The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-06

Institution Is Open to Any Man
In Army Who Becomes
Disabled.
By GEORGE FRANKLIN.

By GEORGE FRANKLIN.
Occupying a commanding site
above Rock Creek where Upshul
street intersects Church road anC
embracing within it's area more
than 500 acres over which are
scattered some twenty-odd build
ings, many of them striking illus
trations of architectural beauty
and substantial construction, the
United States Soldiers Home has
come to be one of the show
places, not only of Washington,
but of the country at large.
Founded By General Scott.
Little did General Scott anticipate
when he succeeded in securing the
foundation of the home by the Gov.
eminent, that in less than half a
century it would be one of the most
magnificent memorials a nation
ever founded in the interests of the
men who made its armies famous
by their Valor only to find them
selves incapicated by their services,
it is said, and in many instances
unable longer to provide longer for
their wants.
Its establishment, as forseen by
General Scott, answered the prob
lem growing greater even in his
day of caring for the disabled SOL
diers of the United States Army,
and those whom age removed from
the productive ranks of industry.
Those familiar with it's history de-
clare that when conceived and start
ed no one gave thought to the out
branching, in 3 way, which has
followed, resulting in the estab-
fishing of more than Owen homes
catered over the country for aged
and disabled soldiers and sailor.
Since it opensd thousands Of
army veterans and incapacitated sol
diers have made it their home, and
within the spacious quarters pro-
vided found all the comforts of
home. For the United States Sol
diers' Home, at Washington, comes
as near being home as it is pos
sible TO make an Intentionally
governed residence.
Here, at least, the residents are
untrammeled by the vexatious re-
strfctions controlling inmates Of the
average invalided institution. Resi-
dents of the home, there is an aver
age registration of between 1,4OO
and 1,450 daily. are as free to salts
~ their whims as they would be
under their own fig tree. OF
course there are certain regulations
governing them, but they pertain
mostly to minor customs, and are
in no sense burdensome.
Must Return For Breakfast.
A resident of the home may come
and go as he pieases. If he wishes
to absent himself over night he
may do so. In this instance, but
one regulation is to be observed:
He must return in time for break
fast. The breakfast hour is set for
Z o'clock in the morning which af-
fords sufficient time for the alb
sent guest" to return.
Then in the card rooms, the bill
lard hall, and recreation quarters,
participants in the games are re-
ouired to wear an outside shirt.
None of the inmates object to this
regulation. In the mess hall the
If the latter regulation meets with
an occasional objection it is offset
by the assurance that meals may be
partaken of in privacy, for visiting
the mess hall during the serving of
meals is prohibited.
Even the ordinary military regu-
lations find no place in the home Ie-
gime. Inmates are not required to
salute the officers they encounter
on the grounds or about the build
ings. Naturally advantage is not
often taken of this permission, for
the residents, in the vast majority
of instances. have long military
training back of them, and to salute
a superior has become little less than
an innate instinct. A few of the
younger men sometimes overlook it.,
but they, in turn, get the habit"
with the result that it is generally
observed.
The presence Of young men among
the residents, sometimes apparently
mere boys, often excites comment.
To find them inmates of soldiers