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Question. Have you other musical or dramatic associations?—Answer. There are two dramatic associations, who give entertainments during the winter, making pleasure not only in anticipation, but in reality. As evidence of the effect of discipline, it is a pleasure to state that the moral tone of their performance is above that of the average theaters; and so also is the behavior of the audience.

Question. How many lectures, concerts, and entertainments have you had during the year?-Answer. 57.

Question. What new buildings have been constructed and what improvements to buildings and grounds made during the year?—A. Bakery and surgeon's quarters.

Question. What amount has been expended therefor?-Answer. $3,775. Question. Have they added to your capacity; if so, how much?-Answer. 50 men.

Question. What number of men can you now care for at your branch, having due reference to health and comfort?—Answer. 950.

Question. What is the number actually present at the time of making your report?-Answer. 933.

Question. Will the number increase or diminish in your opinion during the next three months?-Answer. Increase.

Question. Can you properly care for all who will apply during the present winter?-Answer. Yes.

Question. From your experience in the Home, and your knowledge of the subject, give your opinion as to whether the number of disabled soldiers who will seek admission to the Home will increase or diminish during the next ten years?-Answer. In my opinion there will not be much, if any, increase in our numbers in the future, for the reasons that such times as we have had in 1878 must have brought out nearly all the soldiers likely to avail of the privileges of the Home. The number of those yet to come will be offset by deaths and the retirement of those men who are able and willing to do some work. These latter will no doubt find employment when business resumes its old activity.

25.

Question. What influence, if any, have the improvements of the buildings, adornment of the grounds, and the several opportunities for labor, instruction, amusement, &c., had upon the men?-Answer. A very good one, because elevating and tending to make an "esprit de corps," which is always to be desired.

Question. Is discipline made easier?-Answer. It is.

Question. Are the men improved in character and morals?-Answer. They are.

Question. Are the men contented and happy?—Answer. Wonderfully so.

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter..
Fourth quarter.

Total

26.

Question. What has been the total amount for running expenses of your Home during the year?-Answer:

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Question. What has been the average cost of keeping each man in your Home during the year?-Answer. With clothing, $134.25; without clothing, $119.37.

Question. Have you a store at your branch? Why was it started, and how is it managed; and what have been the gross sales and net profits during the year; and what generally have been the uses and purposes to which its profits have been devoted?-Answer. We have; gross sales, $14,788.28; net profits, $3,779.92. The store is managed by the storekeeper and clerk, under the supervision of the deputy governor. The profits have been applied to the purchase of music and costumes for the theater, books for the library, and generally for the men's amusement. Question. What have been the moral influences, if any, resulting from its establishment?-Answer. They have been good, inasmuch that the men are deprived of any excuse to go to town for any little things that they may desire to purchase.

27.

Question. State any other fact or matter that will tend to show the working of the Home, or the results accomplished during the year.Answer. Such is the uneventful life we lead here, buried in Maine, that it is almost impossible to find anything of general interest to add to previous reports. It may well be said, however, that at no time in the history of the Home has it seemed so much to justify the wisdom of its founders as it has during the late season of business depression. Men have come to us who, though partially disabled, have hitherto taken care of themselves.

Without any reflection upon old members of the institution it may truthfully be said that the character of the inmates has improved. The men generally intend to do right, and there is no difficulty in their management when simple justice is done them. To be sure we live under martial law, but that is nothing more than simple justice, adequately administered.

The shoe-shop and farm have given employment to most of those who desired to work. Not so many boots and shoes have been made, however, as the men could have done, because it is the policy of the board to con fine our product to the wants of the Homes for the volunteer soldiers. Could we have the work of supplying the Army it is probable that it

Total.

could be satisfactorily done. Many of the men have brought their families here, and live in cottages near the Home, receiving their ration in kind and carrying it home. They are also permitted to draw in excess of one ration on payment for the subsistence at cost from their pension money.

Much good has been done in this way. Drunkenness leads to bad feeling in the families; separation follows, the soldier leaving his wife and coming to the Home. Families so separated have been reunited here, and are now living happily. Something like one hundred and seventyfive of our men are thus "living outside" as they call it. Not all of them are married. Many of them live with farmers in the neighborhood, taking their ration, and perform such services for their hosts as makes them welcome.

It would, in my opinion, be a wise proceeding for the Board of Managers to authorize the erection of cottages, to be let to the inmates who desire them. We have no trouble in camp except when men come home from the towns in the vicinity drunk. Hence the risk has to be taken except in well-known cases. There is less liquor sold in the near vicinity of the Home than there was before the United States internal-revenue agent prosecuted parties for selling without a license, which, of course, they do not give at my request. In the towns on the Kennebec the men can get all they can pay for.

To lessen drunkenness, I have permitted the sale of light beer in the men's store for the past year. The effect has been very favorable, the commitments to the guard-house and the amount of fines exacted having decreased one-third.

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Breakfast.-Baked beans, brown bread, butter, coffee.
Dinner.-Boiled ham, bread pudding, molasses, bread, coffee.
Supper.-Prunes or crackers, bread, butter, tea.

Monday.

Breakfast.-Mackerel, potatoes, bread, butter, coffee.
Dinner.-Boiled beef, vegetable soup, bread, molasses.
Supper.-Apple sauce, bread, butter, tea.

Tuesday.

Breakfast.-Eggs or fish hash, bread, butter, coffee.

Dinner.-Corned beef, potatoes, pickles or vegetables, bread, tea, molasses.
Supper.-Gingerbread, bread, butter, tea.

Wednesday.

Breakfast.-Meat hash, bread, butter, coffee.

Dinner.-Roast beef, potatoes, pickles, bread, tea or coffee, molasses.
Supper.-Apple sauce or prunes, bread, butter, tea.

Thursday.

Breakfast -Baked beans, bread, butter, coffee.

Dinner.-Corned beef, potatoes, vegetables or pickles, bread, coffee, molasses.
Supper.-Crackers, bread, butter, tea.

Friday.

Breakfast.-Mackerel, potatoes, bread, butter, coffee.
Dinner.-Fresh fish, potatoes, bread, tea, molasses,
Supper.-Gingerbread, bread, butter, tea.

Saturday.

Breakfast.-Meat hash, bread, butter, coffee.

Dinner.-Roast mutton or veal, potatoes, pickles, bread, coffee, molasses.
Supper.-Cheese, bread, butter, tea.

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Expenditures and receipts pertaining to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Eastern Branch, from January 1, 1878, to Decem er 31, 1878.

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