New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-19
Notable Men and Women
Give Dinner to Flying
Record Holder
WOMEN'S FREEDOM
SHOWN IN FEAT
Captain Amundsen and
Peary Join in Prais-
ing Aviator

n any women Of the Victorian era
were present even in spirit last
night at the Hotel Aston, when 400
persons gathered together under the
auspices of the Civic Forum and the
Aero Club of America to do honor TO
the holder Of the American no-stop
record and the worlds record for wom-
en- hiers, Miss Ruth Law-if any such
women were there, they must Of neces-
city By the end Of the dinner have
shrivelled into thin air.
Woman-su supreme, dominant, tran
scendant made the keynote OF that
unusual gathering Men there were.
A man Rear Admiral Robert A. Pesry
was the POSTMASTER. Men spoke,
were applauded, and sat down. But it
was woman who was the guest OF
honor. And il was a woman who I'M
questionably carried away those diff
cult honors, the laurels for the cham
pion after dinner speech.
Miss Gates Thrills Listeners
When Eleanor Gates arose and in
her dry Western drawl. began to tell
those guests what Ruth Laws flight
had meant TO her q wave of in
terest swept her listeners. Before,
they had listened as we'll bred peo-
pie should now. they began to sit up
straight, to fix upon the speaker eyes
that glittered with enthusiasm and to
laugh in uproarous spontaneity.
"The list OF superwomen has been
increased TO three said Miss Gates.
The first, Lady Anne Blount, who
went into india TO bring out the finest
horses; the second, Charmion London,
who sailed the Pacific alone in a small
boat; the third, Ruth Law.
1T is easy TO get dinner if yoa
are a man. You get one if you are
a such -and-such degree Mason, or a
naughty Elk, or just because its time
10 have another dinner. But for a
woman to sit in glory at the Hotel
Aston she must do something super
human.
WOmen's Ancient Restraints
Woman has always been restrained.
She has ruled her life by the dont's,
better-nots, should-nots and must
nots. Women have stood in front Of
the Venus de Milo and talked of her
freedom. while they were corsetted to
the limit. The sculptors must have
been blind or without sense of humor
when they made the Statue of Liberty
woman.
Ruth Law has done more than wing
her way across the uncharted heavens.
She's going 10 sweep away the cobwebs
of the woman's sky. Here is the wom-
an who. | hope, has put an end to that
old mouse story. Here is woman who
deserves to be model for new
Winged Victory"
Miss Gates sat down. Miss Law, sit
ting between Captain Raould Amund-
son. the discoverer Of the South Pole,
on her right. and Admiral Peary, on
hcr left, blushed and looked down.
Other Speakers Sing Praises
There were others to sing her praise
Commander Robert X. Crank, of the
United States Navy, who emphasized
the need OF civilian aviators; Major
Carl +. Hartmann. of the United States
Army: Miss Beatrice Forbes Robertson,
who said she believed she echoed the
sentiment Of all women when she de-
clared the people Of the nation ready
10 give millions for defence, but not
once cent for aggression" and Henry
\. Wise Wood. chairman Of the confer
encc committee on national prepared
ness.
Alan r. Hawley, president Of the
Aero Club, spoke more praise and pre-
scented purse of $500 10 Miss Law.
And then r. r.. Difren, a representative
Of the Erie. Penn. Board of Com
merce, announced that that body is
establishing an aeroplane station in
Erie and has subscribed $4,000 TO be
used for prizes in the coming trans
continental aeroplane contest.
Captain Amundsen spoke, and then
there was the reading of an original
poem, Flight" by its composer, Mrs.
Douglas Robinson.
And finally Miss Law thanked her
hearers for their praise, in modest and
Homanly fashion, and declared that
women, as well as men, will soon find
It less tiresome and much quicker 10
fly to Chicago than 1t is to motor even
over the road TO Boston,
Some of the Guests
Among those present were William
PAYNE Aldrich, Mr.. and Ms. Frederick
Brevoort Allin, Mrs. Henry A. Alexan-
der, Mr.. and Mrs. William II. Bliss,
Mr.. and Mrs. William NJ. Calder, Lieu
tenant J. f.. Carberry, Victor Carlstrom,
the aviator, and the following members
OF the First Aerial Coast Patrol: F..
Trubee Dawson, II. ?. Dawson, jr:, Earl
c. b. Gould and Wellesley Laud Brown.
Henry Clews, Judge and Mrs. Fred
erick +. Crane, Mr.. and Mrs. Henry =.
Dawson, George S. Dougherty, Mrs.
Richard n. Dyer, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Jerome Edwards, Robert Erskine Ely,
Mr. and Mrs. Ian Forbes Robertson, 7.
4. Gillespie, Mr.. and Mrs. George j.
Gould, Mr.. and Mrs. Simon Guggen-
helm, Mr.. and Mrs. Edward NJ. Hagar.
Mrs. william Z. Hamilton, Lieuten-
ant V. d. Herbster, Mrs. +. NJ. House,
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry K. Hoyt, Mr.. and
Mrs. Robert Underwood Johnson,
George +. Kunz, Mr.. and Mrs. Chris
TOPPER j. Lake, Adolph Lewisohn, Mr.
and Mrs. George w. Morgan, William
Morris, Mr.. and Mrs. Acosta Nicho S,
Ansel Phelps, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel f.
Pomeroy, Miss Grace II. Potter, Ralph
Pulitzer, Walter Scott, Mr.. and Mrs
Charles f. Scribner. John A. Sleicher
Joseph A. Steinmetz. Mr.. and Mrs
Stephen Perry Sturges, James B. Tay-
Tor. Mr.. and Mrs. Warren c. Van Slyke
and G.. Douglas Wardrop.