Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-20
CONGRESS OF WOMEN
Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton in Annual Session.
The PRESIDENT GENERALS ADDRESS
Response by Mrs Park, State Re-
gent of Georgia.
THE rURE SESSION S

THE rURE ESSION S
Rarely has the Grand Opera House been
the scene of a prettier setting that that of
last evening, when the Daughters of the
American Revolution gathered there in the
first session of the ninth continental con-
gress. The American flag draped boxes and
balcony. pit and gallery. 1t festooned the
front of the stage and fell in graceful folds
at the back over a large full-length por-
trait of Washington. which hung in the
center. This picture was flanked by tall
rubber trees and rows of palms. On the
floor in front of the president general
stand was great jar flied with American
beauty roses fully four feet in height, and
on the table was splendid display of big
pink roses tied with pink tulle. Hanging
from the center of the proscenium arch
was huge wheel of blue and white ever
hastings, with the distaff of flax thrown
across 1t In California plume grass. Round
it in three circles were red. white and blue
electric lights. The effect was strikingly
pretty.
The president general, Mrs. Daniel Man
ming, had grouped about her as handsome
lot of women, in the estimation of the
spectator, as one could find in a week s
travel. They were fine of stature. most of
them, elegant In attire and charming in
manner. They We're pleasing to- look at,
even If one could not hear word that
they said, and doubtless just because they
were so pleasing to the eye the big audi
ence remained to the very close of the pro-
ceedings. Mrs. Manning wore rare old lace
over white six and the ribbon of her office,
blue with a white edge and nearly six
inches wide. like field marshars sash.
across her shoulder. She wore her three
strand diamond necklace and nodding white
aigrette in her hair.
The Marine Band. about seventy strong.
played patriotic airs throughout the even
ing.
The Opening Proceedings.
1t was exactly o'clock when the presi-
dent general, with tap of the gavel, de
clared the ninth continental congress open
for such business may come before it,
Every state in the Union was represented
in the assembly of nearly 800 elegantly
gowned women who filled the first floor
and the lights played upon many century
old jewels and laces the huttering array
of plumes and flowers settled into Quietude.
The chaplain general, Mrs. Betty Nc
CURE Smoot. opened the congress with
prayer. followed by the Star Spangled
Banner. and the audience arose when the
Marine Band began playing the patriotic
air. The president general. Mrs. Manning.
then read her address, which was in part
as follows:
washington left the nation the priceless
treasure Of liberty-a lamp that burneth
day and night upon our affairs. and whose
rays are now penetra ting the dark corners
of the earth. independence day is now GEL
ebrated from the rising of the sun IN the
Philippines to the going down of the same
in Hawaii The drama of a vast republic
meets the eye A new and mighty force has
StTDnP1 WITHIN the center of the vast
of the worlds history. The old world
owned the past. Its glory and its fame We're
hers. and she must pass with them.
ITO the future gives part. We have
have the past to profit by. for in this same
place where he stand wonderful and world
embracing empires have stood and called
themselves eternal. Kingdoms nave been
tried. Empires risen and fallen, and now a
great republic must be proved if she has
any blessings for mankind. Yet 1t is not
as nation. but as individuals and mem
bers of the state and home. must main
tain our independence. On the honor and
integrity of her children must rest Amer
ica's broad foundation. 1t is by the equality
and justice of her laws that she will be ar
nored more powerfully than with battle
ships and guns. 1t is upon the character
of her sons and daughters that she de-
ponds for a tower of strength against a
world of evil. We shall hold our country
by the power of truth in our homes and in
our lives. If the people are true they " i'll
be brave and if the people are brave the
country Will be saved. If the fires on the
hearth are the eampfires of the state, then
we have our tents pitched ten thousand
thousand strong
Strong Gordon.
'Cpr!ghtness, fraternity and patriotism
are a strong r Gordon than a standing army
in the field. And to encourage patriotism
and engender the spirit of AmericaniSm is
the object and work of our great society
to teach patriotism by erecting monuments,
by observing historic anniversaries, by pro-
noting the cause of education, especially
the study of history the enlightenment of
our foreign population. and all that makes
for good citizenship. This is the aim of the
Daughters of the American Revolution
Education is the great national task,
the duty of the children, who will some day
be the rulers of this country. The welfare
OF the nation rests upon the educa ton. in
the broadcast sense of the term, of the chill
dren of today.
Along this line of education much good
work has been done by the Daughters dur
ing this past year. The Buffalo Chapter
of New York instructs the Poles and Ital-
ians of the population in American history
and the principles of government. The
Wiitwyck Chapter of Kingston has formed
a library association and begun the found
ing of a public library. The George Clin-
ton Chapter of Iowa IS also working to
establish public library. The Gouverneur
Morris Chapter of Gouverneur N V
Baron Steuben Chapter of Bath. n. Y, the
Ann Story Chapter of Rutland VT. Tusca-
rora Chapter of Binghamton. n. Y, Lin
coin Chapter of Lincoln ILL.,. Mohawk
Chapter of Albany. n. Y, Lexington Chap
ter of Kentucky. Catawba Chapter of South
Carolina, Catherine Green Chapter of
Nenia. Ohio, Mary Washington Chapter of
Mansfield Ohio, Fort StanwiX and Fort
Plain chapters of New York, Deborah
Champion Chapter of Adams, n Y, CO.
lumbia Chapter OF South Carolina Submit
Clark Chapter of Connecticut and Swe-kat-
81 Chapter of Ogdensburg, n. Y, have each
given prizes for best ESSAYS on historical
subjects. The Letitia Greene Stevenson
Chapter of Bloomington, ILL.,, has also given
eighteen prizes for best essays on patriotic
subjects.
Patriotism and National Character.