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

| A(OPMVS UVVCAAkOA
| home, visitors admit, is surprising
| Then they learn that the home il
open to any man in the United States
army who is permanently disabled IL
discharging his duty, and that thu
young fellows" they see walking
| around apparently in the best o
health, have been passed by medica
boards who know that appearance:
are deceiving and that the man viii
| never again become a vigorous, stall
wart individual, capable of earning
his living. Many of the latter have
been the victims of accidents which
have resulted in setting up a hear
| condition which leaves them but the
slenderest hold on life.
Open to Amy Soldier.
Look up the record Of the seem
ing healthy young men," said Major
P. w. West, deputy governor, today
land you will discover the true con
dition. This home is open to any
man in the United States army who
is permanently injured to such an ex
tent that he cannot make a living
He may have enlisted a week ago
met with an injury in the discharge
of his duty which proves little less
than fatal, and be sent here at once
Henceforth this is his home so lone
as he requires one. The rules OF
the home impose little on the resi-.
dents the latter consider burdensorne
The principle governing is to serve
the interests of the aged and crippled
soldier first, so it only is necessary
to determine In each instance how
this can best be- done"
Many residents, especially among
the older men, are spending the
winter in Florida and other Sec
tons Of the South. They are at
liberty to go and come as they
please. Illustrating this is William
Harmon, well up in the nineties,
who is now in Florida, where he
will remain until spring. Each
year he slips away to escape the
cold months only to return when
the weather becomes settled.
Among the picturesque charac.
tiers, possibly with a wider acquain.
lance throughout the country than
is enjoyed by the other inmates, is
Uncle SAM" or George Campbell
as he is known at the home. He
served during the Civil War in the
Seventeenth United States Infantry.
Through the growth of his hair
and a conspicuous goatee he has
become a facsimile of Uncle Sam
as popularity pictured, and has be.
come a familiar figure in parades
here and elsewhere. He announced
today that he had completed his
history of the American flag and
is looking for a publisher to put ii
out in book form.
Digs Up Obscure Facts.
THE flag has a history known
by but few" he said. II have
traced every factor which influ
enced it's development and car
prove that many Of the widely &C
copied ideas as TO its origin are
erroneous. 1t took years to get
at the facts and verify them, but
the task was worth while, for II
has rescued the story Of the FLAG
from the mythology surrounding
it,"
Operated in connection with the
soldiers home is a farm of more
than 300 acres. There Is also q
modern dairy and a well-stocked
poultry range which provide the
inmates with milk, butter, fresh
eggs, and fried chicken at times.
One of the interesting units al
the home is the hospital. Under
the direction of Col. Henry P. Biz
mingham, surgeon-in-chief, resi-
dents at the home are assured the
best medical attendance possible
The hospital is Of modern construc
ton and one of the best equipped
in the country.
For the visitor the beautiful parl
gardening which makes the grounds
one Of the most fascinating bits OF
landscape development in the coun
try is naturally of great interest
Even during the bleakest days OF
winter, when the trees and shrub
berry is stripped of the varied yer
due which through nine months OF
the year clothe them, 1t retains its
beauty.
Whether by design or accident
possibly could not be determined
but the fact stands forth that in
! the selection of building materials
and the locating of buildings, moth
ing alien to the surrounding setting
is detachable. The whole registers
as a pleasing harmony with lust
enough OF contrast observable to
lend emphasis where it properly be-
longs in a poetic, artistic sense. AS
was said, today, of a massive, gray
stone tower, just within the en-
trance to the grounds, lone steps
softly, expecting to hear it whis
per as they approach.
Residents Are COntented.
Residents Of the home have only
words of commentator for the
official staff and the treatment
given them. The vast majority
admit they are far more comfort
able and contented than they could
be elsewhere.
I'VE make 1t q point not to inter
l L.. I.