The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-06
Colonial Dame. and Danes.

The Society of Colonial Danes is under
stood by those who have casually taken
heed of it's existence to be a very exclusive
organization. In fact, the members take
pains TO convey that impression by laying
stress on the difficulty of securing admis-
sion. The applicant must be direct de-
scendant in her own person and not
through her husband, of some man who,
either as officer or statesman in colonial
service, or as founder of a town, had
distinction above the common herd. Even
then, when the record is made clear beyond
all doubt. the acceptance of the candidate
may depend upon the views Of the local
chapter as to her social status and eligi-
bility apart from her pedigree For, alas!
it may happen that the descendants Of a
distinguished man are not all that could be
desired as associates for the elect. A
straight ancestral line does not always save
them: they may be degenerate shoots from
a noble parent stem, and so to be guarded
against. The great-great-granddau of
a colonial Governor may be taking in"
washing, or the lineal descendant Of a
Puritan judge, who sentenced witches, be
doing a song and dance in a ten-twenty-
thirty hall of festivity; and everybody who
knows anything at all about Colonial
Danes knows that these women, however
irreproachable they may be, individually,
are not the persons most ladies of pedigree
expect to meet when they enter the society.
With this knowledge in mind, the founders
of the original society made the gate of en-
trance narrow, and guarded 1t with care.
Hence it was that the lucky ones whose
pedigree and personal standing were all
that they should be, and who entered the
barred gate. rejoiced with aristocratic joy
and were the envy Of other women whose
desire it invariably is to break into every
exclusive circle. But there were more ways
than one to become Colonial Danes. Wom-
en- who could not enter the parent society
by reason. perhaps. of a slight flaw in pedi-
gree could organize a society of their own,
whose doors should be trife wider. Under
this plan the Colonial Danes Of the State
of New York and the National Society of
Colonial Danes of America came into exist
ence. The first society did not approve Of
the proceeding. 1t took away from their
own distinction and air Of exclusiveness.
for a careless outside public would never
distinguish among them any more than 1t
understands the mysteries OF federation
of clubs or national council" There
fore the Colonial Danes Of America
brought suit against the too presumptuous
imitators, asking that they be enjoined
against using the name. The court, after
due elaboration, has decided in favor of the
defendants and that they have right to
use the name. Naturally, it follows that
other women with ambitions and pedigrees
may establish rules to fit their respective
cases and also call themselves Colonial
Danes. 1t is title no longer signifying
exclusiveness. To be a colonial dame is no
longer badge of aristocracy. Judge Book
staver had no sympathy with aristocratic
aspirations. Twas ever thus There is no
chance in America to get upon a pinnacle
and shut the multitude out. William
Waldorf Aston could not do it; the danes
cannot do it. To have had an ancestor in
the Mayfiower does not involve the posses
sion Of higher patriotism or a better
standing than to have come over" after
the revolution or after our civil war. or to
have arrived in time to enlist for the war
In the Philippines. Democracy and exclu-
siveness do not belong together.