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SOLDIERS' HOMES AND SOLDIERS' MONUMENTS.

LAST year, when the Wallace monument was first proposed in this country, we acknowledged the debt, aad admitted the justice of paying it. A leader who in seven short years carved his name so very deep into his nation's history that it has lived for half a millennium, and will be read there for ever, has a monument more enduring than the pyramids; yet that is no reason for declining to embody a people's gratitude in stone. At that time, however, we mentioned the propriety of rendering the stone that might record the past useful for the future. One French writer says that the world might build a memorial of Noah on the same principle that the Scotch propose to erect one of Wallace. The Frenchman imagines that the land is his best memorial, and he is correct; but we know of no reason against concentrating the land for this purpose in one spot.

Mankind consult usually the known or presumed taste of those whom they wish to be held in remembrance, when they select the means of perpetuating their name and story. In many cases that can only be done by ascertaining their habits and pursuits. The general idea entertained of Sir William Wallace is that of a rough but skilful warrior, endowed with marvellous strength of arm, and courage that never shrunk from any trial. His sword is preserved as an evidence of his sonal power, and if he used the weapon which tradition assigns to him, his strength far exceeded that of common men.

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This popular notion of Wallace consists with such authentic history as we possess. It is correct so far as the man is delineated; but one set of peculiarities is described and all the others are omitted. Nearly all nations have their heroes, and many virtues are ascribed to each. The Scottish hero had the virtues of military courage and skill developed very largely, and as they told more strongly with a military people than any others, and were more intelligible perhaps to their bards and historians than his political services to Scotland; they have been described more fully than his diplomatic qualifications, or than those accomplishments that rather belong to private than to public life.

We are not to re-write the wondrous story of this short life-to tell again how in the course of seven years the younger son in a squire's family defeated and overthrew the armies and generals of a great and popular monarch-wrested from him the possession of a kingdom-fought all the hostile influence of feudal power-out of a nation of serfs raised an independent army, amenable only to the royal authority, which he, as Regent, wielded-gave to the nation's Parliament a rude but strong life-knew how alike to lead in cabinet or camp, and how in camp or court to be led and to obey-solved, so far as a solution was practicable then, all the problems of the day between

people, peers, and king, and reconciled them all to the national cause; and, amid ceaseless and passionate struggles for national existence, for personal and public vengeance, contrived to cultivate, to encourage, and to extend national commerce, and to ally national independence with individual industry, eliciting at once from crude materials a mercantile and a military spirit-and in a selfish age, from a selfish aristocracy and a domineering priesthood, gaining popular rights, without the reproach of having sought personal objects for personal ends.

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Wallace was the man of the people, and the faithful servant of a monarch in a foreign prison. To the people he would have given personal freedom to the sovereign a throne iudependent alike of domestic and foreign superiors. He struck not down alone the feudal power of the Norman king, but also the feudal strength of the great Norman barons. The system of serf-hood existed long after his death, but his life secured its death. The burghal influences were the roots of political freedom; and he planted them. His regency restored old Saxon customs, and once more made the people a power in the state. We think of him now as the great national chief in the struggle between Scotland and England. Those who read that history aright see in it the olden strife between Saxon and Norman-between the aristocratic and democratic elements of the same racea strife fought on other fields, for apparently dif ferent objects, in future times, between Cromwell and Rupert.

Sir William Wallace was for his age and in his age a scholar of liberal attainments; conversant with the best works of art in Europe, and probably, therefore, a man of taste; fond as all men of that character and time were of carved columns in stately temples, on which art then chiefly traced

the evidence of its existence.

An old portrait is fondly supposed by some enthusiasts to preserve the features of the man. We would not roughly break the dream of a harmless fancy, but portrait-painting was not in a very advanced state in this country six hundred years since.

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The friends of this painting overcome every difficulty that chronological one inclusive-by reminding us that Wallace visited Paris and Rome, and was known in continental courts. These circumstances do not help the matter much; but the painter had studied the history of his subject. He lived nearer the events of that leader's life by two or three centuries than those who now write of them. The general state of society in the days of the Bruce and Wallace was more intelligible to him perhaps than to us. He was a man of genias; and at least, if he could do no more, he placed on canvas the opinion that he had formed of this great leader. The painting denotes a man of calm

EDWARD AND WALLACE.

rather than stern determination; of strong intelli- | gence and resolution-a man whom we would anticipate to cope with difficulties and overcome them to meet troubles and not be vanquished by them-a man of heroic spirit, who would not be elated greatly with success, but who would not quiver at the edge of the axe. From the features we should infer the immense physical strength that he is said to have possessed; and yet over them hangs a shade of gentleness, and a mournful tint, gathered from the day when the lady who was said to have been his wife was mur dered by his foes.

This circumstance is forgotten often, that the martyr to freedom on Smithfield was a very young man. Sir William Wallace died in early youth. He had a great work to do. He did it well, even to the end-to the scaffold and the torture, decreed for him by a great king of England, in many respects an able and a great monarch, but so destitute of generosity that having paid a traitor to betray a still abler and a greater soldier than himself, he not only ordered his death, but his death by torture. The haughty Edward dreamed not then that the death-warrant of Wallace was that also of all his ambition and hopes, the insult which made reconciliation im possible-which fired hearts that were before almost hopeless-inspired purposes that were nearly extinguished-irritated the nobility and the squirearchy of the land which he wished to make a county or a province-and kindled into fury that commonalty to whom Wallace had been the object of profound hero-worship, and who in all changing scenes stood by him, always constant and faithful-the unbroken spearmen whom he had trained that noble democracy of burghers and peasants whose vengeance for many sufferings made Roslin heights but a red, red mire, and for their leader's death of agony made Bannockburn a river of blood-who cared for neither faction nor king, but followed the Comyn to Roslin, or the Bruce to Stirling, intent on one conclusion, and that alone their national independence.

Edward's courage was often placed beyond cavil or doubt. He was a brave man-the bravest of the brave among the kings of his day. He was a wise man, for the policy which he proposed was necessary to the ultimate greatness of the three kingdoms; but he was not a good man, or a sagacious prince. The wisdom of Henry VII., whose valour was not less tried on battle fields, rendered possible by peace what Edward made impossible by war; but Edward had none of Henry's wise determination to gain from kindness what was lost to power.

We revert to the statement that those who would preserve the memory of a great man should consult his own tastes and wishes. We cannot raise the dead and seek from them a knowledge of what, in our circumstances, their views would have been; but we can read their history, and form some intelligent judgment on the subject. The

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times of columns and pyramids are past. Mankind have not become less grateful, but they would evoke good from gratitude, and give to every design a utilitarian colour; and thus they should act for their resources are not greater than their work.

Are we then to make the memory of Wallace a peg whereupon to hang some benevolent project of the nineteenth century? That is nearly what we are to persuade others, if possible, to do. Certainly we do not deem the endowment of an almshouse or the establishment of a ragged school, on some gigantic scale, appropriate memorials of this chieftain. They are benevolent projects, undoubtedly; but we want to pay a debt with the monument. The committee have a considerable fund in hand, although we think it might have been larger ere the present date; and we have no doubt that ample means could be obtained for a fitting memorial to this soldier and statesman.

A lady some years since, when the nation was in difficulty, left her home, and devoted her time and money to watch over the comfort of the sick and wonnded in our military hospitals. The act was heroic in its nature, and when the necessity that caused it had passed away, a proposal was made to perpetuate its occurrence by some means. The lady is rich and required no reward of any kind. That was known well by those who first proposed to keep in memory perpetually the services she had rendered to the army and the country. Their object could have been effected in several ways, but they consulted her opinion; and the result has been the certain establishment of a school for "sick nurses," where females, in other respects qualified, may be trained to perform duties that hitherto have not been deemed so important as to need any particular teaching. It will form a better memorial of the exertions and self-denial evinced by Miss Nightingale, than any Cleopatra's Needle that art could have devised and labour raised; although no reason exists for excluding art from the execution of the monument, which will consistently and usefully tell hereafter, the history of the Scutari hospitals.

The same good feeling and good sense have been evinced in recording public esteem for several men who have done the public good service; and a cruel want exists in Scotland now, which the Wallace memorial might supply.

The military service for some years before the Russian war had been overlooked. The idea of a universal peace, inaugurated, we were told, in Hyde park, during 1851, occupied a broad place in public feeling. Many persons believed that mankind had drawn near to the happy era when nations should learn war no more; and the interests of the army and navy, and all questions concerning them, were neglected. The nation continued to pay large sums of money, certainly, on the account for its defence. Measures were adopted, after it had been discovered rather suddenly that our defensive power was not sufficient,

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THE POWYS ENDOWMENT FUND.

to form a militia and increase the naval force; but none were then taken to improve the moral and physical condition of the army, on which its efficiency must depend. We know that for several years libraries, savings banks, and schools, had been in operation among a number of regiments; but they did not involve that outlay which is absolutely requisite to remunerate the class of men on whom the defence of the country is thrown.

The Russian war disclosed the destitution of soldier's families, when they were ordered on foreign service, in a very appalling manner. We need not attempt to describe the circumstances which were made known, and met partially by the Patriotic Fund, and incidentally by other means. This fund attained its magnitude in a great measure from the exertions of Major Powys, who acted as the honorary secretary of the committee. That gentleman passed three years of almost ceaseless and gratuitous labour in the promotion of this fund; and when the final allocation of the means in the possession of the central committee was made, a balance of £11,000, under the name of "The Powys Endowment Fund," was voted "as a lasting memorial of the gratitude entertained by the committee for his exertions, to an object on which he had set his heart after his experience had shown its necessity.

The Government makes a slight provision-we believe, sixpence daily for the wives of soldiers, who have been married with the permission of their officer, when they are ordered on foreign service; but no provision has been made for their children, and none whatever in those cases of marriage which have occurred without the consent exacted by military regulations.

Major Powys sought to make provision for one class left helpless, often under peculiar circumstances of trial; and in conjunction with the friends who had acted with him on the central committee of the Patriotic Fund, he established a home for the orphan daughters of soldiers; in which also the motherless female children of soldiers might be received. The endowment which we have noticed, was given to this Institution. The annual proceeds from eleven thousand pounds cannot supply a large part of the expenditure, and for its support, the house depends naturally upon the public.

The Soldier's Daughter's Home, as the name betokens, is a refuge for the orphan or bereaved daughters of private soldiers. Hearing of its excellence, we wished to see it, and, having seen it, we now set forth that excellence, that others may read and, like ourselves, wish to see—and, like ourselves, go and see-and, having seen, feel the interest they ought to feel in it; for every one who is possessed of any right feeling must take an interest in anything so truly good and useful. This institution is located for a time in a fine old house at Hampstead, used until the building (situated in close proximity) which is in progress of erection, shall be completed.

To this present abode then we went, and as we walked up the broad avenue which leads from the lodge gate to the house we met many children of various ages, from three years old or even younger to thirteen or fourteen, playing healthfully and happily in the grounds.

On entering the house, and on inquiring for the matron, we were shown to a room, which we imagined to be her private sitting-room; but two little creatures were there with her, talking to aud smiling at each other.

We visited the school-rooms and dormitories, and were struck with the neatness, cleanliness, and order of the whole, the latter in particular, where the counterpanes which covered each bed were of spotless whiteness; and we mention this because they are washed by the children themselves-in fact, the greater part of the domestic work of the establishment is done by the children; for as the entire object of their culture and education is to make them good and useful members of the community in the station which they will probably occupy, so they are taught to do all which will advance that object, and are brought up as a class very much needed in the present day, i. e., good and respectable female servants.

Our present purpose does not require any lengthened account of the asylum, and having inspected the still, we turned to the active life of the place the children themselves-and found some of them in one room engaged in needle-work upon their own future frocks; for, under the superintendence of the nurse, they make their own clothes. So there they were stitching away at their scarlet frocks-and very neatly were they stitching too-gathering, and sewing in skirts, and performing all the wonderful intricacies of dressmaking, and through it all looking as happy as happy could be. We always look for happiness in a child's existence; for we hold it to be one necessary concomitant in the career of the young. Trial, and sorrow, and anxiety must come in after life; but the young may and should be happy. We have seen care on a baby face-or an almost baby face-but it is a sight we would not see again; and it is a sight we should never see if every poor child could have such an abode found her as those enjoy who inhabit the Soldier's Daughter's Home.

After we had inspected the sewing department, we returned to the school-room, dining-hall, and infant school-room. In the latter, a group of cheerful little faces smiled on us. They seemed very busy about something or other-very much engaged in their play, for it was the hour of recreation; and we could not help contrasting their condition with what it would have been had they been left to drink in the contamination of a barrack life, and listen to the reckless words of a barrack square.

Perhaps no female children of any caste or degree are exposed to more temptation than soldiers' daughters. Brought up in the midst of men-reared from the very cradle in a publicity

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it, watch over her, and shield her from danger and harm. She has gained a home and a "parentage" as a substitute for the parents she had lost.

which alone is almost destructive of female | for life, friends who will, as long as she deserves modesty unable to step from their own doors even without being surrounded with soldiers mixing with them during every hour of the dayinsidiously imbibing their thoughts and principles-for we know how insidiously thoughts and principles creep into the minds of the youngwhat wonder if seeds of vice are then sown which spring up and bring forth bitter fruit in after life? Then the mother, perchance-living under the same circumstances-her mind vitiated from the same cause either cannot or will not breathe those words of truth which might, and could, and would save the poor child from the snares of the world. The father of a child thus situated dics-perhaps the mother also-and the poor child is cast alone on the world, nothing in its heart to shield and guide it-nothing in its poor untutored mind but the abandon of the barrack square, the beating of the drums, the bugle-calls, the laugh, the jest, and all the accompanying excitement of the day; for all these circumstances of their existence do carry with them a certain amount of excitement.

Left thus alone in the wide world, she may, if she be fortunate, find some good Samaritan to give her food and shelter, perhaps scarcely that, and, if that, nothing more; no moral culture-no food for the hungry soul-nothing for that to feed on; and food for the soul is quite as essential as food for the starving body, and if, to satisfy its cravings, it cannot obtain that which is good, it will take that which is corrupt and evil. She is left then-being simply fed and clothed-to the childish idleness of the gutter, and, when sufficiently matured, provided with some occupation as a means of life-an occupation which must necessarily be of some low kind, her education having fitted her for no other. She follows it for a time; then its toil becomes irksome to her. She has no thought to teach her that toil, with God's blessing, will give her a happier life than idleness with alienation from him. As she advances in life, all human failings become strengthened, and then the curse of her early training works. She either lives in a state of wantonness, or, marrying, makes the same reckless wife that too many mothers have made before her.

From this moral danger such institutions as the one of which we now write, are as efficient a remedy as human means can devise for children who have no relatives able and willing to care for them. The child is taken, cared for, trained, taught to look beyond this life for all good-taught to live in this life for all good-given habits of utility; shown that industry and virtue can support more happily, than idleness and vice. A home is provided for her while she is too young to make one for herself, a situation is sought and obtained for her, and should she from any circumstance not resulting from an error of her own, be unfortunate enough to lose it, she is again received in the house, until another situation be found. Thus she is provided with the means of a respectable maintenance

We will mention one instance, one dreadful instance, where two children, two poor helpless children, deserted by their wretched mother, were saved from evils we have been describing. During the progress of the late war, a private of the Fusilier Guards, was ordered to the Crimea with his regiment. No sooner had he gone than his wife, from what cause we do not know, but we hope it was abject want,- -we say we hope it, because we trust nothing else could induce so horrible and unnatural a crime-determined to get rid of her three children. For this purpose she took them out with her, and making some slight excuse, left them on the doorstep of the house where the colonel of the regiment resided. They remained there for some time expecting her return-expecting in vain. After awhile, they became frightened, and then the elder girl, not knowing what else to do, rang the bell. To the servant who came, she told her tale. This tale produced inquiries which led to the admission of herself and her sister to the house where for the last two years they have resided. The third child being a boy was received elsewhere. The father of these children died on his passage home; the worthlesss mother still lives. At the time of their admission, the younger child could not have been more than eighteen months old, the elder somewhere about eight or ten. As it is not very likely the mother will ever be a desirable or competent protector for them, the home will, in all probability, be their abode, until they can maintain themselves. This is a solitary case, one out of the many we might name did space permit.

A happy temperament is observable throughout the institutaon, and perfect sympathy and affection appears to exist between the children and matron. One of the little girls a few days since came up to her, and, with a coaxing expression on her little face, proffered the assurance that " Mrs. Langdale, we are all very fond of you; we all love you very much, Mrs. Langdale; very much indeed, Mrs. Langdale; and Mrs. Langdale—you said if we were good girls, you would give us an apple."

This might certainly be deemed what is commonly called "cupboard love;" but nevertheless it shows the familiar degree of affection which exists between those who almost occupy the relative positions of parent and children.

Two little girls, the daughters of a soldier in the 72nd regiment, a native of Glasgow, are now in the institutiou. Their ages are four and six years respectively. Their father is with his regiment in India; Their mother is dead. The matron said that their father was much depressed at parting with his little daughters; whom he may never meet again; but whom he could not hope to see for many years; yet how much more depressed must he have been, if the children had not obtained a home, except the workhouse, to which the little

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IMPORTANCE OF THE INSTITUTION.

daughters of men who daily place their lives in jeopardy, for national purposes, should not be consigned. The soldier's arm will be nerved in the day of battle, and in drearier days of duty, by the knowledge that those whom he left behind him, are cared for and kindly taught—not by contributions forced through poor rates, but by those who feel that in training his children to a life of industrial usefulness, they also, like him, only discharge a duty.

The institution commenced by Major Powys can only meet a comparatively few cases, although the committee have been enabled to offer education and support for twenty-five female orphans from India; in addition to the large number of existing residents. Still, it is a beneficial example; and a similar scheme is required in Scotland, for female children. Boys may be educated in the schools already provided; but neither the government nor the public have made any provision for girls.

An obvious opportunity occurs in Scotland to commence an institution of this character, or one more extended in its operations. The money collected for the Wallace memorial would form the nucleus of a fund which would gradually grow sufficient for all national purposes. A better locality than Stirling could not perhaps be named, and its adoption would leave out all geographical questions from the discussion. The only reason for changing the locality could be afforded by any landowner who might offer a suitable site as his donation.

It is not possible to doubt that the hero of antiquity, whose merits were to be recorded on granite, if his opinion could be obtained, would have preferred the association of his name with active benefits to this and to future generations. Upon that question no doubt could exist. The propriety of connecting a military home with his name is obvious. The perfect success of the scheme is not in any way doubtful. The payments to the Patriotic Fund from Scotland approached to £150,000; and it might not be difficult to obtain in two or three years two-thirds of the sum to endow the monument of the past for the good of the future. It might be difficult, but it would be done; and would give us some assurance that thre relatives of men, in whose actions the country is rather apt to take a commendable pride, would not be left destitute, and in the case especially of female orphans, left destitute in circumstances which have led often to worse than the direst destitution-to all ruin.

We deem the character of the army a matter of

essential importance, or people say so; for wheu we remember that General Havelock's army, unsurpassed as they have ever been for bravery and devotion to duty-had not even one of the many missionaries in India with them, to console a dying man, or mingle words of comfort with his parting breath, or convey his farewell to distant friends-we think it wiser to state the truth, that the people say they feel a deep interest in the character of the army, rather than to judge by acts.

The army do more to represent, or to misrepresent, the national character in foreign lands, or heathen possessions, than any other class of men; and it would be profitable and wise to bestow upon their comfort and training some care corresponding to their importance in that respect. We know that this can be effected in many ways, but in none better than by making provision that their affections shall not be deadened, and their hearts seared, by the dread that no eye watches, and no hand guides, those whom once they must have loved; for nearly all men love their children. Their gratitude would be elicited, and even their self-respect be raised, by the knowledge that when their duty to the nation compelled the abandonment of their duty to their children, at least all that could be done was cheerfully done to occupy towards the young that place which had become vacant; and not in the dry detail of a workhouse, but in the more kindly routine of an established home, made their own. And even if it were pos sible to suppose this object would not be accomplished-that the father would not be a better soldier with the knowledge that his children were in comfort during his absence, and would not exercise a good influence over his comrades-still, when the hour comes, as it comes to many, often after many days and nights in the cells of an hospital, that a soldier has given all for his country that heaven gave to him-health and life-it were well to take from that man any agony that may arise then for the fate of his family-well, also, to provide, so far as man can provide, that they should grow up in a good instead of a wicked path.

Therefore, we hope that the members of the Wallace Memorial Committee may so far change their plans as to utilise the feeling in favour of their object, and combine it, as they may combine it, with a national work that the man whose memory they seek to honour-if he had lived in our times-would, of all men who have lived before them, have shown the greatest anxiety to

secure.

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