Its Board of Directors comprises some of the ablest spirits of the West. Among them are Generals Julius White and Beveridge, Mrs. H. Sayrs, and others. Mrs. Sanford is now its worthy Vice-President. She is an efficient lady, and one who throughout the entire war exerted herself in the most laudable manner for our country and the saviours of our Republic. Mrs. McAuley, the gifted daughter of Mrs. Henry Sayrs, is also a member of the present Board and a lady deserving more notice than our space permits. A superior education has developed rare natural gifts, and being possessed of youth, beauty and influence, she has cheerfully laid these with many of her brightest years upon the altar of her country.

But from this local State Home to the National Soldiers' Homes, we must now turn, and here let the abler pen of a talented lady speak for us. Says Mrs. Mary Ashton Livermore:

"While at Dayton, Ohio, we made a brief visit to the Soldiers' Home, established some three miles from that city. By an act of Congress, all the forfeited and unclaimed pay and bounty of the army during the war, amounting to about eleven million dollars, was appropriated to establish a National Soldiers' Home, of which there are to be three, the Eastern at Augusta, Maine; the Central and largest at Dayton, Ohio, and the Western at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

"These are to be made sufficiently ample for the accommodation of all the homeless, military invalids of the country. We have been informed that another large appropriation has been made for these Homes. For years there has been a Soldiers' Home in Washington for the disabled soldiers of the regular army, which has been maintained by a fund accruing from a tax of ten cents, assessed monthly on the private soldiers, who were the only par

ties ever likely to need a home of this kind. The provision for its support was so far beyond the need, that in the course of years this fund had accumulated to about thirteen million dollars. This sum is also at the service of the three National Soldiers' Homes, if it is needed. So it will be seen that there is no lack of means to take care of the brave men, properly, and in the best manner, who have laid health, and limbs, and earthly prospects on the altar of their country. The grounds of the Dayton Home are beautifully located on the sightly, airy, fertile bluffs of the Miami, three miles from Dayton, and comprise about five hundred and eighty acres. These grounds are laid out with artificial lakes, and streams, and fountains, with elegant drives, and walks, with rare shrubbery and flower gardens, and green-houses, so as to make it an earthly paradise. Horticulture and floriculture, as well as substantial agriculture, are attended to, and those of the men who are able, are to have a share in the beautifying and cultivating of their home. Every man's occupation, or trade, or specialty is ascertained, and, as far as possible, is ministered to. It is meant to make each of these Homes a little world of itself, with all the means of living, improvement, and enjoyment within itself. There is a reading-room and library which is to be well stocked with the best of books and periodicals, and is to be kept up by the addition of new reading matter, and properly taken care of by a competent librarian. There will be a gymnasium, a billiard hall, a hall for concerts and society meetings, and a chapel, a Good Templars' Hall, a Free-Masons Lodge, a brass band, and, indeed, any thing that can conduce to comfort, happiness or profit. There is a regularly appointed chaplain to every Home, but once in two weeks pains are taken to secure in rotation the services of the various clergyman near them, of whatever denomination. There was but one story told by all-we are taken care of in the best manner, every body is good to us, every thing is done for us.'

"General Ingraham, who was with Banks at Port Hudson, and subsequently stationed near Washington, is Superintendent at Dayton. He is a grand, white-haired, military-looking man, who appears to take a fatherly interest over those under his care, and of whom the soldiers speak in a way that is pleasant to hear. The sadness naturally awakened by seeing so many physical wrecks of men, whose shattered, maimed bodies tell of

their efforts in behalf of our common country, is mitigated by their reiterated statement that they are well cared for, and as happy as outward circumstances can make them. We had some hours unrestrained chat with them, and heard not one complaint. "The time is coming when these three Soldiers' Homes will be among the most famous places of resort in our country. Tourists will take them in their routes of travel, and Young America' will there learn anew the meaning of the word patriotism, as it listens to the stories of heroism and sacrifice, which these enshrined invalids can tell."

CHAPTER XXI.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

SKETCH OF MRS. HENRY SAYRS.

IN one of his most finished and characteristic orations, Cicero expresses pride in the fact that he was a "novus homo". a new man. By this term the Romans designated citizens who had achieved preeminence in some worthy pursuit, and had arisen from among the people to the highest and most honored place in the gift of the nation; and Cicero took a laudable pride in having become one of the "new men" of his day.

While the late war has raised up thousands from the ranks of "citizens," loaded them with honors, and gloriously crowned them "new men," the noble women who have worked at their side, and been the inspiration, and often the origin, of every new and revolutionary enterprise, have earned titles as merited as the chiefest of our leaders, and won victories as great as Cicero ever dared to boast.

American women no longer follow in the dull, beaten track of examples, but striking out into new and untried paths, lay their plans and execute their purposes with self-poise, and fearless of results. The late war has developed in woman new character, and enabled her to rise to a measure of usefulness that

was hitherto, even by herself, undreamed of. May God speed her in the work.

Among the first ranks of "new women" raised up to us by the late civil war, stands prominent the name of Mrs. Henry Sayrs. That books are not already filled with her patriotic labors, and distant lands sounding the praises of her name, is because she lives so completely in the heart of her home and friends that her true womanly nature desires no more. Her fine presence and able address might have won distinction as a lecturer; her diversified talents would have been legions of strength in any department of these thrilling times; but ambition courted no such publicity, and indifference to applause bound her to the spot where works, not words, told the story of her life. of history to repeat it, her deeds of kindness are written in grateful joy upon the inmost heart of the soldier and his family. She has drawn tributetears from hardened hearts, and blessings from dying lips; she has brought hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak, and light to the obscure abode of the desolate widow and orphan; she has, in the fullest sense, "fed the hungry, clothed the naked, taken in the stranger, visited the sick and in prison," and toiled night and day for years to build comfortable homes for the "war-scarred heroes" daily pouring into them.

There is no need

Clara Barton worked on the field, Mrs. Sarah C. Sayrs worked at home. Elizabeth Cady Stanton thrilled thousands from the public forum, but the