The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-04
RELICS OF THE REVOLUTION.
A Place to Preserve Them to BE
Constructed at Washington.
Washington Correspondence OF the
Philadelphia Times.

washington Correspondence OF the
Philadelphia Times.
A magnificent work has been started
by the Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution, and when 1t Is
complete there win be at the capital a
memorial Of which succeeding generations
may well be proud. 1t Is proposed that
an imposing hall be erected in a fash
ionable part of the city, a building Of
handsome appearance and beauty Of arch
itectural design-one that will be among
the most interesting sights of the nation
al capital, and which will serve for the
double purpose of headquarters OF the
society and a place where relics Of rev
dictionary days may be preserved. This
work is undertaken entirely by women,
and when finished Will be a fitting mon
ument 10 the patriotism and energy OF
the women of America.
The Society OF the Daughters of the
American Revolution Is national in its
scope, and numbers about 1900 members
in iss ranks. Its headquarters and ITS
president general are in Washington, and
throughout the various states are regents
and chapters embodying the descendants
of revolutionary heroes all over the land.
Maine and Texas, Florida and Oregon
are as much Interested in the work OF
the society as those women who form
the chapters in the district. 1t was the
feeling that the society must have
home, that its importance made It fitting
that 1t should reside in house appropri-
ate to its dignity. that first gave birth to
the idea of Continental hail."
The first suggestion in the matter was
made by the late Mrs. Harrison, hrst
wife of ex-President Harrison, who was
the president-general OF the order. In
October, 1891, II was proposed by one or
the women at meeting of officers, the
idea being given by Mrs. Harrison, that
the society found in Washington me-
mortal hall In which the records Of the
organization could be preserved.
Tho following year It was suggested
that the society erect q hall which
should be the finest building ever owned
by women. The fairest marbles from YER
mont and Tennessee, the most enduring
GRANTEES from Massachusetts and the
Virginias should combine for strength in
its construction" That the Daughters
are determined to carry out the project
is easily to be seen.
Mrs. Adlai Stevenson, who is the pres
ent president-general of the order, is
much interested in the matter and work
ing to carry the matter through to sue
cess. There Is now a fund of between S.
900 and $1,000 on hand, which can be
applied at once to the building, but the
proposition is that not spade be put
in the ground till a large part of the
needed fund be held for ready use The
hall will not be built by mourning any
debt and will stand fully paid for when
the last stone Is laid.
Just what the building will cost can
not be accurately calculated, for the mat
ter is not yet clearly worked up to thar
point. But Ii is estimated that the sum
needed will be about $4,000 or S25O,000.
With such large sum the building can
not but be most imposing structure,
and 1t Is proposed to make 1t not small
club house, but large and magnificent
edifce in the colonial style, with pillars
around the front.
Several lots have been recently inspect
ed for the purpose of selecting a sle, $780,
900 being the sum which will be expended
for ground. But, though the exact situa-
ton has not been decided upon, IT will be
in the northwest and in the best OF neigh
borhoods. 1t has been thought possible
that II may be placed near the white
house and fronting on Lafayette square,
a situation which would be most conve-
nient. A corner near Farragut square has
also been inspected, and several other To-
calities about in that neighboorhood, but
II will yet be some weeks before the site
can be fully determined upon. But II Is
known that Il will be west of Fourteenth
street east of Eighteenth and north of
Pennsylvania avenue.
The hall Will be fireproof, and the plan
which has been suggested by Mrs De b.
Randolph Keim outlines a corner building
with plenty of room for additions in the
future. Mrs. Keim, who is one of the COM
mittee Of the hall, has, of course, only Of
fered her plan as ground work on which
the lines can be modified by the official
action Of the board, and the sketch made
by her has not yet been passed upon by
the society. The plan contemplates a struc-
ture about three stories high, the five pill
lars at the entrance being symbolic of the
FIVE points of our star. which figures so
prominently in the national flag.
Within the hall will be committee rooms.
cloak-rooms, a large library, a chamber
for relics Of the revolutionary period, and
also large hall which viii be capable OF