The National tribune., 1885-07-16
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
terS--NOtes from the Departments.
HEADQUARTERS WoMAN's RELIEF CORPS,
BosToN, MASS.
SARAH E. FULLER National President.
ELEANOR ID. WHEELER. National Secretary.

SARAH Z. FULLER, National President.
ELEANOR b. WHEELER. National Secretary
Social Relaxation and Sightseeing About the Hub.
Mrs. Bankers Home at Naldon-Excursions to
Plymouth Rock and Nantasket.
BosToN MASS, July 10.
The week has been an eventful one in
Woman's Relief Corps circles, chiefly In social
way, and the Western delegations tarrying in
Boston have expressed greatest qualification
over the bounteous hospitality extended to
them on every side. As your present CORE
spondent is of the party of the Past National
President, Mrs. Sherwood, the views expressed
here may be considered as rejecting the senti-
meuts of all concerned.
When the first National President Mrs. f.
Florence Barker, extended an invitation to
the Third Annual Convention TO visit Boston,
promising to afford information and secure the
best arrangements to all who would report TO
the National Treasurer, Mrs. Turner, at IA
Temple Place, the delegates accepting little
knew the pleasures in store for them. Invita-
tions were specially rendered to the retiring
National Officers and their Aids to become the
home guests of Mrs. Barker, Mrs. Goodale. De-
partment President of Massachusetts,; Mrs.
Turner, Mrs Fuller, National Presdent-elect.
and others, and in numerous instances were
accepted. Some of the guests still linger. and
at COL Bankers hospitable home at Maiden
one of the most delightful of the Boston SUBJ
urbs-we find Past Commander-in-Ch Chief Van
Dervoort, Mrs. Gen. Sherwood and Mrs. Gen.
Rice. of Ohio Mrs. Rice, the wife of Gen. A.V.
Rice, author of the Arrears OF Pension Bill, and
one of the charter members of Forsyth Relief
Corps of Toledo, although her home is In OF
tawa has received a warm welcome from Mas
sachusetts comrades, both as a tribute of respect
for her soldier husband and for her own indi-
vidual worth and many personal charms In
speaking of Gen. Rice's noble work for his
comrades while serving in the United States
Congress, Gen. Van Dcrvoort said: :" would
rather be the author of the Arrears of Pension
Bill than of the Declaration of Independence"
THE BARKER HOME.
The home of COL and Mrs. Barker is known
far and wide as the abode of hospitality and
good cheer and one of the head centers of the
Grand Army fraternity in Massachusetts. Col.
Barker was the Colonel of the 18th n. H.,
which covered itself with glory, and his own
record is one of which the proudest veteran
may well be proud. The fervid patriotism of
'61-'65 still burns within his heart, and we are
not surprised to find in him one of the prime
factors IN the annual Soldiers Home benefits,
of which last Winters carnival is the most sig
nifcant netting over $50 900 for the homeless
and pensionless old soldiers at Chelsea.
In Mrs. Barker the Colonel has found an ever
present inspiration. Her father. w. A. Whit
trlQgc, bylRONlllS, MISS, WAS UTSb engage
in the successful manufacture of shoes. an in
dustry which is now so important not only to
Massachusetts but the country. He has sure
place IN history among the earlier Abolition
agitators and one of the first to recognize the
rights of woman and employ female labor He
cast the first freesoil vote in the town, and
leaves behind him the record of liberal minded,
consistent, philanthropic gentleman.
AtLynn, teeming with its clustering facto-
RIGS and ifs thnuSands af hiISy onarn ives and
to which a special charter will be given,-we
find his eldest son, Nj. ii. Whittridge an active
member of the firm of Dole & Whittridge. He
is a veteran of the celebrated Post 5, of Lynn,
which made such fine appearance at Port
land, and furnished the escort, with the
famous Lynn Band, to Gen. and Mrs. Logan,
the night of the Relief Corps reception
at City Hall. Mr.. Whittridgs is au officer
of the Oxford Club, a prominent member of the
knights Templar and other civic and military
associations and is withal a gentleman whom
it is q pleasure to know.
Aside from her known worf. for the Relief
Corps, Mrs. Barker IS one of the Vice Presidents
of the Ladies Aid Association numbering 600
members, and representing every Massachusetts,
town. who are banded together TO work for the
Soldiers Home. Many of these ladies are also
connected with the Womau's Relief Corps, but
not all. Together they are doing great work.
So much preliminary to a chapter
ON SOCIAL PLEASURES
Colonel and Mrs. Barker keep open house.
The latchstring is always ont Within the week
they have given two evening receptions; the
first informal, with Mrs Turner, Mrs. Fuller,
Mrs. Anderson of Kansas, Mrs Sticslner of
Missouri, Mrs Clarke of Ohio and prominent
comrades and their wives present. The next
on the evening Of the glorious Fourth of July,
and was a reception to Mrs. Sherwood, with
many of the older residents of Maiden and
Boston present. The grounds were strung with
Chinese lanterns and the evening opened with
display of fireworks on the lawn following
the reception within. A delightful evening
was spent.
AT NANTAsEET BEACH.
A visit TO Boston's favorite seaside resort and
supper at the Nantasket House by the De-
partment Of Massachusetts,, Miss NJ. Susie Good
ale presiding to the visiting members of the
Relief Corps, was day of rare pleasure. The
boat which put out from Boston carried, be-
sides those already named in this letter, such
distinguished comrades with their ladies' as
Col. Wellington, commanding the famous LIST
Mass Past Department Commander Billings,
Past Department Commander Patch of the Bos-
ton Globe Maj. Matthews. and others. Com
rade c. G. Hampton, Department Inspector of
Michigan, and Mrs. Hampton, Department
President, were of the party. Miss Fisher in
structor of vocal music in the Boston Conserva-
tory, was of the party, and on the return boat
in the evening delighted the company with
fine contralto solos. Mrs Matthews a beauti-
full bride. favored her friends with very charm
ing Rotations.
At Nantasket the afternoon was spent in
strolIing or the firm sand beach and listening
10 the tell-talc voices of many waters, which
wash the very steps of the piazza of the Nam
tasket House. Then came the delightful sup
per, composed chiefly of fresh sea food, begin
ming with steamed CLANS and including clam
chowder, clam fritters, tried smelts and lobster
served in various styles. Reeves's Band was
discoursing sweetest music in the pavilion, and
afforded stirring accompaniment to the happy
shat. Mrs. Eleanor B. Wheeler, National Sec
rotary; Mrs. Lawton, Past Department Treas
urer of Massachusetts, and Mrs. Col Kinne
Department President Of California, were OF
the number.
ON PLYMOUTH ROCK.
On Tuesday the National party were invited
TO participate in the excursion to the historic
old town OF Plymouth. arranged for the Ladies
Aid Association. 1t was day Of golden oppor-
tunities and one of the most interesting and
delightful we have ever spent. The party, Ia
the number of l35, including, besides the ladies
Col Wellington, Mr.. M. II. Whittridge, Gen
Van Deryoort. Gen. Patch, Capt. Wright and
Others, reached Plymouth from Boston by raj
to find transportation wagons waiting in which
TO make the grand rounds, including visits Il
Plymouth Monument, Pilgrim Hail. Plymouth
Burying Ground, Plymouth Rock and the de
Eghtful cottage of DIR. j. B. Brewster on the
beech, where an elaborate lunch was spread
under the awning overlooking the sea