The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 29, 1902, Page 3

et hou ins the scene yes of the soldlers, and whose “yester- the Veterans’ changes before whos¢ work .js don deys look backward' from Home near Yo 1 the “eternal land- rom them gle campfires. as the colo - June air stirs and t t It is no longer a misty valley of ps e that the moistened eyes of the v gaze into, but the smoke of carn the fiewd of Gettys- burg. Then as the x and the moon- peer into the in pitifui dumbness, was that of the friend or he loved. ps he sees the field of Appomat- whence shone the dawn of was there that his regiment ly, too, for sixty-five men were from its lines in less than five mi Taps sounds, and to this veteraa, among other scenes, it comes liks t gun of the war. His old heart rtial echo as he falis asleep, se bugle that will usher in an- marked by memories from the that , these old-time defenders , and close to the restful they fight thelr batfles r this State home of the Yountville, where about nake their home, is one of tul in point of picturesque in the United States. s where outdoor life asurably and freely at t now the valley is at its the hills the buckeyes are scent- air and the brake ferns are wav- The springs still bub- ble, and sweet scents come on every breeze. Nine hundred and ten acres make up the grounds of the home and contain meny & nook where Nature's wild loveli- -ess is still undisturbed. This home was suilt largely by popular subscription, on the same plan as was the Soldiers’ Home st Bath, N, Y. It was opened as a State lome . April, 158, and also receives Federal aid. Eight or ten handsome bufldings, con- structed of redwood and pine, line an ing the ing their fronds. cane makers, cabin. alled the “square,” and are surrounded I rotusion of flowers and shrubber: he “‘parade ground,” as it is called, is fringed with spreading oaks, underneath the shade of groups of blue-coated veterans may ways be found. The large administrati building was the first one erected by th: Veterans' Home Association, In 1883-4. The commandant's residence, the medical director's cottage, memorial cottage and others are all attractive buildings that g0 to make up a very good architectural ensemble. The regime here is, of course, military in character, though not as strict as that of the regular army. It gives the veteran all the freedom possible to vary the mo- notony of his life, for to these men who have lived lives of action, and many of whom bave been toilers in the Lusiness flelds of the world, this long looking backward is a thing that makes them often dissatisfied with themselves and all the earth besides. Many of them have families or relatives comparatively near, and the veteran would be with them but for his disabilities. But now, as the full summer days come, in many cases he takes his longest furlough of ninety days and goes to his friends or where he will. Many take the three months and o what work they can on a ranch. Their days are not confined to the home limits, for they can secure from the commandant a pass beyond the gates, good for from 8 a. m. until 10 p. m., unless by abusing their liberty they forfeit such a privilege. But there is a large quota of men who never see the outer boundaries of the hospital ward. Its annex, “Uncle Tom's - Cabin,” as it is called, is the home of those whose minds are more or less clouded as the result of the hell of war. Those who are comparatively sound in body and wholly so in mind make the most of these summer days. When the morning bugle sounds it finds scores of them out amonp. the flowers and treea or crowding the verandas of the dining bhall. Then it is that the “egg men” ply a busy trade. These are two veterans who are laden with boxes or trays, on open space the outside of which appears in bold let- ters the legend, “No credit.” Three uard- boiled eggs for 5 cents are the rates, and each egg is carefully wrapped 1n news- paper. Judging from the numbers sold the veterans are fond of eggs for lurch- eon. In the great dining-room, where the walls are hung with warlike reminders in the form of names of famofis battles, breakfast finds the largest and most cheerful crowd of the day—about 550 sol- diers usually discussed a good meal. It is not long after breakfast before the “fatigue” line forms, made up of those who are able to work, and some task in the grounds is alloted them. It may be pitching hay, or weeding, or it may be to go and get ferns to decorate the theater on the occasion of some enter- tainment, for two or three times a month the veterans are entertalned by some ag- gregation, be it only & barnstorming com- pany composed of one man. The veter- ans have a very simple but cutting man- ner of signifying when the show does not come up to their standard. They simply walk out of the hall. Out in the hills live a few old fighters who are the most independent in .their manner of living of all. To them nature is an open book and they study it well. One of the most picturesque of these habitations is “John’s cabin” in the Her- mit's Glen. One climbs up through the buckeyes, the mountain laurels and the oaks, to reach a narrow path or trafl that leads downward through the ferns ' and lupines to a little spring that lies a placid mirror in the green. The path winds on and . beyond a gate frem which there spreads on either side the ranch fence that incloses the few acres of canyon. On the sloping sides of THE SUNDAY CALL. {) ST the narrow canyon bloom roses and ger- aniums, and in the sunny spots are rows of healthy lettuce and garden vegetables. The buckeyes and the madrones make a vista of follage. Nestled in it is a cabin, scarcely larger than a dove cote, spot- lessly white and cool. Below a pictur- esque flight of steps runs & balcony, rough, yet romantic enough In its out- look to stir envy in the heart of a Jullet. Peaceful above all it is, yet the branches that wave above have murmured often to “the sound of siirring storles of old war comrades. Here abides Willlam Johns, whose an- cestors settled the town of Johnstown, Pa. Private Johns was-in the Army of the Potomac when, the last shot of the war was fired. Now he has lived among the haunts of ‘“Nature that never did be- tray the heart that loved her,” for the past eight years. He has passed happy days in the little cabin, the .interior of which {8 a marvel of neatness and In- genfous arrangement, not the least of which is the stove made entirely by Johns himself from the parts of an old range. The beginning of this little home was in a drygoods box. Private Johns was an ex- pert in canemaking. He took this box up in the canyon where he was fond of working, to keep his tools In. The charm of the spot grew upon him and he finally asked permission of the commandant to sleep in his box workshop. It was grant- ed. Then the box grew by degrees into a house, and the tidy walks and garden beds began to beautify the glen. Now “John’s cabin” is a favorite resort. Not far away lives in a quaint little red roofed house up against the hill a member of the home band, who would not change places with those who live more in the / midst of the little community. Neither drink nor tobacco smoke profane the air here, but all around is quiet. Walk up on a commanding hill where is situated what is' known as the fire res- ervoir, and a most beautiful birdseye view of the home buildings surrounded by the emerald and golden setting of the valley greets the eye. It is one of the most beautiful landscapes in this State of nature’'s wonders. Near here on an eminence stands the shelter of the ‘“Domestic Spring,” which from its rocky bowl once supplied the en- tire home with water. Now it does its part, but its place is in a great measure taken by the new reservoir and dam a mile or g0 up in the hills; bullt in Its picturesque surroundings a year or so ago. In a little cabin lives the guardian of the Domestic Spring—William Daum, a quiet German who fought all through the war from “6L” He has lived on the hill- side two years because, as he says, “It vas quiet here.’” Inside the outer room of the cabin is a work bench and there 1s no more skiled workman in the manu- facture of canes, napkin rings and many other pretty articles from the native woods than this .quiet old “soldler. The greatest trouble now is for him to get the material for his work from the woods to his shop. He presented the late Pres- ident McKinley with two of his finest rings, beautifully inlaid, when the mar- tyred chief was in California. The shady graveyard with its rows of plain white stones and fluttering flags, beneath which lie at rest six hundred sol- diers, has its guardian In Private John Carr, still stalwart at 71. Flis work brings mournful dirges and sad processions be- fore the eye, for it is he that makes ready ‘Adin i/tisl’rd[ g\ > the last resting places. "1 must always have an extra room,” he says, quaintly, “for there are so many of them just wait- ing. And I can't tell but I'll dig my own some day!” Each funeral volley that breaks the quiet of the little graveyard brings him sad memories. With a break in his voice he may tell you why, as he did me. “I was in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac and wounded in seven of them, but the battle of Antietam was the wick- edest fight of all. Nine charges we made up against a stone wall. The last time we went aver it through the bodies of dead men. When it was ended I had lost my father and two brothers.” He was at the second battle of Bull Run with Pope, with the army at Appomattox, and in after years fought with Custer. He has been in fights so close and bloody that his memory tries to blot them out. Now he lives among the qufet graves. Some- times one comes to help him, or the com- rade coming along to water the blossoms on & new grave stops for a chat. Some- times a bugle note floating down from the hills rouses him, for a bugler who was discharged for too frequent visits to the canteen takes to the open to keep up his practice. Out under the trees may often be tound Mexican Joe, who looks out upon a varied life ffom a past of ninety- four years. With him is afways his friend Charles Stewart, who would make al- most three of him in height. Joe will tell you that he plloted *“Fremont across the plains with 640 wagons.” His friend's sister came across the great plains with them, and little Joe was to have married her, but as he says ‘she thought she loved another man and he stole her from me.” On the veranda of the hospltal may often be seen a little 0ld man, paralyzed in body but with a memory still clear. This 1x_John Moon, of an old Missouri family, all stern Democrats but himself. After the war he went into stock-raising in Arizona,K and as one of the volunteer Indian fighters he was feared as a dehd shot. He can remember a vivid five hour besiegement of seven soldiers in a natural ¢nd e 77 Buildine Social Hall fock fortress by - four hundred Apaches. The devils waved a black flag and shouted that the scalps of the seven would be theirs by. dawn. And so it would have been but that fifteen soldiers coming over the rarige, led the savages to believe that an army was behind them, and fear scattered them. Arother celebrity is Captain Catlin, who has made the hospital garden the beauti- ful spot \that it is through his planning and care.\ Captain Catlin has the distine- tion, besides being an exceedingly oul- tured man, of being veritably a citizen of two republics. After the war he went to Mexico and fought ‘on the side of Juarez under Corona. Hé became a mem- Eer of the Méxican Legion of Honor, and later was made a citizen of the Mexican republic, and has never renounced the al- iegiance. Shculd he visit Mexico now he would have all the privileges of a citizen. There are a goodly number of men who are still well enough in body to enjoy the many amusements provided for them at the home. Bowling Is a favorite game among them and some veterans are ex- perts. There is a Filipino who is an un- deniable winner at billiards. A favorite pastime is fishing, and others go camp- ing and often sleep out of doors. Hunt- ing squirrels and small game is anothes iversion. Armless and legless veterans ere here in plenty, but it was not in ail cases the war that caused the.loss. The canteen gets its share of patronage un- der the eyes of two sergeants. Liquor is refused i the soldier shows signs of its influence. A veteran must have his nip, or most of them, and If the canteen was not in evidence the saloons of the town would be damaging factors in the diver- sions of the men.. ‘As it is, the picturesque stone jail has prisoners comparatively sei- lom. The commandant at the home is Colonel George W. Walts, whose regime is very popular among the veterans. of the prettiest spots on the grounds is among the flowers and trees of the colonel’s gar- den. His especial pride is his team of dapple gray mares, Annie and Courtney, a spanking pair of pace-setters. The home’s other officers are: Major C. E. Graham, adjutant; Major Thomas A Keables, medical director; Captain W. F. McAllister, ant medical director; Captain J, J. Lyon, Q. M. and C. S., and Captain Ray Clark, chief engineer. At sunset, when the haze and shadows creep across the- valley, comes the pret- tiest and most impressive ceremony of strains of so laden with both glad orfes, float out upon th At th . to th the staff, the guard stand at “present arms.” There is & si- is lence as the flag is caught up and borne 1o the colonel’s office. The sun sone and the officlal day is ended. 3 DEZENDORF.