Evening star., 1898-02-18

gress, woman's National Press Associa-
| tion. Washington, D. c., February 1S. 10,
| 1S9S"
The evening was enlivened with an i'm
promptu program. Miss Ellen Vockey. the
! tragedienne, rendered a tragedy written
| expressly for her in London. and by her
given before Queen Victoria. entitled The
Choice Of Weapons" Rev. Amanda Deyo
gave a recitation. and Mrs. Cuthbert Coop
! er recited THE Bridge Of Sighs.'
Those Present.
Among those who were present were Rev.
Amanda Deyo. Miss Alice Stone Blackwell.
| Mrs. Florence o. McClelland, Mrs. Hollen
| E. Day, Mrs. J. w. Turner. Mrs. Eleroy
| Avery, Mrs. Virginia s. Hodge, Mrs Geo.
Willard. Mrs. Kendall, Mrs. E. P. Muslin,
| Miss c. S. Colby. Mrs. Virginia Young, Mrs.
| H. II. Little, Mrs. George E. Pickett Mrs.
William King. Mrs. Lucy A. Leggett. Miss
| Bessie Murray. Mrs. Ida P. Boyer, Mrs E.
| r. Gilman. Mrs. NJ. s. Lockwood. Miss c.
| l.. Ransom. Mrs. M. g. Gist. Mrs. Belva
Lockwood. Mrs, E. s. Cromwell. Mrs: M.
| P. NJ. Stocking. Miss Pike, Mrs. p P. Peel
| er. Mrs. E. NJ. Stillman Mrs. Clinton
| Smith, Mrs. NJ. r. Moore, Miss r. Stone
| road Mrs. E. s. Brinton. Mrs. ID. T. Voor
| his. Mrs. Mary NJ North, Miss S. G.
| Hickey.
At 7:30 there was a called meeting of the
w. N. P. A. and five active members were
| elected-Mrs Frances A. Williamson of
| Nevada Miss Minnie Horning of Illinois,
Miss Bessie Murray of Iowa, Mrs Virginia
| s. Hodge Of Ohio and Mrs. L. b. Starr of
California.
Unique Position.
The Woman's National Press Association
| holds the unique position of being the old
| est organization composed exclusively of
penwomen in the world. 1t came into be-
| ing in this city in the spring of 1882 and
was the outgrowth of mature deliberation
and many consultations on the part Of the
| originators. The first president of the So
ciety was Mrs. Briggs C'Olivia'D, a woman
| well known in the journalistic world as Il
pioneer in the then almost untried field
which is now filled by women in every city
| lives in Washington, though not actively
| engaged in newspaper work. Mrs Rose
Rreandle (''Pips') was made vice president,
Mrs. M. D. Lincoln cBessie Beech'). secre-
! tary. and Mrs. Nettie Sanford. treasurer.
Mrs. Lincoln was the second pres-
dent, and held the office eight years. being
| then succeeded by Mrs Mary 8. Lockwood.
who was one of the lady managers OF the
| Columbian Exposition. Mrs. Hannah B.
| Sperry was elected to succeed Mrs. Lock
wood: and she In turn has been succeeded
| by Mrs. Ellen S. Cromwell, who Is the
| present presiding officer.
The association is in a fourishing condi-
| ton. having membership OF about 100
| exclusive of the auxiliaries. The vice pres
| idents for states are organizing as rapidly
as possible. and there are now auxiliar1es
| in Texas, Mississippi, Colorado, Missouri.
| Michigan Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
Association's Objects.
The objects Of the association are to adj
| vance and encourage women In literary
| work to promote fraternai intercourse with
| kindred associations, and to secure the
| benefits arising from organized effort. The
| resident members hold meetings twice
| month, one Of which Is usually an open
meeting, when persons not members have
| the privilege of attending. Among those
| who have entertained the association, but
| who are not on the list Of members. are:
| Theodore Roosevelt, Carroll d. Wright.
| commissioner Of labor; Professor Harkness
of the naval observatory; Madame Won
| Rydlngsvard, and a number of members OF
| Congress.
The roll of members contains the names
of Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth. Mrs. Olive
| Logan Mrs. Annie Wittenmyer, Miss Clara
Barton, Mrs. Ellen Richardson. Mrs. Ellen
| Hardin WaIworth, Mrs. Kate Tannatt
| Woods and many others known all over this
| continent and in Europe.
Under the head of eligibility the constitu-
ton says: Any woman who has published
| original matter in book form, or who has
| been or now is regularly connected. either
| as an editor, reporter. contributor, reviewer
| or correspondent, with any periodical or
| newspaper, Is eligible to membership; and
| such only are eligible to office. So no
| can say 'it is only a literary organization,
| as is the case with so many women's clubs
| The Woman's National Press Association
| is a member of the General Federation of
| Women's Clubs and of the International
| League of Press Clubs
During the cotton states exposition the
association had two days set apart for ii.
| and papers were prepared and read by the
| members at Atlanta, which for wide range
| of thought and careful composition wera
| not excelled, 1t is declared, by those of any
| who occupied the platform on other occa-
| sions. An exhibit at the worlds fair gain
! ed for the organization medal, and for
| the contributing members a certificate of
| award. The headquarters are maintained
| at Willard's Hotel and the business and
| open meetings are always held there the
| first and third Fridays in every month.
| In 1888 the association received a charter
| from Congress under the present name.
| Through the efforts of this organization
| seats in the reporters gallery of both
| houses of Congress were set apart for the
| use Of women journalists.
| The publication bureau was established
| In 1892 and an emanation was the quarter
| ly called Potomac Series" 1t is not pub
| lished at present.
Local Officers.
The officers of the association are elected
| the third Friday In January. Those elect
| ed for 1885 are: Mrs. E. S. Cromwell presi-
dent; Mrs. Mary S. Gist, vice president,
| Miss Frances Graham French, second vice
| president; Mrs. Hannah B. Sperry, past
president; Mrs. Mary NJ. North, CORES
| ponding secretary; Mrs. May W. Emerson
| recording secretary; Mrs. Patty NJ. Stock
| Ing, treasurer; Miss Lillian Pike auditor:
Mrs. NJ S. Lockwood, librarian; Mrs. b. A.
Lockwood Miss c. L. Ransom Mrs E. S.
Brinton, delegates-at-large.
| The association Is hot remiss in social
| amenities. and when fellow craftsman
| tended.