A WORD IN THEIR BEHALF--LETTER FROM OFFICER MCWATTERS (REFERRED
TO IN THE BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES)--A SAD STORY--WHY THE ASYLUMS
CANNOT BE HOMES FOR ALL THE DISABLED.
To the Editor of the Evening Mail: The communication signed "S. W. H.
C.," in your issue of the 19th, breathes a good spirit towards our sick
and disabled soldiers, but evidently was not written understandingly.
By far the greater number of the street organ-grinders, clad in
soldiers' garb, have been true and honest soldiers, but being husbands
and fathers, they cannot take advantage of the asylums. The article on
this subject was in all respects correct. Until the nation furnishes
homes for this class of our disabled soldiers,--homes which will not
necessitate their parting from their little families, dearer to them by
far than their own personal comfort,--we must look for such street
exhibitions as we see, and which are not disgraceful to the soldier,
whatever they may be to his country. That some of these are impostors,
I do not doubt; but it is the duty of the police to satisfy themselves
who are and who are not, and to treat them accordingly. On the other
hand, there are no more deserving objects of charity in the world than
some of these are.
In evidence of the reluctance which those who have family ties feel in
entering any of the asylums, I now narrate you an incident. Some six
months ago I found a poor fellow in this city who had lost his health
in the army, in which he had served four years. He had just been sent
out of hospital incurable--a consumptive. He had a wife and four
children, the eldest a boy of twelve, a cripple, and three little
girls. Some one of the customary blunders at Washington had hitherto
delayed his pension. The sole income of the family, when I called, was
what the mother earned by scrubbing. The father had evidently not long
to live, and poverty was hastening him to the grave. When I called, and
saw how things were, I advised him to go to the Home, to which I would
find means to send him. He said he would consult his wife. He did so,
and then said that he had resolved to go; that he was only eating the
bread his poor wife earned, and which his little ones needed. I took
the necessary steps, and received from General Butler the coupons for
his transportation. By this time I had had several interviews with his
family; and seeing how much misery the threatened separation was likely
to entail,--for they were deeply attached--father, mother, and
children--to each other,--I resolved to try and prevent it. To this end
I consulted Mrs. J. A. Kennedy, President of the Ladies' Union Relief
Association, who, having heard the pitiable case, consented to extend
the aid of the institution to the family, that they might stay together
as long as the father lived. Freighted with this news, I went to the
miserable home. They were waiting for me; had been sitting, weeping in
company for hours, expecting the separation. I cannot describe to you
the joy that filled that poor home when I told them that the father was
not to go. Their joy was more touching than even the preceding grief.
Had "S. W. H. C." been with me then, or had he seen so many of just
such cases as I have seen, he would be much slower in coming to
judgment of the poor organ-grinder. For it is this love of wife and
children, which we honor, or ought to honor, which sends the married
soldier on the street to beg in this way, rather than take life easy,
and "fight his battles o'er and o'er again" in an asylum. The soldier
above referred to is still alive, thanks to the assistance given him by
General Butler and the good ladies of the Association.
The asylums, as they are at present ordered, cannot meet cases like
these; but they merit help, and should have it in some fashion. The
Ladies' Union Relief Association does much to keep a great number off
the street who would otherwise present much more disagreeable pictures
than the organ-grinders to the eyes of your sensitive correspondent;
but their means are limited. They cannot reach all who need. Until the
country has reached out her helping hand to all to whom she owes
assistance as a right, it is in bad taste to find fault with the mode
in which the disabled soldier tries to earn a living for his family.