The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-11
BY ANNIE kENpRlck WALKER.

TT HE suggestion to form society of
 young women who have christened the warships of the United States hdNN has grown into d national move. meut The heads of departments, ad- mirals, naval officers of every rank, have expressed their approval of the plan. Such society,"" said the naval officers In Washington, would be the most in- teresting in the country. If such a so- ciety were formed 1t would make the honor of christening a warship already coveted one. still more to be sought for. It would place the few young ladies 10 whom such honors can fall in a parti- cularly interesting and exclusive class" Miss Mary Campbell of Birmingham, who at the time that she christened the cruiser Birmingham made the suggestion that such a society be organized has shown that the suggestion was not merely the inspiration of the moment, to be for gotten the next Since her return from Boston she has made an effort to obtain a complete record. if possible, of all the sponsors of the nations battleships As there are one hundred sponsors, the task Is difficult, particularly as the navy de- partnent Is unable to supply the records Application was made direct to the de- partment, but no official record has been
 Miss Campbell has, however, se-
 the names of about twenty women
 are eligible to the society, and
 .gh the cooperation of the navy and
 information furnished by the diff
 states il is hoped that a com
 record will be established
 meeting of the sponsors will probably
 teld in Washington in the autumn nc society could well be formed with the twenty or more sponsors whose names and addresses have been secured in short time, and when once established it would be less difficult to obtain d com rlete list of women who would be eligible To membership.
 The suggestion that the society be formed was first publicly made in the correspondence between the sponsors of the scout cruisers Birmingham and Salem sister vessels.
 Admiral Dewoy's endorsement of the idea was sought and the objects of the society were stated to him:
 Its purpose Is laudable in that it will tend To form q bond of union between the members living in different parts of the country and who, by reason of their selection as sponsors, are presumed to have some prominent connection in their several localities. A broaded purpose is that such a union will tend to popularize the sentiment in the country for larger naHy. Il will certainly add am interest To future aunehings"
 Replying Admiral Dewey wrote
 lile objects which you mention to be accomplished by such society appeal NelN st9nsly to me and [ hope the so- elety ndN be formed aud may bring about l5stihs and profitable Friendships between residents O every staIe ia the unun"
 In tine effort tlat Is being made to set the nlmes and addresses oI every woman Who has christencd war vassel and eo-opegaton and aid of each of them is asked ia the organization Of the proposed society. Mss Campbell has received the follow lls letter rom Congressman Richmond Pearson Hohson;
 My Dear Miss Campbell-Your letter tias reached he and have today written lo tne navy department requesting that the names and addresses of all sponsors De sent you. Let me know if YOU do hot get satisfactory reply within a req sonable time, and will apply to the yards direct.
 ! IL is q tine idea, the forming of d so- rietS of sponsors. wish you fall sue tess. Command me at all times
 ith kind greetings | remain sincerely souls' R. r. ROBSON
 Miss Dorothy Sproul of Chester Pa. Miss Lorna Pinnock of Salem, Mass, nn1 Miss Grace llerriod of Aberdeen g. D. aac active promoters of Che society aHa they are trying to get the names and addresses Of all tlte sponsors but as no official record has been kept the task l. not an easy one. It is expected. how ever, that in the noa9 future q meeting "tl be held and the society aunched n viii inelGde all those who have\ chris teae1 any Of Gnele sans fighting craft. he Kentucky was launched by Miss Christine Bradley. Miss Nancy Letter was sponsor at the launching of the Illinois. Miss Mary Morgan, daughter of tine late Senator Morgan. christencd the Alabama. The West Virginia was launched by Miss Catherine White.
 Miss Florence M Pardoe of California ehristered the California. The Ar1an- sits was launched by Miss Jones, daugh- te@ of Senator Jones. Miss Annie C. Bou- telle broke T champagne bottle over the NeNada. Ms. Lewis Nixon. wife of the shinbulder, chrstened the Florida. The Kearsarge was launched by Mrs. Herbert Nsn5low. wife of the naval officer The Kansas WAS ehli...ened by Miss Hoch. daughter of Governor HoCh. A group of other eligible women are Miss Laura Pin mock who christencd the Salem, Miss Dorothy Sproull of Pennsylvania, Miss Grace Herried of berdecn, S. D.; Mrs William B. Kinney. who christened the New Jersey. Miss Elsie Macomber, who launched the Des Moines; Miss Florence Webster Mrs r. C. Dumaine, sponsor pf the Rhode Island; Miss Dell, who ehristened the Vermont Miss Lillian Lawrence, sponsor of the torpedo de- stroyer Lawrence; Miss Mary McDonough Reid who chrlstened the McDonough, another torpedo destroyer; Miss Eleanor Dow, who christened the submarine Cut tleish; Miss Mabel Spear and Mrs. George F. Roekbrldge, the latter two be- coming eligible at double launching christening the submarines Viper and Tarantula
 Tt has always seemed strange to me- saiu a married woman the other day at leon, that the evening wedding
 to be the one favored in the
 The day wedding. that is the
 noon !, ,edding followed by the
 lg br KIast has always seemed