The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-22

Interesting Exercises al Trocadero Lecture BY
Mrs. Waller Stokes Irons.

A very appropriate celebration Of
Washington's natal day was the lunch
con. toasts. music and address at the
Empire Parlors I'm the Trocadero this
afternoon. The luncheon was at 1870
O'Clock, and the choice luncheon was
presided over by Mrs. Charles Warren
Lippitt. vice president of Gaspee Chap
ter. Daughters OF the Revolution. un-
der whose auspices the celebration was
held. Mrs. w. A. Peck, the regent was
absent, being in attendance at the na-
tional convention of the society in
Washington. The tables were beauti-
fully decorated with cut flowers, potted
plants and palms.
About 100 ladies sat down to the
luncheon including the guests of the
chapter the guests were the regents oil
the different counsels in the state. All
the regents accepted the invitation 10
be present except Newport, whose re-
gent was detained at home by local
celebration.
Mr.. Frank A. Raia. the harpist. furn-
ished music at intervals in the re-
sponses to the following toasts'
George Washington Gaspee Chaptef,
Miss Amelia $. knight; Rhode Island
State Advisory Board, Miss Anna Met
calf secretary; MT Vernon. MISS
Rachel ]. Parker; Our Flag Miss
JEANNE .. Arnold.
The lecture on Colonial Women,
delivered before the chapter at )
o'clock. by Mrs. Walter Stokes Irons of
this city, was an interesting ana IN
structive one.
Mrs. Irons in beginning, referred TO
the fact that though most or the MS
tories of colonial times make little or
no mention of the women, yet the par
they played was important and at
times even conspicuous
lin the last few years said she,
many old letters and diaries have been
brought forth from the family archives
and given to the world. These are our
main sources of information and they
throw flood of light on the life OF
those early days"
Not all the women we find" said
Mrs. Irons. were humble, subservient
and obedient wives finding as did Mar
tha Washington, her highest ambition
and chief joy i'm making her husband
happy"
The lecturer said: "The self assertion
on the part of women was not confined
20 the tongue i'm those early days, for
there were a few cases OF actual man
ual assault. one woman, the records
show, was fined penny FOR whipping "a
man with a hickory switch The man
must have deserved II or the punish
ment would have been severe for the
laws of colonial times were harsh and
the punishment harshlv inflicted.
Contrasting the position OF women
| of our time with that Of the wome n
OF the colonial era Mrs Irons said:
To-day much is said Of the new peace
taken by women I'm tho world OF bust
ness and affairs. but 70 is not new
place. our sisters OF colonial days
| showed us the way. We find women
| I'm almost every kind ~ retail business,
| carrviug it on. publishing newspapers.
preaching. conducting the business Of
! iarge plantations I'm the South. even
| one woman tMargaret RrenD who
raised her voice and demanded vote
"The weekly religious meetings OF the
| Massachusetts women. with Mrs. Ann
! Hutchinson. were spoken OF as tive
: 'rarerunncrs OF the womens clubs oi
/ today"
Passing 20 consider another phase "
/ h,r subject Mrs Irons declared that her
/ lecture o. talk was not yet complete
/ us thefc was one subject that she had
! not set spoken of. namely. Tho court
/ INK and the Marrying Mrs. Irons
! quoted some letters ~ Eliza Lucas Oh
/ show that the young people exercised
| q good deaf OF liberty in those days III
| tho choice OF life companion. and in-
! foreqting history OF Judge Sewelfs
4 diary and cited the interesting account
| il gave 90 the women Of those times.
The lecturer closed her altogether
/ admirable recital with the words: We
| the descendants Of those colonial wo'
| mon may we'll rejoice " We can attain
in any degree, TO their virtues