St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-02-28
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Niash Continental Congress Of Daugh.
tiers of A mericam Revolution.
From our regular correspondent


of the members of the Ninth Cont
mental Congress of the Daughters o
the American Revolution, dawnec
beautifully bright, clear and cold
The six inches of snow which haC
fallen the preceding week, lent {
wintry aspect to the city, and gave
it a homelike look to the delegates
and their alternates from. the north
and west. The national headquar.
tiers, on 9th and F streets, were
thronged all day with the incoming
members from all points of the com.
pass, from Maine to California and
from New York to Texas. The first
session opened at eight p. m. upon
that evening, in the Grand Opera
House, which was beautiful with it's
elaborate ornamentation, for flags
and bunting were in evidencein every
direction, from the platform to priv
ate boxes and balconies, indica ting
that loyalty and patriotism were to
be the dominant features of the ses-
sion. Potted palms and ferns min
gled with azaleas lined the steps
leading to the platform. while elegant
bouquets of roses and lilies were laid
upon or placed round the Presidents
table. The raised picture OF George
Washington in Continental costume
in the rear, looked approvingly down
on the scene. Over the central arch
of the platform was suspended the
insignia of the society between the
flags; a mammoth wheel of white
everlastings with green spokes,
crossed by the distaff of California
grass. This was exceedingly beauti-
full and effective in the evening, when
illumined by the circles of electric
lights. The President General, Mrs.
Daniel Manning, of New York, sur
rounded by her large staff OF officers,
handsomely gowued, occupied the
platform and made it very effective
scene. The Marine Band of seventy,
enlivened the evening with patriotic
music. The galleries were we'll filled
and nearly fifteen hundred ladies were
assembled on the floor OF Congress,
when the gavel sounded at s o. m
tor its opening. After short prayer
by the Chaplain-general, Mrs. B. M.
Smart, and the singing Of THE Star
Spangled Banner" Mrs. Manning
delivered her opening address. 1t
was charged with patriotism; she
also briefly reviewed the great work
accomplished by the states and chap.
tiers, paying a heartfelt tribute to
the loyalty and devotion of the
officers, and spoke with high praise
OF the various committees.
We quote a few extracts from her
address: Independence day is now
celebrated from the rising of the sun
in the Philippines to the going down
Of the same in Hawaii. The old
world owned the past. Its glory
and its fame were hers and she must
pass with them To us the future
gives a part. Kingdoms have been
tried, empires risen and fallen and
now great republic must be proved
it she has any blessings for mankind.
1t is upon the character of her sons
and daughters that she depends for
tower of strength against world
of evil. II the people are true, they
will be brave, and if the people are
brave, the country will be saved.
UprIghtness, fraternity and patriot
ism are a stronger Gordon than a
standing army in the field" She
emphasized the object and aim of the
society in encouraging patriotism,
and engendering the spirit of Ameri-
canism; the education OF the children
is a national task tor the welfare OF
the nation. She cited many chap
tiers who have given prizes for best
essays on historical subj, cts ;
amongst them we note the Ann
Story chapter of Rutland, VT. others
have founded town libraries and in
structed foreigners in American his
tory and in the duties of citizenship.
Monuments have been raised in
memory OF Revolutionary soldiers,
or bronze tablets mark the homes of
patriots and Indian forts. The
Saratoga and Mary Washington
chapters have placed monument at
Saratoga to common crate the
loyalty and patriotic sacrifice Of
R H. Walworth in the late war.
E ghty thousand dollars was raised
through the agency OF the Ruth
willis chapter OF Hartford, Conn, Of