Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1914-03-21
DAUGHTERS OF THE
AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Stand by the Flag as Society
Lack Of Brilliancy 10 the
Administration.
THINGS A LITTLE AWRY.
Former Leaders in The D. A. r. The
Press Gives Little Noioristy To
Coming Congress.

unanimously opposed TO any kind Of
| change in the Flag. No Southern
| Daughter dared to vote otherwise.
The principal reason for this, per-
haps, is that there is mighty little in
the social line going on, and there is
nc thing like the prominence Of the
society of the Daughters Of the Amer
lean Revolution ia the limelight that
there has been in the past. In fact,
the Daughters have only been in the
"also mentioned" class in Washing
ton society annals for some time time.
and this is also sore spot with the
Daughters.
Mrs. Matthew I. Scott, as Presi-
dent General Of the Daughters, has
spoiled them swfully. Mrs. Scott was
born TO the ermine, and, while being
thoroughly practical woman, she
was also a society woman, the dignity
of whose position permitted her sd-
mission into the very highest social
circles, both in the United States and
abroad Wherever she went she was
heralded as the Preside at General of
the Daughters of the American Revo-
luton, and thus the society has won
respect and social prominence because
its President-Gen stood in the
front ranks of the offici Al and resident
society of the National Capital.
When Mrs. Scott conceived the
idea that thing should be done, she
never had to stop to ask "Can it be
done7" She knew that whatever
project she put on foot would go
through, because she had both the
money and the social standing that
made everything that she did effec-
tive. 1t was never necessary for
Mrs. Scott to stop and ask herself
whether a woman's social standing
was on par with her own bei jre he
could be gracious and kindly to her.
She knew that her own position was
at the top, and that as a leader she
could do anything that she wanted TO
and society would follow her. Not
only was she welcomed among the
"cliff dwellers" # Washington, which
is the old resident circle, but she was
also welcomed guest in Administrd-
ton circles, no matter who was in
the White House. She was invited
there at all times and for everything,
and naturally, as President General Of
the Dau yhters of the American Revo.
luton, she gave the same social
eclat to the society of which she was
the head.
When National Society Of the
Daughters of the American RevOlu-
tion was organiyzed it was ths expec-
tation that the wife of the President
would always be its nominal head
Tue first President General was Mrs.
Caroline Scott Harrison, who died
while in office. Then there was no
one eligible, and the society had per-
force to elect the next best, which
happened to be Mrs. John w. Foster
wife OF former Secretary of State
Foster, who was the only available
timber for President-Gehersl.
Mrs. Foster had her own social circle
and her own personal friends, and,
though nominally the head of the So
eiety, which was then very small, left
ths work 10 be done By other people,
and il was mighty little attention
that the Daughters got from society
in those days.
Mrs. Cleveland, who followed Mrs
Il arrison, was not eligible to the
President -Generalship, or at least bad
never Joined the society, and anyhow
did not care for honors Of that kind.
But Mrs. Letitia Green Stevenson,
wife of Vice Pre- sident Stevenson, was
eligible through a long line Of dis
tinguished ancestors, and so she be-
came the third President General
She served the Order for three terms
of one year each.
When Mrs. Mckinley came in, al
though she was eligible, had never
Joined the society, and of course her
health was too frail to take up even
the honorary leadership, so igein the
Daughters had TO turn to wives Of
men who had been something. This
time the choice fell upon Mrs. Daniel
Manning. Mrs. Manning was amply
able to carry off the society honors,
and she was rich, but she was too
standoffish" and was not Of the tenn
perament to win friends, and during
her four years Of ineumbeney the so-
ciety languished. The congresses
we're something fierce. Mrs. Man
ming could not have presided oRec 2
sewing circle.
Mrs. Cornelia Cole Fairbanks. wife
Of Vice President Fairbanks, under
Mckinley, was the next President
General, coming in the last year Of
his term, and she served two full
terms. Mrs. Fairbanks was lovable
character, something Of a business
woman and devotedly attached TO tire
Daughters, and besides that she had
the assistance Of her distinguished
husband through all the vicissitudes
of her four years, and gave a notable
administration, and it was while she
was President-General that the or
ganizstion began the building Of the
present marble Memorial Hail.
While the hall is very pretty 1T
is most unfortunately located on low,
marshy ground. partially made and
has not the surroundings suitable for
building Of that character. The So
ciety outgrew this hall FIVE years
ago, and Is really distressed to know
how thew viii be able To accom-
v,,odRTa ffs growing numbers