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It might, perhaps, be judicious to adopt the plan of working by the piece or job, rather than any fixed number of hours, since this would throw upon the invalid himself the risk of the fatigue involved in the effort to labor. He could work as little or as long as he pleased, knowing that his wages would vary accordingly, and whatever he did, he would know best his ability to continue doing. While the rules of the Home would enjoin labor upon all who were capable, the spur of wages would greatly increase the number of laborers and the products of their industry. The apparent hardship of being made to work, would thus in a great measure be done away with. Employment brought directly to the hands of all willing and capable workmen would place the Government in the light of a double benefactor, and secure the best foundation for a thrifty administration of its charities. Leaving the length of daily toil to be regulated by the stimulus of wages as well as by sheer physical capacity, there could be little doubt that it would reach a much larger extension in its results, than if compulsion alone and not wages entered into the incentives to industry. Humanity and economy would both be represented in this plan of action, and as all competent and industrious invalids would find in it a sphere for independent acquisition, so all would be interested in the successful working of the plan. The object ever to be kept in view, would be that of raising the invalid in his own estimation, by proving to him that despite his infirmities and his inability to cope with the healthy in the open labor-market, he is still, by the just and humane provisions of Government, rendered a productive agent in society, useful to his fellowmen, and largely, if not completely, self-sustaining.

Officers, of whatever grade, entering Asylums, should be assigned to positions of command corresponding to their abilities. They might render themselves extremely useful in positions requiring intelligence and administrative talent. As superintendents of workshops -- paymasters -- accountants, and the like, there would be a wide field opened for their talents; while in the military government of the institution, they could be assigned important and honorable positions. Nothing lowering the grade of their position should be tolerated, for many of them would be brought in contact with old companions in arms, whom formerly they had commanded, and it would be wrong and unjust, not to say impolitic, to make the honorable misfortune of invalidism a reason for lowering them relatively in the eyes of their subalterns. Let the dignity of their rank and its prerogatives cling to them still. They have done their duty; won the approbation of their country, and deserve her tenderest regard in all things appertaining to those professional honors for which they have risked health and life. Let not, therefore, a single breath of indignity tarnish their fair escutcheon. Palmam qui meruit, ferat.

RELINQUISHMENT OF PENSION.

It follows almost as a corollary from the foregoing propositions, that, when an Invalid enters such a Home or Asylum, he should, if a private, relinquish his Pension. But if a commissioned officer, then only so much of it as would constitute a fair equivalent for his board.

The present tariff of pensions, as declared by the Act of July 14, 1862, 1, is as follows:

The Pension of all officers above the grade of 1st Lieutenant, being sufficient to support them with economy outside of Asylums, it is not likely that many of that class would be found in them. Still, entrance being optional, some, particularly in old age, would be very happy to find a refuge within their walls. At the Invalides, in 1862, there were one Major and fifteen Captains, besides all inferior grades of officers. It is not unlikely that officers of similar rank in our service, may occasionally avail themselves of the advantages presented by these Homes.

So far as relates to the relinquishment of the Pension on the part of privates, it seems but an act of justice and fair compensation towards the Government. No one will pretend that a man can support himself in idleness upon $8 a month. His board alone is worth more than that, computing it even by the army ration table of 30 cents a day. Add lodging, clothing, fuel, and washing to this, and the amount would speedily reach $2 per week more. These estimates are intended to apply to individuals living apart in civil life. When large numbers of men, however, are fed together and lodged together, the pro rata of each, for cost of living, becomes proportionally lessened, as all know. The cost of maintaining the Invalides, in France, is about 2fr. 50c. per head a day, or 50 cents of our money. We could not improve much upon it, although there is this to be observed in relation to the Invalides, viz: that the establishment is not more than half full, and the addition of other inmates would only increase the provision bill, but not that for the maintenance of the large administrative staff of the Hospital. Hence, increasing the number of inmates would but slightly, if at all, increase the cost per man for the whole institution.