Semi-weekly herald., 1913-07-31

large hall was gay with patriotic deco
rations in his honor. Mr.. Brooks said
in part, how proud he was of the
great honor conferred upon him by his
comrades, and that they had selected
man with no other occupation or
work he would be able to give it his
undivided attention, and would endea-
vor to fill the high office to the best
Of his ability. And as he is an earnest,
enthusiastic Grand Army man, we
predict great success for him the COM
ing year.
Sedgwick G. A. R. post is the
twelfth he has visited since being
elected. He spoke Of one G. A. r.
post located in remote part of the
state with only company of six old
veterans, widely scattered throughout
the country. Yet they kept their
charter and the post commander drove
sixteen miles over a rough country to
give the department cordial well
come, only three being able to meet
him.
Mr.. Brooks devoted some time to a
graphic description of the Soldiers and
Sailors home at Monte Vista He
noted it was well managed and that
both home and hospital were immacu-
lately clean and while at the present
time the financial condition is limit
ed and it is hard to meet expenses on
account of not being able to get hold
of all the money (something like
$40, ,000) appropriated for the mainte-
nance of the home, they were doing
the best they could under the cir
crmstances and were facing the prob
lem bravely. They are installing
heating plant there and eight two
| room cottages have been erected. Two
are already occupied and applications
are made for the others. The board
of managers find it hard to obtain
money to furnish the cottages. The
Byron L. Carr w. R. C. of Denver do
mated $75 to furnish one cottage. The
ladies of the Grand Army another and
the Daughters of Veterans furnished
| another one. Over the door of each
cottage is handsome silver plate,
bearing the name of the donor. Only
| the veterans and their wives who are
| physically infirm are eligible to occu-
py these cottages, in order that they
will not be separated and will be
comfort and help to each other. No
| cooking is allowed in these cottages
as all meals are prepared in the home,
| and while they serve good substan-
tial food and have employed one OF
the best bakers in the state, the man
| ayers have cut down the meat ra-
tions to once day in order to econ
| omize. And have requested the SOL
diers to buy their own clothing from
their pension money to help tide over
the present time and keep the home
open.
Mr.. Brooks read brief sketch of
the management of the different
homes throughout the eastern states,
as compared with the homes at Monte
Vista and Buffalo, Wyo. In the course
of his interesting talk he depicted
some of the real horrors of war, when
the battle SCARED men in blue fought
TO preserve the nation, and in describ-
ing the three days battle of Gettys-
burg in which he participated, when
one million loyal men stood waiting
to obey any order or command, ready
to surrender their lives if necessary
on the altar of their country, when
the dead, wounded and dying lay thick
on every side it impressed one with the
price that had been paid for the
American flag, the emblem of both
peace and war. He said at one time
when his regiment was so famished
for water they sunk crackerbox in
the marsh and drank while thousands
of dead lay around. He referred to
the time he was taken prisoner at
Richmond, Va, and that he did not
particularly like Libby hotel and that
it was the only hotel bill he ever
dumped" in his life, as at the first
opportunity he made his escape, not
waiting to settle with the landlord.
After few brief but effective re-
marks by Comrade Wingate in which
he expressed the thanks of Sedgwick
G. A. r. for this official visit from
the department commander as it stim-
ulated and awakened fresh interest in
all for greater work.
The audience was dismissed by Rev.
Mr.. Vermillion.
| IVY HUSSEY,
Press Correspondent W. R. C.