The Washington times., 1894-11-18
FIN DE SIECLE FEMININITY
Colonial Danes Enlarge the Admission
Into Their Association.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ACTION
Daughters Of the Revolution Have Made
Arrangements for the Meeting Of the
National Congress in Washington-Organ
ization of the Excelsior Literary Club.

Colonial Danes held an executive session
on Wednesday and Thursday in the lecture
room of the Washington Club. Mrs Howard
Townsend, of New York, chairman OF the
national executive board, presided.
The executive board was called to take
action upon the advisability of admitting to
the national association associations formed
in States other than the original colonies.
The constitution of the Colonial Danes
limits the representation in the national
council to associations formed in the colonial
States, but admits to membership all women
who can prove their lineal descent from the
colonists Auxiliary associations have been
formed in many States notably in the west
ern section of the country; and so urgent has
the demand for admittance become of late
that it was found imperative to settle the
question definitely.
After long and careful debate upon the sub
ject the executive board resolved to allow
lineal descendants of colonists resident in the
Western States to enjoy the privilege of men,
bership through the association of the colony
from which the applicant claims her ancestral
descent. This is the most the board felt
qualified to do, as further extension OF the
voting privilege TO members of States not
colonial would necessitate a change of con-
stitution.
The national association meets in this city
in 1896, when more definite results may be
obtained.
PENNSYLVANIA reporting 270 and Maryland
260 members lead the colonies as to member
ship. The total membership is about l 800.
Among the delegates in atten lance were
Mrs. w. B. Reed, of Baltimore, secretary of
the national board; Mrs Howard Townsend
and Mrs. w. b. Beekman, of New York; Mrs.
W. b. Stevens, widow OF Bishop Stevens. of
I1nnp NIra NJ Doc
S. NJ. Dickinson, of New Jersey; Mrs. Boyntell
Johnson and Miss Spottswood, of Delaware;
Mrs. A. Livingston Mason and Mrs. c.
Nichols Beech. of Rhode Island; Mrs. Alex
ander Cochrane, of Massachusetts; Mrs. A.
L. Mcpherson, of North Carolina; Mrs. G. C.
Pinckney. of South Carolina; Mrs. Samuel
Colt, Of Hartford, Conn.,: Mrs. ]. J. Jockins.
of Baltimore. Md; Mrs. A. L. Mcpherson, of
Washington, d. c., and Mrs. Robinson, of
Virginia.
At the last meeting OF the national execu-
tive board OF the Daughters of the American
Revolution committees TO arrange for the ma
tional congress to be held in this city on Feb
ruary %, 1895, were appointed as follows:
Credentials, Mrs. Agnes Martin Burnett;
programme, Mrs A. Howard Clarke; badges,
Mrs. Charles Addison Mani; house deco
rations, Mrs. Kate Kearney Henry; press,
publication. and music, Mrs. Mary S. Lock-
wood.
The report of membership is 6,742, the
average increase being $50 per month.
Several new chapters nave lately been
formed in Massachusetts, Old Concord being,
perhaps the most interesting.
Mrs. D. Lothrop (Margaret Sidney, so
well known to the young people through her
Five Little Peppers was elected regent.
She lives at Wayside Inn, the home of Haw-
thorne, and the members OF Old Concord
meet ar her residence.
Dolly Madison Chapter, D. A. R., met on
Tuesday evening at the residence OF Mrs.
Howard Clarke and elected their officers for
the year as follows: Mrs. Amos Draper, re-
gent; Mrs. J. Tabor johnson, yice-regent;
airs John JOY Edison, recording secretary;
Mrs. George Gilchrist Martin, corresponding
| secretary; Mrs. Philip Hichborn, registrars
Mrs. W. Ross Browne, historian. Board Of
management: Mrs. William Morgan Schuster,
Mrs. Francis S. Mast, Miss Mann, Mrs. Henry
Garnett, Mrs. Agnes Martin Burnett, Mrs.
Charles Bailey, Miss Anna Mallett, and Miss
McClay.
After the business was concluded the chap
ter was entertained by Mrs. Clarke.
The next meeting will be held at the resi-
dence of Mrs. Ross Browne.
The Woman's Anthropological Club has ap-
pointed reception committee 10 unite with
that appointed by the Anthropological So
ciety, of this city, to arrange for the recep-
tion of The American Folk Lore Society,
which will meet in Washington about the 21st
of December and will hold its sessions at the
Columbian University.
The Excelsior Literary Club was organized
in 1887 by five Washington women interested
in literature and the higher education of their
sex.
! On each Tuesday afternoon, from 2 to 4
| O'Clock, the members meet at the house of
one of the club and spend the time in the
! study OF American authors and reading from
| their works. Sometimes original essays and
bright sketches are introduced and discussions
are INDUCED in by the members.
Once month an evening entertainment IS
! given to which friends are invited. An
original paper by one of the members is the
main feature; this is followed by music and
general conversation.
| Since the opening of the present season a
half hour is devoted, at each afternoon ses-
sion, to parliamentary drill
I The membership was at first limited to fif-
teen, as it was designed that only active
workers should be admitted. but so urgent
has been the stress of applicants that the
club now numbers fifty active members
The expenses are betrayed by voluntary
contribution. there being no initiation fees.
The present staff of officers is: Mrs. H. A.
| Stearns, president; L. E. McCreery jacobson,
secretary; Miss Flora J. McCreery, assistant
secretary. and Mrs. L. L. Bacon, parliament
ary conductor.
The Cosmopolitan Shakespeare Club en-
tered upon its fourth year on the first Monday
! of October last
| 1t devotes itself solely and seriously to the
| study OF Shakespeare, using for the purpose
! textbooks of the highest authority upon the
subject
| The first study for this season is Macbeth"
! Some of the books used by the club are
Rolfe's expurgated edition, with notes, and
Richard Grant Whites Shakespeare.
In order to keep en- rapport with the fore
most Shakespearian scholars OF the age the
club subscribes for the Shakespeariana the
organ Of the Shakespeare Club of New York,
and Poet Lore" technical comprehensive
magazine published in Boston
! The membership is limited and vacancies
seldom occur. The club meets on the first
and third Mondays of each month. The
officers are Mrs. Jessie l.. Engle. president;
| Mrs. Jessie j. Pearson vice president; Mrs.
! Josephine Nj. Patten, secretary, and treasurer,
Miss Gertrude Farabee.
Pi Beta Phi appointed at its last meeting
| delegates to the Federation conference to
be held at Wizards Hotel on the 23d in
slant as follows Cora de ia Matyr Thomas
| and Miss Brewer
The above-named representatives are of the
Columbian alumni, young women abreast of
the times and acknowledged amongst ad-
yanced women as bright stars
The Society of the American Revolution
having considered the advisabiity of special
flag for the organization, several of the State
societies have unanimously voted that their
| standard shall be the s'Stars and Stripes. -
The society believes that love of the flag will