The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-01-06
PRIVATE DALZELL
whites Interesting Letter 20 The In
tsiligsneer About The National
Military Home.
National Military Home. Ohio.

National Military Home. Ohio.
January 4. 1915.
Editor IntellIsencer:
As we have many West Virginia vet
Grams in this branch Of the Home. I
think IL may be interesting TO many OF
their friends In your state and who
read The Intelligencer to learn some
thing about this institution.
And ~ you will kindly give me the
space. l shall describe II as l have seen
II In the four months last past as one
Of its inmates.
An erroneous conception OF the Home
very prevalent Is that there are many
National Homes-there Is but one. IL
Is known TO the laws of Congress
The National Military Home FOR DIS.
abled Volunteer Soldiers. but Is divided
into ten branches. as this. the first o.
nanized ard largest yet. is simply STYLED
The National Military Home. Ohio"
the other nine. scattered from TogGs.
Maine. to Milwaukee Jackson city.
Tenn. down TO san Monica. Cal. etc.
and all are under one government really.
called the Board OF Managers. whose
President IL Col Ciosenow. with head
quarters In New York City. They also
have the oversight Of the twenty-one
state Home distributed through the
Northern states. but have nothing to do
with The Home for Regular Soldiers In
Warrington city. The average member
ship Of the thirty-one homes so de-
scribed - now from $4,000 to 40 900
men. but the membership - constantly
changing owing To new admissions.
the report for 1918. the latest. Is before
me. this is the best estimate possible.
In the Dayton Branch We have practic-
ally 1000 all the time. though a. win
ter comes on we haV. more and in
spring and summer. still less. for on
gress and egress are wholly In our dis
erection. going and coming as we choose.
under certain necessary rules and regu-
lauons. On the rolling hills west Of the
big Miami. In that garden spot OF the
state. with an area OF more than a mile
dsH hxy
forests and FIELDS. and nlled with hund-
reds Of buildings ia which We live, on
the vast business OF the place is trans
acted. With lakes. fountains extensive
lawns ana flower beds. native forests
close by. good walks and woods extern
siye farm lands cultivated by us splen-
did barracks. good beds. substantial food
and clothing. and over IL all. presiding
(under said Roard) Col w. J. Whit. a
veteran himself. and "A Christian gentle
man.
We find here a comfortable retreat at
our ase-the average ~ 20 years now.
Any reputable man holding an honorable
state he enlisted. We have men from
almost every State for this Is a
branch Of The National Home.
kut IL must be remembered we have
also large numbers-now perhaps. 600
spanish American war veterans who by
me way VIII soon occupy this and all
pass away-probably within ten years
These young men average 40 years OF
age and Will then be In their prime and
easily manage all the homes This Is
a good place for a decent old man.
broken in health and fortune. but a very
pad place for the ill-disposed who are
handled without gloves. and in extreme
cases dishonorably dismissed I advise
all such TO stay away
~ would be cruelty unjust TO my dear
OLD comrades driven here by necessity
not to add that for the most part they
are quite up 20 the average grandfath-
ers. all around you. whom you reVer-
ence and respect Hundreds OF aged
gentlemen are here who as lawyers
Judges. preachers. farmers. merchants
manufacturers and leaders in Other
years we're held In the highest esteem oy
all they met. -
meet many college professors
teachers. by the score and a goodly
number OF college graduates-and an
Ally upon the whole. men as Intelligent
A. the ONCE people with whom I work.
"a IN washington for thirteen years. up
to last June. ~
SO let our friends at home worry non.
ABOUT the soldier here who il the honor
% guest OF Uncle Sam.
PRIVATE DAIZEII