Evening star., 1941-08-03

The idea of erecting temporary war
buildings in the Soldiers Home grounds
may be a good one and it may not be
good one, depending entirely upon what
kind of buildings the Government has
in mind, and to what use they are to be
put.
This fine institution, originally known
as the Military Asylum, is home for
the exclusive use of soldiers of the Regu-
lar Army, the requirements for admit
tance in a general way being 20 years
service in the Army, or disability from
wounds or disease acquired in the line
of duty, together with an honorable dis
charge from service, and since the Regu-
lar Army has recently been SO greatly
increased, and may be still further en-
larged it would seem that what to many
might appear to be very large reserva-
ton with lots of space to spare, might in
a few years prove even inadequate for
the homes own necessary requirements.
However, since these are war times, or
seemingly approaching hostilities very
fast, let US hope that whatever build
ings, if any, are placed in the Soldiers
Home area, the grounds will not be
despoiled of their natural beauty, for
after all there is no spot around wash
ington more attractive and fascinating,
and, of course, it is not without It's IN
teresting historic value, which carries
ones mind back to the events OF Civil
War days.
Recalls Early Days.
To the writer there is something rather
endearing about the Soldiers Home
grounds, for he has known 1t ana
tramped through it since early chlldhooo
davs gathering in the autumn persim-
mons. Walnuts, chestnuts ana hckory
nuts But he was always sure 10 get the
persimmons after the frost hao toucheo
them well. for experience had taught
him that the unripe fruit would pucker
up the mouth to an uncomfortaple oe-
gree. A..
Indeed. as an open confession, the
writer will even go SO far as 10 aonilS
that when a lad he accompanied man
of his neighborhood on hunting "Trip
which led through the home GROUNDS.
There was snow on the ground, ana IL
was not long before we came across the
tracks of a cottontail. The man was
armed with an old-type single-loadlng
shotgun, and when the rabbit was WITHIN
range the gunner banged away, WHICH,
however, only tended to slow up the
moor creature. He then rammed nome
another load. and we soon came upon
the rabbit again, only to have 1t give
LIS the cha ha" after being fired upon
for the second time. 1t required a tnlro
charge to subdue Mr. Cottontail, and
then my recollection is that we nao 10
run him down and club him in the heao
to capture him. 1t was the writer's first
and last experience OF the kind.
Woods Dense.
The grounds were then lnclosed WIN
q high board fence, at least feet IL
was a sort of paling fence, the boards
being about 5 inches wide, slightly SET
apart and pointed at the top. Since the
board had begun to rot, it was not
difficult job even for child to remove
one or more in order to gain an en-
trance to the grounds at some secluded
point. and once inside, the denseness OF
the wood made the youngsters-and the
grownups, too, for that matter-com-
paratively safe from detection.
Occasionally Officer Morgan, or Tall
Sergt." Slattery or one OF the other
mounted policemen from 1t. JohnSons
old second precinct would ride by along
the outside, but rarely enter the grounds,
nor was there any particular reason why
they should have done so, for IL was
seldom that any one did anything de-
structive in this inclosure.
An attractive winter sport in these
grounds was skating on the lakes, still
to be seen in the western part of the
inclosure, just off Park road, then
known as Whitney avenue. Here the
skaters would build a fire close to the
edge of the water to keep themselves
warm when not cutting figure eights and
performing other difficult feats on the
ice, and if a boy were missing from
school when skating was at its best, he
could usually be picked up here or at
Babcocks Lake in the Monument
Grounds. Both we're ideal places for the
sport.
Change in 60 Years.
Sixty years and more makes differ
ence in a neighborhood. Fields and COM
mons then prevailed in this section of
the city and only few houses were to
be seen. Butchers were the principal
residents along Seventh street road
now dignified with the name of Georgia
avenue. To the northwest and west of
the home for some distance, the houses
could be counted on ones fingers, and
10 the south as far as Florida avenue
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