The Washington herald., 1912-05-21
! HARMONY FEAST
! HELD BY WOMEN
Fair Democracy Celebrates Dolly
MadisOn's Birthday at Big
Breakfast.
DAUGHTERS OF PARTY
WEAR QUAINT COSTUMES
Wives of Legislators and Prssi-
Dental Candidates ExpOund
Jetfersonisn Principles.

Four hundred women. representative.
OF Democracy. gathered yesterday a
Rauschers TO celebrate the one hundreS
and fortieth birthday anniversary o.
Dolly Madison, wife Of James Madison
the fourth President Of the Unitedstates
ana to make this famous woman the in.
spiration for a ''harmony breakfast" t.
match the Jeffersonian dinner Of the men
Families OF forty-four Senators. two
hundred and twenty Representatives
twenty Governors. four justices of tbs
Supreme Court. and other notable fig
ures In political life, were represented
The affair, was such a success that the
Democratic daughters decided to make
IL an annual event hereafter.
II was. the most notable gathering OF
women OF political prominence ever
known. Mrs. Champ Clark. wife OF the
I Speaker of the House. presided and acted
as toastmistress. There was q num-
Der Of distinguished guests OF honor
the wives of the Democratic candidates
for President. including Mrs. William
Jennings Bryan. Mrs. Clark. Mrs. Eu-
gene n. Foss. Mrs. Judson Harmon. Mrs.
Norman z. Mack, and Mrs; Oscar W.
Hearst, Mrs. Alton B. Parker, and Mrs.
Woodrow Wilson were expected to attend.
but illness prevented their coming.
The guests OF honor, with the executive
committee and the chairman and vice
chairmen OF the other committees, were
seated at a long elevated table across
one end Of the large ballroom.
The decorations OF pink peonies and
laurel mingled with the picturesque
gowns and hats Of women. making a
beautiful background for the many small
tables scattered over the room. The
small ballroom was also rilled with
tables.
i Although every one with an invitation
to buy a ticket had been admonIshed TO
send In her acceptance and money by
| Friday night. when the sale would close,
many bought tickets as they entered
thus upsetting the seating arrangements
and creating confusion. Numbers were
handed the guests who were earliest to
arrive, designating their table and seat,
but they came so fast that the door
keepers could not handle them. and the
crowd was so great at the entrance to
| the dining hall that all methods had TO
be abandoned. The table for the gueAts
Of honor and that for the linean de-
scendants of Presidents and the col
lateral descendants of Dolly Madison
were reserved, while the other guests
were invited to seat themselves . In the
nearest places.
The table for young Democracy" the
| debutante daughters Of Democratic, being
quickly occupied. the daughters sought
places elsewhere. which was q matter OF
genuine disappointment to them.
Deliver Brilliant Speeches.
Toasts were responded to after the
breakfast. Many of the addresses were
brilliantly delivered.
Mrs. Henry D. Clayton. wife Of the
Representative from Alabama, chairman
OF the executive committee, made the
address of welcome. paying q tribute
to democracy and to Dolly Madison as
the first female representative OF mod
ern democracy In the White House
ladies. this Is a patriotic gathering"
said Mrs Clayton. IF the observance
OF the birthdays of George Washington.
Thomas Jefferson. James Madison. or
any renowned American soldier or states
man serves a wise purpose. surely a tri-
butte to the life, character and conspicu-
Gus virtues OF a good and distinguished
woman Is equally as wise, and Is Of
equal public benefit.
TT is the woman, the mother. who
molds the character OF the patriot and
statesman. II Is the mother, the wife.
sister and daughter who teaches most
efficiently the higher ideals and incul-
Gates the broader patriotism and the
more elevated and better individual and
national life. Therefore II Is not too
much for US to say that we believe the
inspiring influences which have brought
US here to-day are as lofty and as use
full as those influences which bring any
of the American people together in cele-
bration of the life and character Of any
great American soldier or political lead
er. All honor to DOify Madison and this
occasion, and. again. heartiest greetings
to our guests"
Mrs. Clayton then presented Mrs. Rob-
ert c. Wickliffe, wife OF the Repre-
sentative from Louisiana, the woman
who first planned the Harmony Freak
fast" and who, in a short but happy
speech, introduced Mrs. Champ Clark,
the toast mistress.
Mrs Clark was given an enthusiastic
reception, for which she thanked her
audience in her characteristic droil way.
She then introduced Mrs. William Jen-
nings Bryan to respond to the toast,
Dolly Madison.
When the wife OF the siIver-tongued
orator and statesman. grown a little
heavier and with becoming streaks Of
gray In her hair, since she was known
Bryan" arose there was a storm OF
applause which prevented her from
speaking for some minutes. She was
perceptibly pleased and touched. She
paid beautiful tribute to the wife Of
James Madison, closing with a famous
saying of Decatur, paraphrased, speak
ing Of Dolly Madison's loyalty to her
husbands and her devotion during the
last years Of his life MY husband
may he ever be right; but right or
wrong, my husband"
Dolly Madison was loyal to her hus-
band and had insight enough 10 see the
innerworth OF the great Madison and
chose him in place of her other ardent
sutton, the handsome Aaron Burr" said
Mrs. Bryan. 1T was in Dolly Madison's
day that the standard OF hospitality
at the White House
"She was fond Of gayety, but when the
time came to show her womanliness and
resourceful love of her dear ones and
country, Dolly was to the fore. II was
her hand which rescued the documents
Of state from the burning White House,
and II was her hand who smoothed the
brow Of Madison during his years Of III
ness, when she gave up most OF her
friends and all society to spend each
hour with him."
Given Great Applause.
Mrs. Judson Harmon, wife Of the Gov
ernor - Ohio. responded to the toast
"wonsSa Of the Cabinet" with the sen
timent, "the best example Is acquired
from the noblest in station" received
the greatest ovation Of the afternoon.
she received not only vigorous applause,
but q large number Of the women yelled