The Portland daily press., 1899-01-31
TRIBUTE TO MRS. STEVENS.
women ofPortisnd Pay Their Respects
TO w. G. r. u. Leader.

manifestation Of admiration and good fell
lowship, bestowed by a representative
gathering OF women upon fellow towns
woman, than that offered by the women
Of Portland to Mrs Lillian NJ. N. Stevens.
yesterday afternoon at Congress Square
hotel Sincs Mrs. Stevens election to
the presidency of the National Women
Christian Union, 1t has been the wish of
her many friends here to testify to her
most openly their endorsement of what
they consider the wisdom Of the choice of
the women represented in that large or
ganization. So the dinner given yesterday
afternoon in her honor, was the culmi-
nation Of this desire. 1t was an affair.
not given under the auspices of any or
ganization In the city, but by the women
OF Portland to Mrs. Stevens as token of
friendship; proving that Prophet is not
always without honor in his own country.
At half past two the guests began to
take their places at the table and the one
hundred and twelve women, seated In the
long narrow dining room of the hotel,
made very brilliant effect
The table decorations were of dainty
green and white. with posted primroses
here and there, and pinks and ferns. with
a mass OF red to white roses TO especially
mark the place for the guests of honor,
Mrs. Stevens and TIE vice president at
large, Miss Anna Gordon. Each of the
speakers and certain guests, had special
seats assigned them, and on the dinner
card Was quotation from Miss Willard s
writings, with an application to the per-
son designated. All the appointments Of
the dinner were carefully planned and
carried out, showing great thought on the
part Of the committee of arrangements
which consisted Of Mrs. Cornelin Dow,
Mrs. j. b. Mcdowell, Mrs. j. II. Fletcher,
Mrs. John G. White, Mrs. S. b. Kelsey
and Mrs Denney.
The dinner itself was delicious in every
articular and was served quickly,
deity, and even with some show of mill
tary precision, noticeable In the way the
nineteen maids responded In starting
from the room. after each course, to the
signal from the head waiter.
Before the ladies took their places at
l
presiding hostess. begged them to listen
to Mrs. Fem, who, in her turn asked
them to unite with her in repeating the
tsenty-third Psalm, and the Lord's
prayer. and after the dinner Itself was
over, it WAS Mrs. Brown, who gave he
first word Of testimony to the mobile
| woman" in whose honor the women had
| Id abA
earnestly and feelingly of Mrs. Stevens's
broad generosity, her quick sympathy,
and Of the pleasure IL had always given
her to work with such woman. She said
she was glad indeed, that the honor,
which Mrs. Stevens had won in her city
and her state had now become national.
In closing her warm tribute, Mrs. Brown
very graciously introduced Mrs. Frank
b. Clarke former president of the
/ Women Literary Union, as toastniaster
of the afternoon.
Mrs. Clarke began very happily by
quoting from Kate Douglass Virgins
Christmas Carol" and spoke of poor
Sarah Ruggles's despair ut the RESPONSE
bility she had to contend with in looking
out for the 'mannerses" of SO many Of
the Ruggleses, at the dinner to which
they were hidden. 1t was not imam
nerses" with Mrs. Clarke, but 'toasteses, ="
and she felt the burden like poor Sarah.
No one would have dreamed it. however,
and Mrs. Clarke added much to her we'll
earned reputation as ready and graceful
speaker. In her pleasant word of greeting
TO Mrs Stevens, Mrs. Clarke said, that
although we had many .men from
Maine who were prominent in national
affairs, 1t mad always been said they lived
too far east for President, and she was
glad to see that the women, in giving
national honors, had been wiser. Mrs
Clarke then called upon Mrs. Edward {.
Jordan, with the sentiment, "East or
West, home = best" who responded to
the toast 'For the Women of Portland.
Mrs Jordan said she was proud to stand
as representative of her townswomen,
entirely aside from representing any or
ganization, to offer her greet
ting to Mrs Stevens In this eliminating
position" of her life, and to thank her for
the pioneer work. which she and her
friends had done, and of which the women
of today were reaping the benefits. Mrs.
Jordan spoke very pertinently OF the
practical work being done now BY the
women, and said most truly, that what
they desire most in their work, is not
patronage, b ut sympathy.
In introducing Mrs. A. b. Cole. as
representative Of the Portland W. g. I. u,
Mrs. Clarke said it was the first oreaniza-
tion to bring greeting, and that 1.-The
White Ribboners are Idealists, they work
for what they believe TO be holy, I'M
changeable right.
Mrs. Cole said it gave her great pleasure
to bring the greeting of the Portland W.
G. 4. u. the organization formed by the
honored guest of the day, upon whom
had been placed the highest honor of the
country, for q woman. The speaker felt
that perhaps the white ribponers should
not have been called 'idealists for in one