Gen. Alger And The Veterans

A correspondent of the ínter Ocean who was with Sen. Alger and his party, when tliey visited the Grand Army Encampments of Indiana and Illinois, writes sorne pleasant thingsabout Alger and ihecainps that ourex-fcoldier readers wül enjoy. The letter from whi h we quote isdated Chicago, March 10: "Ihave been saüing through the realms of Grand Arraydom as a sort of satellite to Commander-in-chief Alger. I took in two Indiana and Illinois enoampments, and I'nn panting for somebody to put me in my little bed. As a promoter of fun and fatness department encarapments are a roaring success; but as tributarles to "tired nature's eweet restorer, balmy sleep," they fall a little below my highe.-t ideal. I never yet eaw a dry department camp fire, but I've seen a "power" of "dry men after the campfire was over - or heard them rather - and it takes them a long while to dry up. # ♦ ♦ Gen. Alger and staff, with a deputation (rom the encampment, visited the Women's Relief Corps, (of Indianapoüs) where the General made a very graceful and effective speech, and General Weissert, Colonel Du ffield, Major Osman - Michigan's immensely popular Secretary of State - and the rest of us brought up the rear. Mr. Alger in his speech alluded in eloquent terms to these women, who had "hovered like angela around the hospitals during the war," but Colonel Duffield spoiled the whole thing by declaring ihar. from the appearance of tbeir pretty faces he would make oath that there was not one of them who had not been bom since the war, and the idea of iheir "hovering" was a myth. We came through from Iudianapolis to Quincy in General Algers's special car. ïhiB is the car that is crusbing more democratie hearts than the car occupied by the late Mr. Jnggernaut, although not so elegantly decorated and upholntered as is that of Senator Brice.ofNew Yohiork. Itfailsin another point of resemblance also: It was not paid for with rnoney made in trusts and stock gambling, but witb the earnings of legitímate business, helpful alike to the country and the individual laborer. In that car we were brought to Decatur over the Indianapolis, Decatur and Western Eailroad. The engine not only carried us with a velocity that sinelled of ozone, but it had an ejectric headlight that was the astoni6hment and admiration of all. General Alger and all our party rode upon the engine by turns to witness the power of tbat light. At Decatur we were picked up by the Wabash and whirled into Quincy three hours ahead of the committee's programme, and it was amusing to look into the faces of the committee of reception as they saw Gen. Alger saunter up to the register of the Newomb. Visions of a grand parade in open carriages, with sashes and ribboned batons and ail glimmering. But, after a whilo, when they went into the Opera House General Alger "hoofed it" through the mud with the rest of the procession, and his staff followed his example "for the looks of the thing." Quincy has no such grand auditorium as Indianapolis, but it is ampie for ordinary gatherings. Quincy's crown of fïlory is her State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home. It is just three years old, says the commandant, and has sheltered 1,564 veterans to date. It now carries 1,084 upon its roster, but some are absent on leave, so that 900 about covers the answers to roll-call. The roll of the dead numbers 142, ofwhom 100 lie in the home cemetery. The average age ofthose now there is 59. It costa $100 a yearto feed, clothe, and pay traveling expenses of each resident, and the General Government pays half of this, and ought to pay the whole.