The Washington herald., 1907-07-07

As bards and minstrels Of Old when na-
ture was at her most beautiful, assem-
bled in the sacred groves under the shade
Of giant trees In competition In poetry,
song, and prophecy, so did their Wash
ington followers and disciples, 1.-THE
Readers" betake themselves yesterday
afternoon 10 THE Naples" the attractive
colonial home OF Mrs. Emily Z. Briggs,
Olivia" at Sixth street and South Caro-
lima avenue, to indulge in a feats Of rea-
son and flow Of soul
The surroundings we're ideally At for an
occasion Of this kind. with the old man
sion's spacious Railways. drawing
rooms. and r.usic hall, and its heirloom
furniture cf priceless mahoganySnd the
wide lawn filled with old shade trees
and old-fashioned flowers. The event
took place in the presence Of many we'll
known members Of the Washington col
ony Of vsrsemakers, writers, artists.
dreamers, and idealists.
It should be stated. at the outset. that
there is one marked difference between
the minstrels at the Tubury court OF
John Gaunt. or the Minnesiugers Of the
Wartburg, and their Washington follow
ers. The former consisted entirely Of men,
women IN those peculiar days not operat-
ing in belles-lettres and the musical
scales: whereas the latter society excludes
men from enjoying the rare distinction Of
being members Of The Readers. This
probably accounts for the fact that among
tho one hundred members, friends, and
guests, there were only about fifteen rep
resentatlves Of the stronger sex, who, il
must be admitted, behaved admirably. and
listened attentively to everything that
was said by their Poetical sisters.
Guests Wear swastika.
In order TO add TO the idealism Of the
scene and occasion every member and
guest was presented with a grasshopper-
green swastika, which was worn through
out the festivities as a talisman. Under
this sign the progra mme was carried
through 20 a most auspiciOus and success
ful conclusion. a large golden swastika
grsced the roof OF the spacious porch in
the rear Of the mansion, facing the
grounds, where the witfest took place
and many were the illusions 70 this lucky
piece Of the Indians Of the prairies in the
course Of the meeting Of the intelectuals.
Almost every Reader contributed her
share 90 the entertainment, and IL may be
regarded as perfectly safe TO say that the
bright wit and sparkling repartee, the
inspiration Of the poetry, the grace and
elegance of its meter, the profundity Of
their ESSAYS and beauty OF language
heard yesterday. would have convinced
the seers and singers Of old that they had
not even mastered the first rudiments Of
their chosen calling. TAe palm should be
awarded 10 the Readers. and II was.
Seventh Annual Session.
Yesterday was the seventh annual ses-
sion Of this organization, which has no
officers, no dues. no constitution. no by
laws. and no meeting place. They were
assisted by the Satellites and the Legion
Of LOYAL Women. Mrs. Laura Y. Nc
Cullough. who conducted the exercises.
announced 10 the assembly that the Read
ers were governed by common sense;
that was ali that was necessary. Every
body agreed and was pleased to get along
without those impedimenta which are
common TO every organization and have
been at the bottom Of a great deal OF
trouble in the Congress of the United
States. The Readers IS a unique body
Of cOnEenial spirits, and they cultivate
this their most treasured distinction
one Of the features was the presenta-
tion of diplomas, a work Of considerable
artistic merit of Mrs Mccullough, % the
daisy chain. consisting of the following
Readers: Fannie Allen. Elizabeth P. Jor-
dan. Sarah J. Moore. Alfredo Miller Flora
G. Whitney. Mary Room Fuller. Emma p.
Head, Helen A. Olmstead, and Viola NJ.
Bayne.
Not only was the spiritual appetite for
good things catered TO, but "A substantial
full course dinner contributed TO spread
the comforting influence Of friendship and
good-fellowship. The dish par excellence
at this years session was the bar
cluxor." which Mrs. McCulloONh explained
to the assembled was an Indian word, the
meaning OF which was unknown 20 her,
for which reason she had selected il as
the name Of the new dish. Some Of the
original dishes brought out by the Read
ers at their annual sessions have since
found their way and names on the menus
Of fashionable hotels. and barcluxor, no
doubt, stares a similar fate in the face.
The Book Of Swastika" and the Great
Book Of Records, both kept by Mrs. Nc
Cullough. were passed around for inspec-
tion, both being generally admired for
their highly artistic conception and exc
Cution. lg
List of Guests Present.
Among those present were Mr.. and
Mrs. Walter c. Hamilton. Mr. and Mrs.
| T. c. Riley, Mr.. and Mrs. F. W. Bridge
Mr. and Mrs. William H. King. Mr. and
! Mrs. n. n. Mccullough. Medames d. p.
/ Hickling, w q. SpottswOod, Greenwood,
A. S. Gillett. Of Sioux City, Iowa; c.
| Ballenger. w. D. Nolan. A. f. Parker
/ ]. +. Engle, NJ J. Vaughn, NJ p.
| Holmes. S s Brown. Davidson, NJ. q
Walters. c. NJ Bachmann. 3. H. SIc-
/ Nulty, Olmstead. NJ. A Knapp, Olive
! Johnson, J. r. Young, V. NJ. Bayne and
/ daughters, William S. Odel, J. V. A
/ Holmes and Miss Holmes, Perham, Full
/ Ter. H. Rapley. Mrs. Gen. Abbott, J. B
/ Chase. Gardner, Wise, B. F. Hawks, S. J
/ Moore, E Z. Myers, Leith Ball Cutter
1 A. b. Lacey. H. A. Belden. Jessie Os
! born. J. G. Burnett, J. f. Grigg. II. L
/ Monroe, Flora Lewis, Brock. J. F. Engle
| Matte Lincoln, Lizzie Kelly, Misses
/ Greenwood, Wilmington, F. B. Wilson
! NJ. A. Davis, Dolly Armstrong, Louise
| Middleton, Mary E. Etheridge, J. f
| Skinkle, Ella NJ. Wagner. Edith Gardner
| /. L. Fessenden, Esther Hart, II. A
Fellows. Mamie Z. Wright Cook. Knapp