The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1922-06-15
THE NATIONAL MILITARY
HOME, KANSAS
(By Matthew Henry Jameson. 10th
Illinois Inf.)

y
Illinois Inf
had not seen these grounds in
thirty years-close to a generation
and the changes that have occurred in
the interim are a marvel.
The beginnings of the Natinoal
Homes of our country were plain and
crude at the outset; the patriotic
order Of the country gave willing
assistance in fixing the sites, which
were chosen with care. Where there
was no natural forest the planting of
trees was the first order. In some
instances in this one-a noble
forest reserve comprised a part of
the site and the diligent hand of man
has supplied all that was lacking to
make the Home grounds beautiful
parks.
My son, are you still in life's
early morning, and do you aspire to
immortality? Plant tree, and when
you are old, come and sit in it's
shade, and know thou, that peradven-
ture 1T may stand for a thousand
years. Is that incredible? The i'm
memorial sequOias of the Pacific
Coast some believe cast a comfort
able shade in Albraham's day. Here
and there over our globe are indiv-
idual trees or groups of trees of an
astonishing Antiquity, as the cedars
of Gethsemane. On the Thunderbolt
river, near Savannah, Ga, in Bona
venture cemetery, are avenues OF
Live Oak worth a trip around the
wonld to see.
The trees along the main avenue
of these Home grounds were mere
wisps when 1 first saw them-behotd
them now! If you love me, come and
sit in this shade and bring back the
dreams of sixty years when we re-
solved to meet our fate like men TO
save the Union founded by Washing
ton and the fathers. You may sneer
at the old man if you like; but the
world had not laughed a good hearty
la11gh since the CrucifixiOn till the
last best hope of the world was made
safe and secure at Appomabtox.
America in these last centuries IS the
only land that has had. a fixed place
in the sun and she will hold her grip
till Gabriel sounds taps.
Water-a stream or lake-is ade-
ouate in the scope of a fine landscape.
Men who tire of the trolley or auto,
go boating on our Home lake; an ex-
cellent band will make your visit en-
joyable.
Why should love of country be-
come a Distinguishing feature of the
people of our beloved America? We
hate war above all things and yet
paradoxical as it may appear, no peo-
ple on earth are so quick to spring to
arms to defend their rights.
The obscure band of patriots under
Washington raised the flag with the
rattlesnake pictured upon it with the
1aoand ssDon't tread on me"-a
warming to tyrants everywhere.
These Homes had their origin IN
the solemn admonition of Abraham
Tincoln-.eWe are to care for hirn
who bath borne the battle, his widow
and his orphan"
wicked men will revile the SOLDIER
br+ who among them will drop the
,,Io,v in the furrow, the pen IN the
,.o,,n+ino, room, the babbler IN the
hustings, the gambler on the Do1lr'o y
+rade-win Debs or Sam SI0illpe-e'
Alexander Howat or Dempsey Jake
his GUN tomorrow morning and go 70
the front?
7 passed Through these great hos
nitals Yesterday; there is full stan
of accomplished surgeons DoeOOr
Bartel (ohief) and Doctors Menges
and Yosldt were old acqualnOanees
at Battle Mountain. The Executive