The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-20
Work Of the Daughtezs
Of the Resolution
BY Mrs. DONALD MCLEAN.

| The Daughters of the American RevOlu-
ton is a patriotic society, organized ten
years ago, and now represented in every
State of the Union. From a membership
of 800 it has reached that of 80 900. 1t Is
composed of women who are lineally
descended from Revolutionary patriots
that is, those who rendered services on
sea or land for the achievement of our
national independence or who gave ma
terial aid of any nature during the Revo-
lutionary struggle. Such descent must be
established by reference to historical
! records-family tradition is not accepted
as proof although in many instances it
is a guide toward ascertaning actual
/ facts.
| The aim OF the organizations work is
| to establish the principles OF pure pa
/ triotism. 1t remembers the heroic dead
ana serves the patriot living. Monu-
ments are reared and tablets affixed in
memory of great men and great deeds
which might otherwise fade into oblivion
in the hurried present. Historic sites are
secured and associations thus perpetu-
ated.
Important as is this reverence for the
past, it is not more so than the instilla-
tion of patriotism in the present, and
educational work on the lines laid down
| by Washington himself (the encourage
ment Of which lines of work is mentioned
in the constitution of the society is one
Of It's primary objects. For instance. ad-
dresses on patriotic themes are made TO
pupils OF the public schools; fags-those
precious books of patriotic lore which
all who run may read.-presented
TO the schools; medals awarded for
essays on American history, and
perhaps the most practical of all
one great chapter OF the organization
has provided for years for the free tut
tion in Barnard College OF an American
girl whose special study shall be Amer
lean history. When one student gradu-
atcs another takes her place and so the
scholarship is awarded in perpetuity
Thus American girlhood is assisted by
American womanhood: a young woman is
given free access to the fount of learning
which she Graves she becomes an edu-
Gated member of the community, with
expert knowledge on the history of the
country, and is, at The same time, given
the means whereby she may become at
once self-supportiEg and a dissemination
Of knowledge OF The history of the ma
ton.
1t cannot be said justly hat the Daugh-
tiers Of the American Revelation is
'snobbish" organization. formed for IN
worthy purposes, such as the PRONUNCIATION
OF personal pride in ones ancestry. \
proper pride-yes. For who feels the blood
o. Revolutionary hero coursing through
her veins but thrills in responsive senu- /
mcnt? High thought. unseldsh deed. sac
r!ire for principle. honor before mer-
cenary greed, But. on the other hand .
this very rishlfuI pride is TOO worthy a
thing to cause unworthy action The 4
descendant of a private who gave his /.
lif,s blood for lis struggling country /
is as gladly welcomed and as highly re-
spccted in the society of the Daughters of :
the American Revolution as the descend /
ant Of the foremost officers Of the Revo- .
luton. This, at least, is The ideal of the .
organization. and those members pos .
ses=ed OF the widest view and purest in /
stinct endeavor to keep the organization |
at its own high standard. American .
womauhoOd needs no more lustrous es- ,
cUtcheon than the red blood OF those
who made and preserve us a nation" in
-, and the clear blue of truth. loyalty .
and aid to her country and her fellow
women in the twentieth century.