The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-02-16

Annual Address Of President of FloF-
Ida Soeisty.

y
G. Christopher, the president, Mrs.
Robert Gamble, of Tallahassee, presi-
ded, and delivered the following ad-
dress:
MRS. CANDLES ADDRESS.
Ladies of the Florida Society, Colo
NAL Danes of America: 1t gives me
most sincere pleasure to be with you
again after our long separation. And
and affectionate greeting,
Our usual custom of meeting in Jack
sonville on the first Thursday in Deem
Der was omitted this year, owing to the
fact that several of our members were
absent from the city at that time, and
it was difficult to arrange a place of
meeting, and also because there seemed
no business of Importance to be laid be-
fore the society at that time, |, there
fore, thought it best to defer the meet
ing until February, hoping thereby to
have larger attendance.
We come from so many portions of
the State, Pensacola, Tampa, St. Aug
Justine, Sanford, Waycross, Ga, and
Tallahassee, that it involves both ex-
pense and trouble to obey the summons
of our corresponding secretary, Mrs.
George H. Fernald, and it goes to
show our living and abiding interest in
this Colonial, and therefore historical
society, that we do make the effort to
come, and / can truly say that in my
long and varied experience, have never
derived more true enjoyment than from
these Colonial meetings in Jacksonville
and ST. Augustine. The business meet
ings have been marked by the most alb
solute harmony, with never one word of
discord, and the social functions, com
ing afterwards, have been most delight
full.
APPRECIATED CoURTESIES.
have been to many entertainments,
both in this country and abroad, and |
wish to say that more beautiful enter
tainments, appropriate and tasteful in
every detail / have never seen, nor
have | ever met gathered around any
social board more charming company,
sparkling with wit and humor, and full
of kindly good feelings one for another.
wish most earnestly to express my
appreciation of the good ladies of Jack
sonville and St. Augustine, who have
extended such kindly greetings to the
members of our society, and to assure
them that the recollection of it all will
linger in my memory so long as life
| shall last.
have often regretted that my home
| in Tallahassee, is so distant as to make
it difficult for us to meet there Let
us hope in the future it may be less ex-
pensive and fatiguing to visit the cap
| ital of our State.
! May our society always stand in the
| foremost ranks as endeavoring to per-
petuate the memory Of those great and
| good men who made this republic pos
| sibility. All honor to our colonial an
| cestors.
THE ST. AUGUSTINE TABLETS.
The chairman Of the committee on
| the St. Augustine tablets, Mrs. Thomas
MAYHEM, hoped by February /, to have
been able 70 have found suitable data
which would have enabled us to have
put bronze tablets, both on Fl. Marion
| and on the st. Augustine Gates. But
regret to say that her report upon the
subject is an unfavorable one. The
| time of the erection of the gates is in
obscurity AS member of that COM
mittee I can truly say that have made
every effort in my power to assist her.
My letters seeking the information
have been numerous. | have visited
! libraries, especially historical libraries,
and one and all have referred me TO Mr..
Geo. r. Fairbanks as Florida's histor-
ian but on this especial point, he can
not help us. Mrs. WoOdruff's report
will speak for itself.
have a letter from Senator James
! P. Taliaferro. which | will presently
read to the ladies', stating that he has
applied TO the War Department for in
| formation on this subject, and he hopes
to secure something of interest from
! that quarter. This is now the only hope
/ have in obtaining anything really re-
| liable.
have always loved St. Augustine,
its people, and its quaint, old-fashiOned
streets and houses, and confess ! am
much disappointed in not being able to
carry out our project, and especially so
that at the last national council, con-
vened in Washington nearly two years
ago, many of the States expressed in
terest in our enterprise, and several Of
them sent contributions TO aid us, both
in the expense Of the research for data
and the putting up Of the tablets.
Should we decide against the feasibility
of this work, | presume the money will
be returned TO the several States, but
suggest that we await information from
the War Department before doing so.
Mr.. Josiah James of St. Augustine
suggests Fort Matanzas as be- ng suit
able place to mark, II being quite an
Gent His letter will be read:
MEMORIAL AT JAMEsTowN.
wish TO call your attention TO the
| Vnaroorial IamAafnvn IN he ready In