The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-17

mystery, flourish side by side with the
keen. wide-aWake socialiBtic organiza-
tions of this latest century. Literary
clubs. artist clubs, musical clubs occupy
the delightful ground lying between gray
ity and nonsense, and fitting over all
that remains to enjoy outside OF these, Is
that elusive, bewildering will-o- the-wisp.
Society ia general, with its atmosphere OF
rlittering lights, and siren music, and
subtle perfume. Small chance, il would
seem for any new conner 20 write its name
on tho roll call, or obtain recognition, or
even gain footing that would be lasting.
And yet a new society has come. so
new that IL must count months, instead OF
wears, to measure it's existence. So simple
IN its claims that child can understand,
and yet far above all social distinctions,
free from sectarian fetters--standing
on SO grand and lofty an eminence that
all science and art and literature are Mt It's
feet--not b.cause they are not beautiful
and good, but because love OF country is
better and more beautiful.
This is its watchword, this its central
idsa-this the life incarnats in its organ
ization. Nearly thirty years ago we
learned through agony of blood, and
death, and tears, something Of what love
OF country meant. We learned il wel.
We came TO know that home, and life, and
friends were not SO dear as country and
its sacred flag. We came to feel the quick
rush OF indignation when America was
wrongeG, or injured, or robbed of it's
glory in any direction or the slightest de-
gree. We grew keen TO detect in political
measures, Ia religious movements, in So
a
parture that would hamper the full devel-
opment of American interests, and insti
tutions and idAas. In every department
of social, civil, and religious life we learned
TO care drst for what was best for Amer
ica, as the country God had given US to
serve and to love.
Learning all this from the Northern
standpoint, where national pride and love
overshadowed altogether the idea OF love
TO State, it was not strange that we
conned betusaen the lines lesson Of bitter
ness and hate. America, which should be
the greatest country OF earth, had been
struck, and struck to kill. In vain we
told ourselves IL had been done by broth
era, of the sans race as ourselves IN the
great families OF earth. We could not
forgive the biow-we could not forgive
the treason to the hag. And we said in
our hearts: "We win never break bread
or clasp hands with these assailants,
brothers though they may be-"
Well, the years passed on. The battle
fields grew green and gay with grass and
flowers Yes-but the graves-the countless
rows Of graves which we could never see
without thronging memories OF those
terrible deys when we watched and
listened with bated breath for news from
the front. Is IL any marvel we believed we
could never forgive, since twenty-five
years proved insufficient to wipe out the
bitterness of the remembrance?
But something else has been growing
all these years. Anarchy and false social
ism, and infideiity are Haunting their
ugly flags in our dearly loved America.
Foreign ideas, contrary to all American
principles are springing up on American
soil. And the young generations, sons
and daughters OF American ancestors
are threatened with their baleful influ-
encas. Northern mothers have felt it,
have seen it, have been saying tc each
other, what can we do to stem this
evil tides Northern? All, listen the
South has also known-the South is whis-
pering back TO us. Southern mothers are
asking the same question. They care
thsn? They are American, not Southern
in this matter? However much they may
love their States, they do not want TO see
America go down. Yes, over a different
road which we do not know and cannot
follow, they have learned the same lesson
love for America, the all-conquering, all
pervading truth. And we OF the North
~ hn a 4
listened to their words, watched their
actions following, wavered a while, and
then, trembling with a deep and exquisite
JOY, held out both arms in welcome.
Eighteen months ago when a few ladies',
principally Southern, met TO organize
here in Washington the National Society
of the Daughters of the American Revolu-
tion, we scornfully asked the question,
Why do they not organize q Virginia, or
Kentucky, or South Carolina society,"
Still We read the notices. The organiza-
tion, in spite of our scepticism regarding
the love OF its founders for the whole
country, attracted and drew us as magnet
attracts and draws steel. Our Massachu-
sets ancestors were at Lexington and
Concord. We were proud of the soldier
blood in our veins. SO we sent in our ap-
plcation papers, wondering how we
could bear it IL they were laid over or un-
der or near papers from South Carolina.
And this was only eighteen months ago.
Tho first lesson we learned from tho
Daughters OF the American Revolution
was, that the gracious courtesy and win
ming manner OF Southern women are not
always dclusion and q snare, no matter
what they may be in individual instances.
II it seems strange there could be any
reason for such a statement, at least il
tells very plainly the story OF what the
society has already done for Northern
women, who having one learned 10 dis
rust their Southern sisters, have now
through its fundamentally reversed the
iabit OF twenty-five years. And once be-
ieving in their sincere devotion to our
'ommon country, progress onward has
,esn rapid. Now, North and South we
II together scanning the horizon for
iyns Of danger or OF hope mutually
flaming our work for the country we
cove.
II the society can DO no better work
han II has already done, it will still win
What is Il not worth 10 have
VA American women OF Revolutionary
took, north, south, east and west, united
N feeling and INTEREST," How far reaching
The H..