The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1913-11-27
BEADLE WRITES
OF HIS "HOME"
SAYS PUBLIC DOES NOT UNDER
STAND AND PAYS TRIBUTE
TO MANAGEMENT or SOL-
DIERS' INSTITUTION.

Madison, S. D.-General w. II. H..
Beadle has addressed the following
letter to a newspaper that the insti-
tuition may be put right before the
people" The letter of The d%iasingui-
shed old soldier is as follows:
LAS | am about to return to the
state soldiers home at Hot Springs
after W weeks absence on personal
business, may | ask that you put that
institution right before the people
and especially the old soldiers of the
state. 1t has a body of old soldiers in
its care that are worthy and a body
of singularly worthy and capable of
ficers over it generally and its sever
al departments. 1t is located in the
best climate the state affords and is
managed and governed by Il wise
board and by a ~commandant and ad-
iutant who are devoted to the vel
fare of every member, as are all the
other officers and employees. Colonel
T. G. Orr is a kindly, capable and as
siduous superintendent, who gives
his whole time to the care and well
iiJt Vi VIC litil. nv mas cares CIlOuSI
to weary the ablest man and many
questions are brought to him for
discussion or advice that are wholly
personal and private i'm nature and do
not belong to his official duty. His
kindly II and ~frankness meets
all cases admirably and the subord-
mate officers and assistants are most
ready M helpful in sharing the
cares.
"The other places are all admir-
ably filled with men and women pc
and they are all liked by everybody
and the lives of the members of the
house are rendered cheerful and
bright by the women assistants in
their places. Remembering that al
members are comparatively old, sew
eral in the COS and many in the sos
and 10's and many burdeped by some
form of i'll health, il will be easily
inferred that the hospital has NAM
inmates and that death and the fun
rral are to be expected. while very
many reunire some consultation and
prescriptions at the daily sick calls
IItIt iIt NaI1iblC, humane anu th pei i
enced physician, DR.. II. I'll. Wilcox
surgeon of the home, finds his life
very busy and his time occupied by
the medical and surgical care of the
inmates. Any one can see that the
members of such an institution fur
nish characteristics and idiosyncra.
sizes or even special types of disease
in a greater degree than the case.
met in general private practice and
hence, that experience should be re
tanned in service as it is in state insti
t~utions for the insane and other de
fectives. And happily this is the cas-,
at the soldiers home. The duties ar,
heavy for but one medical officer an,
he without the help of a woma nurs,
to keep record of the cases and t,
see that remedies are duly admins
tered. This is a singular defect til a
the Legislature should car for, un
less they, wish to establish the pre-
sumption that men and ar
sent to the home merely to await a.
early death. Blu such is not the case
they are kept there to live, to i'm
prove in health and receive all ne
cessary care, comfort, good living an
reasonable enjoyment, as they all dc
THE state admits with their hus
bands the wives of many old soldier
and they live together in numerou
cottages or two-room accommoda
tons: parts of larger buildings. st
parAte from the body of men not S
situated and in the main building
Among these. ! have found a nun
Der of old time acquaintance frol
territorial days and rejoice to Sc
them so considerably treated an
supported in their old age. And We
men are needed among the officer
and employees. n these are mos
highly respected and helpful in a
respects. They should he named wit
thankful recognition. Mrs. L. G. Oh
is among the best of these in he
office of matron, as a lady of helpfl
c~heerfulness and personal charm an
courtesy. whose smile greets all wit
} favor. Then Mrs. DR.. IL. III. Wilcox
a lady of great intelligence and a
: admirable assistant in the medical d.
partmant, admired and beloved /
all whom h meets with as the ho'
pital steward and in her calls to Sc
to the care of the sick, she will /
remembered by all the membershi
of the home for her cheerful and d,
lightful personal greeting and SYM
athletic help. Mr.. w. II. Cornell an
his wife are two more who are al
mired for their pleasing service. 4
: quartermaster, he clothes and ar
/, feeds the old boys in blue" al
pleases everybody. Adjutant w. ]
Evans comes in touch with all as I'll
Executive OF alLdetails of duty" &C
Orr and the board of managers ha,
! made the place a real soldier
home" for all by their are al
: the excellence Of the officers ass,
: ciated for its care.
why should not old soldiers
: the state honor such a provision IL
> their health and comfort, and ent!
! and live in it with self respect an
pride that they are invited to a re;
home when they no longer have OF
! of their own l commend it TO all
Q them when they need it. and they ca
go there, not to a poor house or
receive its care as charity. / wei
there to get the comfort and healt
during the winter that was not OIL
2 erwise available. I could live els
S where. but not So fayorably as Their