Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-02
SPANISH WAR NURSES
Proceedings Of Annual Con-
vention in This City.
TREASURER'S REPORT
BOSTON SELECTED AS PLACE OF
NEXT MEETING.
Dedication of Monument at Arlington
Cemetery This Afternoon-Pro-
gram of Exercises.

gram of Exercises.
The Spanish War Nurses held very ami
mated session this morning in the parlors
of the Ebbitt House behind closed doors.
The subject under consideration was an
amendment of the constitution 1t was
most harmonious crowd of girls. ana
there was not a Earring note in the discus
sion.
The Spanish war nurses, whose NUMBERS
have been augmented by dozen since yes
terday, were gathered about the natlonal
president DIR. Anita Newcomb McGee ana
in a practical, common-sense way were
amending the constitution of their organlza-
ton The society is growing and prosper
ing beyond their fondest expectations, so
the members declared this morning After
this brief glimpse of a convention or "o-
men, working like members of one family
the presence of The Star reporter became
known, and at once there was a cessation
of business and The Star reporter was in
formed firmly, but cOurteouSly, that not
being member of the Spanish War Nurses
Association, it would not be possible to per-
NIT so pronounced an outsider to remain.
The principal report, the one which shows
a healthy growth, is that of the national
treasurer. Miss Rebecca Jackson The or
ganization has about six hundred members
in good and regular standing. That means
that six hundred young women nurses have
honorable discharges from service In the
United States army as nurses IN the Span
ish-Amercan war, and that they prize the
'comradeship' of those days sufficiently to
organize to keep up the memories Inc
treasurer also reports the sum OF S39b IN
the bank, part in United States bonds.
The association has a benefit fund, kept
up by voluntary contributions. A life mem
bership in the association costs $40, and
when a life member dies her life member
ship fee is transferred from the general
fund to the benefit fund But two life mem
berships have passed over the divide since
the organization was formed The sum in
the benefit fund is now $3.50.
Boston VIII entertain the nurses at their
next national convention, and the war wo-
men are promised the time of their lives.
Routine Business Yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon was spent in routine
business, the nurses applying themselves to
this for nearly five hours Then they ad-
journed to meet in the breakfast room at
the Ebbitt about a flag and flower decked
table. The dinner was entirely informal
and there were no toastS but that is not
meant to imply that there was no talking
The nurses We're agreeably surprised and
correspondingly delighted to have their
unexpected guest Mrs. Annette Sumner
Rose of New York, one of their most hon.
ored honorary members, and editor of the
Trained Nurse, their organ, published in
New York When Mrs. Rose heard of the
proposition to erect a monument to the
memory of the Spanish nurses who died
in the service she Immediately sent her
check for S25, and with that a nucleus
have been accumulated the funds for the
beautiful stone which is being dedicated
this afternoon.
After the dinner adjournment was taken
TO the red parlor, where DR.. MCGEE,
pressing request gave the nurses brief
talk on her experiences in Japan and dis
nf In nhntr he
One of the pleasing features of the dedi-
cation at Arlington this afternoon will be
the presence of the survivors resident in
Washington of the nurses of the war of
the rebellion.
DR.. Caroline Burkhardt, corresponding
secretary of the National Association of
Nurses of the Civil War, in response to
the invitation rendered that organization by
the Spanish War Nurses, reported that If
the day should be favorable all the mem
bers OF her association who are able to
venture out will accept the fraternal invita-
ton to attend the unwilling. She said that
of the 100 nurses who once belonged to the
association in the District of Columbia only
seventeen are living here. OF the 100 thirty
seven nave gone over to the silent majority
and the others are scattered all over the
world.
The Monument Dedication.
The association will take a recess at
o'clock to go to Arlington to the dedication
of the monument to the memory of the
Spanish war nurses and this evening will
have an hour about a campfire" In the
red parlor of the Ebbitt-an hour which
VIII be devoted to "reminiscences. A num-
Der VIII then accept the invitation to an
informal dance rendered by the District
Spanish War Veterans. Spanish War Hall.
on 9th street, has been handsomely deco
rated for the event.
The committee which has had cbareo 30
the building of the monument is comnosed
OF the tol4owlng: Miss Esther Hasson New
York: chairman; Mrs. Edward Cryor Miss
Eulah Flynn, Miss Jean Allan. Miss Jesse
Franklin, Miss Mary McCrae and Misc
Elizabeth Stack.
The committee on reception at Arlington
TINS afternoon Is as follows: Chairman.
Miss Sarah Cox, Miss Mary Silcott. Miss
Elizabeth Hewett. Miss Elizabeth Stack.
Miss Jesse Franklin and Miss Jean Allan
all of the District: Miss Esther Hassan,
New York; Miss Rebecca Jackson Phila-
delphia. and Miss Mary McCrae, New YORK
The guard of honor will consist of TWEEN
ty-fve members OF Gen. Nelson A. Miles
Camp. No. l. United Spanish War Va+
erans of which Dr. Anita Newcomb Nc
Gee Is an active member, being the only
woman carrying active membership In the
organization.
The guard will wear the Spanish War vet
eran uniform OF blue and gray and will be
commanded by Capt. G. E. Rausch. com
mander of Miles Camp. The guard was as
sembled at Spanish War Veterans Hall
I19 9th street northwest. at / o'clock this
afternoon.
The members of the other camps will as
semble at the Virginia end of the AQueduct
bridge and proceed thence to Arlington in
a body.
In order that all soldiers of the war with
Spain In government employ who so desire
may attend the ceremonies at Arlington. the
heads of the several executive departments
have issued orders that they be excused at
noon today.
II is understood that Miles Camp of Span
fish War Veterans entered a protest to Dr.
MCGEE against the participation In the
ceremonies of so-called rival body of
Spanish war soldiers in this city and that
DIR. MCGEE decided to withdraw the invi-
tation which had been extended to that
organizati ton.