New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-27
COLONIAL DANES DISPUTE.
SOME INTERESTING FEATURES AT THE
TRIAL YESTERDAY.
MISS HALL QUOTES MANY ANCIENT AUTHORITIES
TO SHOW HER soCIETY's RIGHT


no THE TITLE
Nearly one hundred Colonial Dames-plaintiNs
sad defendants-assenbl before Judge Book
staver in Special Term. Part V. OF the Supreme
Court, yesterday morning TO listen TO additional
testimony In the injunction suit brought by the
Colonial Danes Of America. The defendants In
the suit are the National Society Of Colonial
Danes OF America and the Colonial Danes OF the
State Of New-York
When court opened the members OF the plaintiff
society were largely in excess In numbers. and
they were later augmented by the arrival OF sew
eral danes from the Maryland Chapter. among
them being Mrs II Irving Keyser, president; Mrs.
Robert Garrett vice-president; Mrs. wilson rat
terson and Mrs Wilson Chapman Murray They
were warmly greeted by their confreres. despite
court etiquette
Fans and smelling salts helped the women to
hear the tedlum OF the testimony interspersed as
II was with exceptions. objections and sarcasms
OF the opposing lawyers
Airs Faith BuckiIn H Mason. Of Newport, r l..
was the first witness called yesterday. She is a
member OF the National Society. and for eight
wears was president Of the Rhode Island society.
Ms Mason said that before her society was or
ganized she had a long conversation with MIS-
= c Gardiner president OF the plaintiff society
relative 70 the formation Of the Rhode Island or
SANITATION in 1892 She said she liked all the pro-
visions OF the constitution except those that
seemed to discriminate against the poor and that
she purposed 20 organize society OF DANES IN
her State on broader lines.
Then YOU object TO wealth." asked Colonel
Bartlett
many women eligible to membership as ColonlaI
Danes who are not wealthy
Now Mrs Mason" said Colonel Bartlett. in an
injured tone why after rejecting our constitution
od YOU take our name?
Your Nance replied Mrs. Mason. elevating her
eyebrows We are the Colonial Danes Of Rhode
Gel have I'll
name
Mrs Eleanor Van Rensselaer, Fairfax was re-
called 20 testify 10 the organization Of the New
York Society but Judge Bookstaver would not
allow this and the witness was excused
Miss Margaret Seymour Hall, recording secre-
tary Of the NewYork Society. was the least ner-
vous OF all the witnesses.
"Hava YOU consulted any authorities as TO the
meaning Of the word 'dames'?" asked MI Bowers
81 have" was the reply.
What were they
the Standard Dictionary. Century Diction-
.-v Nurrav's New-Engand Dictionary the rec
or.. ~ the William and Mary University Of VIZ
v,,ta the records Of the New-England Historical
society and those Of the Virginia Historical So
cletv and the Encyclopedia Britannica
Miss Hall then started in a yoluhle dehniton
=, Colonial history. which Colonel Bartlett sue
ceeded in stopping by getting In an ooJecuoh ohe
+he, road historical extracts and tombstone IN
sc-iotions showing that the word Dame was
used as far back Is 1915.
Miss Hall testified that the word Dame was OF
Latin derivation and that there was, so Tar as she
could learn no English equivalent for the WORD
shs had a Latin quotation from Selden which
Colonel Bartlett insisted should be read In me
original shall I translate It for your? archly
asked the witness and even the Judge smiled. MY
pronunciation is not very good, but VIII reaa It,
she said and she proceeded TO do So
"Thv " added Miss Hall. the Bible refers TO the
word dame In the Miles Coverdsle version, IN
Isaiah XIV g. Il says The master shaH De as ING
servant the dame the maid
"Can you tel me where the expression a Iovey
parcel Of fairest dames comes from" asked Colo
mel Bartlett.
The witness snilingly admitted that she could not
Mrs Justine Van Rensselaer, Townsend was the
next witness. She testified that she had been presl
dent OF the National Society Of Colonial Danes
since 1894 The meetings Of the society. she SAID
were always held IN Washington. She then went
on and told the objects Of the society and the work
done by It. Mrs. Townsend testified that she had
corresponded with members Of the plaintiff society
relative 10 AL amalg amation Of the two organiza
tons. The witness insisted mat ner society ala
not take the name Of the plainun society ,.. 60,
have no objection 10 your esti1ying 10 facts. but
whether you took our name or not is question
But We never even thought Of your society in
taking the name We chose persisted the Wines.
"Baner' went the Justices gavel.
the ease of the Van Cortandt mansion, what i'm
provements had been made there and told OF other
Mr. townsend resumed the witness stand after
lei In answer 10 question she said she did not
know who Grew up the constitution ana oyi@T ~ D-
the New-YOrk State Danes. she aolnltSeo; NOV Nv
erer that they were the same as that OF the Ma
Ellen Vain Harrison of Philadelphia, whose
husband is connected with the University OF Penn
sylb ss b %s5 5hf eH Of The Pennsyvana
ciety OF colonial paIhes $40 e. fooE Mac.
which has been testified before She sad that
subsequent the organization OF thelr socetS tlv!
York society the plaintiff in the present action.
This witness further testified that me qhy
40 ~ me direct descendant Of person who had
gwen signal service 10 the country during the
Colonial days prior to 1850 r,...,
sarah Pendleton Van Rensselaer,, wife OF Eugene
Van Rensselaer, was next called She is mem io5
SornA.ius vanderbilt Mrs Emily Trevor, Mrs
The object Of the consultation was 70 Try IO Dt o5
about an amalgama ton Of the plaintiff society ana
Van Rensselaer the chief obstacle the harmony
Of the meeting and the ultimate union 81 ne
piaintir society wear their old badges -. -.
Mrs Maria Duane Blescker COX one OF ~ ns
SOFA affair gwen by her society. which was at
tended by several goDRs ii Howard Mad was put
on the stand in behalf Of me plaintiff Der :I tesI1
Roe wife Of Major-General Roe was the next wit
ness s .o.oo, oo,,,sal ne
~ The character Of the testimony OF Mrs. Roe she
was finally allowed 20 identity ana tesuiy as 10
certain documentary evidence onerSl. -
she was followed on the stand by Rush lawrence,
who testified to the Derivation ana use OF the
Rebecca windsor Of philadelphia; gave similar
,esttnnonv as did the other Phiad ephia women II
5000 - the famous meeting OF April 5 1881!
A. his point an adjournment was taken tih this
morning.
PFT-NTON OF Az OLD CLASS.