The Washington times., 1922-04-30


Lafayette, was he not COM
nemorated in Memorial Cont.
mental Hall, and Franklin, who
was such good Frenchman
while American envoy at Paris?
Houdon's marble bust of Wash
ington was given by France, with
two large Sevres vases. at the d.
A. r. congress OF last year. on
April Is, 1921, through his excel
celency, Ambassador Jusserand.
And the other Houdon mask Of
Washington. that, too. is in the
d. A. r. library.
With what admiration one
ought to regard the stately Gre
clan Romanesque exterior, the
fluted marble Ionic columns for
the thirteen original States. and
the interior like a museum OF
historic American antiques.
WOMEN GAVE 100000.
But who erected this marble
palace?- Noble women from all
over the land. home women, not
yet emancipated by universal suf-
frage, more like the women of
France. Wives and mothers.
Rich women, poor women, society
women. professional women, all
Daughters of the American Revo-
luton. From everywhere, women
in town and country homes had
contributed toward 100000 for
the hall.
Almost overnight, the society
moved its national headquarters
from shabby rooms in an + street
office to the splendid Memorial
Continental Hall. in Potomac
Park.
The hall had been six years in
building, since the cornerstone
was laid in 1904. after the plans
of the architect, Edward Pearce
Casey. had been accepted. Sell
dom has a national event proved
Of such worldwide interest as
this achievement of women in
those earlier days.
1t was one of their first great
organized efforts. To this mar
velous success they had been
stirred by devoted leaders, and
ably commanded by national Off
GERS of the society.
Mrs. Matthew T. Scott, of Illi-
nois, was the president general
when the ID. A. r. entered their
new home. Although she dis.
claimed personal credit, her career
had been extraordinary as a prac-
tical Middle Western farmer, an
employer and financier. and then
as head of the National ID. A. r.
Society, which grew by leaps and
bounds during Mrs. Scotts admin
istration.
NOW LADY OF LEISURE"
For there were many problems
then not quite adjusted, which
have since been solved. Now, to-
day. in 1922. Mrs. Scott, who has
Just returned to Washington from
. gay holiday visit in Mississippi,
seems q lady Of leisure"
mo, indeed. not a lady OF lei
surel Rather say: a hard.work-
ing womanr' exclaimed Mrs. Scott,
as she and Victor Flamoeau were
lunchins informally in her palatial
Washington residence at 1915 Q
street northwest.
Mrs. Scott had Just produced. at
F1ambeau's request. the marvellous
gold medal she received from
France, bestowed at the hands Of
Ambassador Jusserand. In recogni.
ton of the distinguished services
TO French orphans in the devastat-
ed regions. This work was in
addition to her contributions at
home in raising funds for Ameri.
can war work. and giving her spa
cious Bloomington mansion to the
Government as a war hospital.
/. "But, dear Mrs. Scott" persisted
Victor F1ambeau, you are a
lady OF leisure. You live here In
winter, you travel when and whore
you like, you have a charming
summer home on the shores OF
Lake Michigan. you entertain lnv.
ishly, your charities are known II
he great though secret ones. Sure.
ly. you have a life OF leisure"