Evening star., 1932-02-21

- IGHT living links Win the glorious past
of Washington, with. the days OF strug-
l. gle and bloodshed out of which our
Nation was born. exist today. in the
persons of seven real daughteySe and
- one real son of the American Reyoiu-
ton Eight persons whose own fathers fought
with Washington for independence; elent VINO
sat at their fathers knees and gave rapt at
tention to tales of daring and bravery, Of hard
ships and suffering, of a terrible inhuman
Winter at Valley Forge of a ragged but daunt-
less leader whose courage and nobility stood out
like a beacon light, guiding them to victory.
Real daughters and real sons Of the American
Revolution, OF that struggle that ended $50
wears ago? It almost seems incredible. But
it is true. The records of two organizations.
the Society Of the Daughters OF the American
Revolution and the Society Of the Sons of the
American Revolution, bear proof OF 1t.
In eight homes lives of peculiar historic In
terest to the American Nation are nearing the
end of the long journey, honored by their
countrymen as the golden links Of precious
chain-a chain doubly precious at this time OF
the Bicentennial Celebration, for 1t spans the
past linking us with peculiarly close bond to
the great spirit whose birth the entire Nation
is celebrating this year.
Ladies should be frs4, of course, on any oc-
casion, but since the living real son is the only
one of his kind and since he also Is the Oldest
member Of this charmed group (as any gentle
man of tact would be- 1t seems possble-and
quite proper-to give him precedence in this
one instance without disrespect to the genuer
sex.
I EONARD FRANKLIN CASE Of Los Angeles,
- who has just celebrated his Tooth birthday
anniversary. is the only living son of a Revolu-
tionary soldier of whom the world has record.
His S. A. R. number is A. 781, meaning that he
is the 42,781st man to join the organization, so
the world was a long time finding out about
him. AS far as the national records reveal, he
d of the 10 or IL real sons who have be-
longed to the society since its inception in 1889
Frank Bartlett Steele secretary general OF the
Sons, reports that there is possibility Of other
real sons having belonged to local or State
groups whose names were never recorded at
headquarters as the organization was not
tionaliZed until some time after the local
groups had been fourishing and records have
never been kept by it in the precise, highly GEN.
ualized and thorough manner adopted from the
irst as the policy Of the D. A. R.
This fact heightens the historic glamour
which clings to the person of Leonard Case.
last surviving son. He Is one Of several
brothers (two of whom became Sons Of the
American Revolution) who had the priceless
experience Of listening to tales Of the War for
Independence from the lips Of man who knew
what that war had meant, from actual expert
ence. Leonards brother, Merritt Birdsall Case,
two were the sons Of second marriage Of the
Revolutionary hero, Reuben Case, who lived
until May 80, 1847, when Leonard was is and
his younger brother 8.
Reuben Case had courage He also must
have possessed singular maturity at an early
age For he was only . lad Of IA when the call
to patriotism sent him onto the battlefield He
was living in the vicinity Of Saratoga, we are
told, on October II, l777. when Gen. Gates
sent out call for men. 1t was just before the
famous battle. Young Reuben Case, being .
large boy Of H." offered himself as one Of the
soreiy needed men" His extreme youth and
complete inexperience as soldier caused his
commander to assign him to the so-called low
ly but often extremely dangerous task Of water
and supply boy. He participated In this ca
pacity in the Battle Of Saratoga, witnessed
Burgoyne's surrender and eventually was de-
mobilized, sound Of body and limb His entire
service was with the Connecticut Militia.
OF the seven living real daughters recorded
ot the national headquarters of the D. A. r.
at Washington, d. c., two who are sisters are
living today in Georgia, one tn Ohio, one In
Connecticut, one in Pennsylvania, one In YER
mont and one In California.
The question Of q lady's age IS usually one
to be avoided. at least until she has passed the
allotted threescore and ten. Then her years may
posedly, safely discussed. One may find ones