1 nois Soldiers and Sailors Home Al
+ Quincy, and Department Commander
| Connolly assisted the committee The
I buildings and grounds were found ir
| excellent condition, with Il hospital adj
mirably managed There are aboGt
| T.Odo volumes in the library. which is
well patronized. Capt. William Somer.
vile who has been for II years Super
! intendcnt of the Home. seems we'll suit
ed for the place. The total number
present was 1.507 men and $50 women
with 32l men ard 80 women absent or
| THROUGH The two cottages for hus-
| bends and wives acconm odate 142 cou-
| piles. The smallest number of married
couples present within the year was 80
Comrade HI Fulton was Chairman
| of the committee to investigate the Sol
| dicrs' Widows Home at Wilmington
Past Department Commander Philiu
Hayes assisted. The committee found
everything in excellent condition There
are ~ members in the Home and q
employees. The oldest woman is s. and
the Youngest 80. the average age being
10 = years. SIX are blind. five are on
crutches and tree on wheeled chairs
There are II paraIytics and 20 are men
tally unbalanced. The committee rec
omme ends the construction of another
building to be used as a hospital.