The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-06-02
DAUGHTERS OF AMERICAN
REVOLUTION.
WHAT THIS GREAT BODY OF AMERICANS
HAS ACCOMPLISHED IN A
FEW YEARS.
To tie Editor of tie .IHrcrfiscr.

"Advertiscr" will doubtless recollect
the spectacle presented in New York
a winter or so ago, of an American
woman posing as the central figure OF
a mock regal pageant, bearing all the
insignia of royalty and receiving in
sober earnest the homage of numerous
enthusiasts of equally un-American
tendencies. The large ballroom of the
Waldorf was heavy with pomp
and ceremonial as this descendent of
the simple Dutch settlers passed in
state among her bewildered ''suhjects,' y
and next morning her countrymen
laughed, then frowned and finally threw
down their papers in disgust at the I'M
natural performance, to be comforted
later, however, by reading of the de-
served snub administered to the mis-
guided woman by the genuine young
Queen of Holland, when "Queen La
vinia l" presented herself at the coro-
nation ceremonies demanding the at
tention due sister Sovereign"
This seems to have been the cap
stone of the structure set up by the
host Of "decendants" throughout the
land who have misinterpreted histori-
cal societies to be institutions of an
American hereditary aristocracy and,
as was to have been expected, it top
Piled over amid the jeers of an impa.
tient republican people.
When the reaction set in against
this tendency there was something
akin to despair among societies whose
efforts have been to perpetuate the
history and principles Of the various
bands who first brought civilization to
America and fought to develop it along
lines of their own choosing, unimpcded
by the burdens ruthlessly imposed by
the mother country.
There was one organization, however,
which was strong and selfreliant in
its wholesome Americanism. BY the
quiet dignity of its course the ridicule
attaching to such undertaking was
soon raised to merited respect. And
the charm Of it all is that the grace of
womanhood has retrieved their lost
prestige.
| allude to the National Society of
the Daughters of the American Revo-
luton, Incorporated under the laws
of the United States applicable to the
District of Columbia, June Sth, 1891
and chartered by act of Congress ap-
proved February Goth, 1896, with
headquarters at the city of Washing
ton, D. C.
Outstripping all other societies in
this country in size, Importance and
work accomplished, it has developed
into the largest and best equipped or
ganization Of women in history Its
membership numbers over $4,000 and
embraces active American women in
every State in the Union. It's princi-
pal general officers are women Of
National fame, of splendid culture and
perfect elegance, lending to their as
semblies an air of fashionable dignity
entirely unique. The local State Re-
gents and members are competent.
tireless workers toward the ends they
are pledged to advance.
The first Congress of these ladies in
Washington was sought to be made a
butt for the ridicule of those who
would contrast them with the Womans
Rights Convention holding its annual
session there at that time. The re-
suits of these efforts were as trivial as
their intent, for in an amazingly short
| time they mastered the intricaccs of
parliamentary law, regulated their
delegations and patterned their pro-
ceedings after those of the National
Legislature, and one permitted to at
| tend their last convention in Wash
ington would have been charmed and
greatly edited 10y the graceful cour-
tesy and businesslike forcefulncss of
members as they advanced their pro-
positions and defended them in rum
ming debate. From the dainty and
equisitely gowned young girls who
acted as pages during the sessions, to
the stately danes, distinguished for the
most part in National society, these
ladies presented a pageant possessed
of the best of Americas attributes, in
| gratifying contrast to the burlesque
on royalty mentioned a moment ago
The estimate of the Nation and the
Nations critics is now determined by
this example, and the supporters of
kindred undertakings, whether men
or women, owe much to this power
full organization.
With an initiation fee Of 81 and an
nual dues of $2 for each member, the
income of this society is large enough
to enable it to interest itself in affairs
ofnational import, and it is this very
worthiness that has rolled up such
membership. When the war broke
out with Spain representations were
at once made to the War Department