Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1924-10-31

beautiful to behold and an inspiration
to appreciative hearts; it is reached
over cement and bithulitic roads
which makes riding Joy; 1t is only
20 miles from Tacoma, SO miles from
Seattle, and one of the pretty stop
ping places" on the Northern Pacific
Railroad.
The Home is about a mile south
east Of Orting, and is home in every
sense Of the word to the 300 veterans
who are now resting in quiet and
peace without single thought of
their maintenance and with a pension
to further increase the joy of living.
Fifty-nine years is long time as
time goes, but to many of the inmates
of the Home it seems but a brief
lapse since the close of the Civil
War, yet what vicissitudes life has
held for most Of the Boys in Blue"
since their honorable discharge from
the Grand Old Army of the Republic.
What joys, sorrows, fortunes and mis-
fortunes, even tragedies, have COM
bined to fill those SO years; until now
a number of the veterans, age-mel-
lowed are living in the past and dwell
ling on its memories instead of max
ing history as of yore. The youngest
Civil War veteran at the Home is rs
years old, many of them are between
so and 80 years old, while one of the
inmates, DR.. Joseph Bishop of the
Home Hospital, celebrated his Tooth
birthday anniversary Thursday, Octo
Der IS, 1923, by giving a party to his
comrades and other friends.
The grounds and buildings at the
Home are attractively beautiful.
Giant trees, some of which have stood
the elements for more than half
century, are still fiourishing and fur
nishing generous shade. These or
nament the grounds and form pleas
ing background for the buildings and
the flower garden. Shrubbery, includ
ing rose bushes, whose choice bios
SONS are picked late in November;
lilacs, snowballs, syringa, buddleias,
rhododendrons, Towering almonds, all
these enhance the beauty of this ideal
spot as well as does the fine flower
garden. This summer the flower gar
den of which Renwick Brown is gar
dener. Mr.. Brown took two premiums
on his display Of flowers at the West
ern Washington Fair this fall.
A fountain in front of the Washing
ton building plays all summer long;
and there are seats at frequent shady
intervals that make conditions perfect
for outdoor rest A bandstand was
erected two years ago, and as the vet
Grams are very fond of music, it be-
comes a joyous event when visiting
band gives them a concert. Then
the veterans sit, stand or stroll about
listening to the music, the martial
airs of which carry them back to the
days of the great conflict when they
fought under Grant or Sheridan and
life was all ahead Oh them. AT the
memory of bygone days, tears will un
hidden start.
Commander II. w. North superin.
tendent of the Home, is Civil War
veteran. He has personal supervision
of the large farm and garden compris-
ing 16S acres. Mr.. North does not
employ farm manager, but oversees
all the farming operations, the or
charding, building operations, and in
fact all work that is carried on about
the place.
Mrs. North, wife of the commander,
is matron of the Home, and is an I'M
energetic and capable woman
who takes the greatest possible in
terest in everything pertaining to the