The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-22

y. loo, md in tho Immediate COM
nand Of Division Commander George
T.. Pickett, whom followed IN The
memorable charge upon tho heights OF
GETTYSBURG. when l was twice wound
*h. am nov al the other end OF life
nearing eiShty-one years of age
and havc been an inmate Of Lee Camp
Soldit:s Home for four years and
eight months. during which time 237
o. me ola veterans nave passed from
as Wei as OF my comrades in the
nome, ] desire most heartily to thank
our friend Nv y. p" for his very
laudatOry and Kind eApresstons OF TEN
der regard FOR the comfort and vol.
peins or the old veterans ! wish he
would give us his name. He says:
ines nese men arc empiaticaily not sub
The people of the South the last rep
reAehtauves OF those intrepid, match
.ess IeGions which swept up the hin
AZ Gcttyseurg and achieved victory in
me race OF overwhelming odds" There
IS not state which Is Supporting one
OF THESE homes that is not abundantiy
aple 10 pension these veterans, though
correct when he says these men arc
emphaticaliy not objects OF charity"
nearby applaud that declaration. for
So Se are not pamners. hut guests of the
loEaliy discharged our duty towards
our state during the trying ordeal Of
aoGr years service during the war.
ana We have the right TO cxnect tho
state 10 do her duty towards us nov
IN our time OF need. 1t gives me pleas
IRE 10 bear witness TO the fact that
n nee camp soldiers Home, whilst not
veterans are we'll cared for with the
vrdiharS necessities and comforts OF
nie ana we count ourselves fortu-
at bes, is but way-station IN ~.
fsst declining life of the veteran. we
are Just waiting TO he called hence
a. "a, ~ be remembered that OF the $50.
aomel, about onc-fourth OF that num-
ser arG USUALLY to be found in the
nhospi.al; and they are cared for by
several oTderltes, and the hospital has
It's special cook--even a French cool,
NO ITO prsparc the food for the sick,
bowed down by the weight Of years
hnd inirmities. rendering them In
"a pahie OF waiting upon themselves.
.ns tline vas since ] have been an in
Tor the mess hall was n subject Of
general complaint: but row there is
out little room for complaint the past
TWO or three years. have conyerscd
~ith a number OF the comrades TO as
certain what they thought OF our
friend wv. b. P.'s' plan OF ponsioning
me old men and keep them at home"
In their homes. and tho reply in nearly
every case was. we have no home hut
this. and that little pension OF s.i
per month would not secure for them
say nothing of heinS taken care Of
when sick" Then again, we know
mat the old men have greatly failed
IN both physical and mental mower.
SO as 10 render the most of them in
capable OF taking care OF themselves
u set adrift, even with sufficient
nensior, Left to themselves, IL would
nor nc long before they would nave
neither money nor home or course.
there are some exceptions, but that is
the prevailing condition. But as in
mates of the Soldiers Homo we arc
pretty well agreed among ourselves
mat the old men should ho paid n
little pension Of say. 50 per iponth.
That would enable them 10 buy a little
fruit occasionally: to buy a few street
car tickets so that they could ride
down into the city. instead of having
to witll; OF stay mt home. and 1t would
remove the necessity Of asking The
people for. little help 10 get back
bono (Which is forbidden fruiO 10
buy, Il white shirt and collar, and other
little Incidental expenses That little
nockct money would greatlyl inure to
the happiness. pleasure and contcnted-
ness of the old men whose llfe nj hest
is nonotonous and sad. Indeed. n little
pocket money would inspire new life
in the old fellows
Nr-,r1-t,,>r