The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-12-15

-Thompson's Seasons.
We know that all who enjoyed the
beautiful prose-poem on Miami last
week will read with equal interest
Mrs. D. E. McIver's unique and
charming account of
THE Social Side of the Federation"
This is one time that | am truly
Pollyanna for l am "glad" l was
elected delegate to the Miami con-
vention. "Glad" we had such a good
delegation from our home club, "glad"
to have had the pleasure of being
thrown with such representative and
brainy women; "glad" that the con.
vention was such success in every
way, and "glad" that our president
asked me to report the social parts of
our trip, which is this case was much
and varied.
From the time we reached Jack
sonville the social feature was in evil
dence, renewing old friendships, greet
ing old acquaintance and making
new ones. All down the line we were
joined by women who were represen-
tatives of 128 clubs of nearly 5000
members. We reached Miami about
IL o'clock Tuesday morning. We were
greeted at the station by Mrs. Hous-
ton of the reception committee and
Mrs. Munroe, president of the Miami
club. Our first impression of Miami
was pleasant one for as we glanced
out of the car window we saw the
smiling faces of 'tour" Mrs. BIalock
and Prof Workman. Later we were
taken to the Hotel Halyon, headquar-
tiers for the convention and found it
thronged with delegates and mem
bers, all anxious to secure their
rooms. AS soon as we were located
we went to the club building, which
is diogonally across the street from
the hotel, to register, get our badge
Of green and gold, secure our pro-
grams, etc.
The whole city seemed awake with
interest. We then returned to the ho-
tel for lunch and here and there and
everywhere were groups of women
who as the paper expressed it "were
always and always and always talk
ing federation" The suffrage lunch
con, given Tuesday at noon at the
Wayside Inn, was probably the first
social feature, but none of your rep
resentatives weer urged to attend,
although there might have been
found several among them who would
have bene in sympathy with their
slogan, "Votes for Both"
The Miami women took advantage
of the presence of their out of town
friends to extend individual hospital
ity, and herein our friends were not
lacking. Before we finished luncheon
Mrs. Blalock was the door in her car
to take the Ocala delegation for a
drive.
| could not, if / had the time, de-
scribe to you the beautiful driveways,
with the cocoanut and Washingtonian
palms, with now and then stately
royal palm and everywhere the for
geous colored crotons. I must speak
of the long, long bridge across the
Bay of Biscayne, said to be two and
a half miles long, and the handsome
homes of multi-millionaires on the
island. We reached the club house
late in the afternoon, just in time to
see the credential committee, which is
most important at a convention. Then
as the Herald said, "after the excite
ment of the first day, with the dinner
hour there fell great hush on down
town Miami; the delegates were
dressing for the great opening ses-
sion.
At 8 o'clock p. m. we assembled at
the White Temple where the opening
of the 22nd annual convention, which
is conceded to be the greatest con.
vention Florida has ever seen, took
place. The setting of ferns, palms
and three American flags, was beau
tiful in its simplicity and dignity.
Mrs. w. S. jennings, federation
president and Mrs. Leight Munroe,
president of the Miami club, presided.
Seated on the platform were the
speakers who were to welcome US,
and the members giving short talks
on the biennial. Here we were repre-
scented by Mrs. Hooker and Mrs. Gary.
The meeting was formally opened by
the singing of our national anthem,
"The Star Spangled Banner
After the welcomes we almost felt
that we owned share in Miami. Mrs.
Lewis of Fort Pierce, responded for
the federation.
Following the program the dele
gates and many guests proceeded to
the Hotel Halcyon, where in the wide
palm decorated parlors a reception
was held. Two receiving lines were
formed. On one side wer ethe officers
of the hostess club, and on the other
the officers of the federation and gen.
eral federation. / should say there
were twenty-five in ALL The recep-
ton was brilliant in every way and
gave all an opportunity of getting
acquainted. Refreshments were serv-
ed at eleven.
At 8 o'clock we again assembled
at the White Temple for the evening