The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-10
D. 4. R. SPEAKER DELIVERS REbUKE
 FOR PESSIMISTS
Mrs. Orville Rector, in Pa triotic Address, Points
 to Spirit of '76.

views are the outgrowth of immature thought, was delivered by Mrs. Orville Rector, chairman Of the flag com
 1nittee of the Mary Silliman chapter.
 D. A. R., yesterday afternoon at the
 meeting in Odd Fellows hall. l Mrs Rector urged the Daughters tof the men who fought for the inde- 1 pendence of America to face the fu- l ture with something of the spirit that | imbued their ancestors. She recom-
 mended to them particularly that they 1 look in the records of George Wash. l ington. There they would learn, she said, that his course in this crisis. l would have been the same course we are taking, for from his beliefs and
 statements, he would take no other. Mrs. John R. Woodruff told of her 1 trip to Marysville, Tenn, where the l chapter supports a scholarship. Mrs ] Charles H. Armstrong and Mrs. Frank Staples told of the state meeting. A l program of interpretive dancing and song followed.
 Mrs. Rector's address in full was: While waiting for a car to bring me down town to attend this meeting I overheard the conversation of two women who were also waiting. Said the one, Isn't this country in an aw- ful state? War declared and nothing ready?' 1"The other replied that she was so depressed, she couldn't sleep nights etc.
 Daughters would walk 10 blocks to avoid meeting a pessimist. I be- lieve in finding something bright in the worst situation and dwelling upon that rather than breeding over the gloomy part of it.
 Now, war has been declared and it was forced upon this nation, al- though we all would much prefer peace. mean honorable peace
 "But as this seemed impossible let US right about face and as descend ants of George Washington and the 5000, 900 people who declared war in the early days, look with discourage ment on all that are manifesting fear and worry.
 Read your April ma agazine and find out what George Washington says in two of his most noted addresses made while he was President and you will find that we are only following out the same idea as that he had
 "So let us have faith in our nation that now has a population of over 110, ,00O, 900 and know that it will maintain the dignif1ed and respected position which it has ever held in the world.
 1T do not believe in teaching child egotism, neither have I any use for a Econceited man or woman, but just new I believe we should all Keel sure (and talk as we feeD that those glorious Stars and Stripes floats over a nation that is the best ever and that we are prepared Gin spite of what some per sist in saying) to defend the Monroe Doctrine and protect our rights at all times
 f'Do you know how, in the year 19 9b5. we ranked with other important warring nations in regard to wealth?
 Germany 80 billions.
 France, 50 billions.
 Great Britain, 85 billions
 United States 1855. 1. billions.
 "A few years ago upon the Fourth of July, a banquet was being held in Shanghai, China. Ambassa dors from many countries were invited by number of the prominent Americans as their guests, upon the date which celebrated their country's independ- ence.
 After the banquet, toasts were in order and the mbassador from Eng land gave a toast to the British flag as follows:
 Here's to the flag of flags, the Union Jack, the flag that has fioated on every sea- The flag on which the sun never sets. This forcible senti- ment expressed in such a forcible way dazed the Americans for a mo- ment. One of them looked at Eli Perkins, who was present and inn mediately called upon him for a toast to the Stars and Stripes. Mr. Per- kins rose and looking directly in the face of the Englishman said:
 Here's to the American fag-the l Stars and Stripes of the big republic. 1 When the setting sun lights up her stars in Alaska, the rising sun greets | her on the rock-bound coast of Maine. l It is the flag of liberty, never yet low | cred to any foe, and the only flag that l ever whippe1 the flag upon which the l sun never sets
 T feel that we all should have the same pride.''