Omaha daily bee., 1908-02-25
WHATCLUB WOMEN ARE DOING
Mount Vernon Tea by Social Science
Department Of Club.
MANY HERLOOMs IN EVIDENCE
Young WOmen's ChrIstian Association
Gives Colonial ''Get Two" BAN
duet and Gains Many
New Members.

Powdered hair and face patches, high.
heeled shoes and priceless heiriooms in
the way of neckerchiefs, Handmade laces.
quaint jewelry and huge combs were
much In evidence at Monday afternoons s
meeting of the social science department
OF the Woman's club, which took the form
or Mount Vernon tea. Putting aside the
more strenuous work of social better
ment that ordinarily engages them. the
women celebrated Washington's birthday
with tea party and a talk on the main
tenance of Mount Vernon. his historic
nome, by Mrs. c. F. Henderson. one of
the regents of the association that has
erected its restoration. 1t has been
tifty years since Mount Vernon became
the property of the association.
In 1854. after the United States govern
ment and the state Of virginia had de-
clined to buy the 1900 acres that re-
mained of the Washington estate. includ-
Ing the house and buildings, Miss Gun.
ningham of North Carolina made an an
peal to the women of the nation that they
assume the obligation of reclaiming the
place. Accordingly the. Ladies' Mount
vernon Association of the Union was
FORMED, with Miss Cunningham as regent
A regent was appointed from almost all
the other states, their duty being to
raise money for the purchase of the es-
tate The price set upon the old place
was 100000, a sum then much in ex-
cess of it's actual worth, and the women
raised all but $4,000, which was raised
by Edward Everett by lectures on Wash.
ington. In 1858 Mount Vernon became
the property of the women and the re-
storation began
An admission charge of Is cents to the,
grounds has been the chief source Of reve-
nue. and 1t has proven ample, since several
gitts' notably one Of $4,000 by Mrs Phoebe
Hearst to meet the larger and more i'm
mediate demands, have been made. But
the association met many obstacles, chief
among them being the prejudice against
women undertaking work of a public char
acter Then came the civil war, but since
then things have been easier. Although
noth armies passed repeatedly by Mount
vernon II suffered 20 dissertation except
the removal of an eagle that ornamented
one OF the buildings. A few years AGO this
was returned as mysteriously as it was
taken away The buying back and restor-
ing u Its original place of the furniture
that dressed the mansion during Wash
ington's time has required Influence as we'll
as money but the women have succeeded
admirably. The association now includes
about thirty regents. These are appointed
Tor life by the chief regent, upon recon-
mendation of the others. Mrs Manderson
has served about eight years. having sue
ceeded Mrs Meliora Clarkson, wife of Bish |
op Clarkson OF Omaha The government
has never made any appropriation what |
ever toward the purchase or maintenance |
OF Mount Vernon, and the place is now
practically self supporting.
General Marderson spoke after Mrs. Man |
derson, giving some "reminiscences from the |
life OF Washington
Department members with powdered hair
and colonial costume served tea ana
cookies, and music and a tninuette by sone
OF the club daughters completed the after,
noon.
Colonial Banquet.
Over one hundred new members were
added to the roll of the Young women's
Christian association by the Colonial BAN
luet given Monday evening in the associa-
ton rooms in the Paxton block. 1t was a
get two" banquet, and the securing of two
new members was the qualification for ad
mission. over 300 covers we're laid. The
dinner was served by members of the
Omaha Womens Christian Temperance
union, who wore colonial costumes and
powdered hair. The tables and rooms were
decorated with blue and buff and little red
latchets were used as plate cards. Mrs
FREDERICK Wattles, president of the Sioux
city association, was a guest of the even
ng and spoke on Loyalty" one of the
thief essentials In association work. Mrs
5yers' general secretary, explained the plan
or new membership contest which opened
Win the banquet and closes March I6 The
ed rose team will be lead by Miss Ora
Johnson and the white rose team by DR.. Mel
ie Watson. Each team will have ten cap,
aims and each captain ten lieutSnants. New
neberships or renewals will count A
'ornet solo by DR.. Laird and music by
Mrs Walter Dale and Miss Myrtle Moses
constituted the program which was fol-
owed by an informal evening.