In the papers of July 9th a notice was printed, signed by the Regent of Wiltwyck Chapter, inviting all ladies to meet at the City Hall, on Monday, July 11th, to help prepare supplies for the sick and wounded soldiers and sailors. The wonderful meeting of patriotic women responding to this call will long be remembered by those who attended it. The mayor's office proved far too small to hold the crowd who came, eager to help. Women from uptown and downtown, those who had, perhaps, never met before; some who had worked hard to earn what they gladly gave, some who gave from their abundance. The supplies of muslin and flannel provided beforehand soon gave out; and so many friends were ready to help cut and sew that it was decided to meet every day through the week in the corporation counsel's room. Here was a busy scene each day, sewing machines humming, scissors cutting, busy women with flying needles, people coming in and out with new supplies. Never will the Daughters forget the ready and valuable help received from noble women who, though their names are not enrolled among the Chapter members, have proved themselves worthy to be called "sisters" by every patriotic society. So quickly was the work accomplished that by Friday noon four large barrels were ready to be sent to Santiago. Three other barrels were afterwards sent to Chickamauga, besides a box from Kyserike forwarded by the Chapter. Many friends outside the Society sent in money and supplies for these barrels. Their names are all kept in the archives that we may not forget how, in time of need, one helped another to work for our country. Three hundred and one dollars and twelve cents were spent for the benefit of the army, sixty-six dollars being given by those not belonging to the Chapter. Bags for the use of soldiers in the hospitals have lately been sent to Miss Shaw at Fortress Monroe by members of the Chapter. Sixty dollars was given towards the work of feeding the returning soldiers passing through the city, and different members volunteered to meet the trains and assist in this work. The war work, we hope, is nearly over, and may it be long before we have to record such items in our reports again. Yet it is a noble record and should be carefully kept. We must hasten over the rest of the year's annals. On Memorial Day, as usual, the graves of revolutionary heroes were decorated. The prize offered the students in the public schools for the best essay on American history was awarded to Miss Agnes Bermingham, who was presented by the Chapter with the Century Book of Famous Americans, and the Century Story of the Revolution. In addition to the flag presented by the delegates to the Continental Congress, Wiltwyck Chapter has received two volumes of the Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Book, one the gift of Miss Anna V. V. Kenyon, the other of Mrs. Hyman Roosa. Mrs. Gregory, of the Mohawk Chapter, a former member of our own ranks, presented the Chapter with a beautiful picture of the three State Capitols. In April we had the pleasure of a brief visit from the Vassar College Chapter and Historical Society, who came up to spend a few hours in visiting the places of historical interest in the neighborhood of Kingston. A committee of Daughters met them at the train, and after luncheon at the home of Miss Forsyth, carriages provided by the Chapter took them to see various historical places, after which they drove to Hurley, where they were entertained by Mrs. James D. Wynkoop. Letters were received from these visitors expressing great pleasure in their excursion. In July Mrs. Abraham Brodhead invited the Chapter to New Paltz, where they spent a most enjoyable day, taking luncheon at Mrs. Brodhead's home, and visiting a number of interesting old houses, under the guidance of Mr. Ralph LeFevre. In September a parliamentary class was taught by Mrs. Urquehart Lee, which gave pleasure and profit to all who attended it. Mrs. Lawton, of Fair View, gave a lawn party which added quite an amount to the war fund. At the regular meeting in September several visitors were present. Mrs. Shuler, of Buffalo, and Mrs. Seymour, of Syracuse, gave brief accounts of their Chapter work, and Mrs. Fulsom, whose son was one of the Seventy-first New York Volunteers, told some stories of the war, and recited a revolutionary ballad. We have continued this year the study of our own State history, which was begun last season, and at every monthly meeting one or two interesting papers have been read. Our Chapter Day, October 16th, came this year on Sunday. We had a two days' celebration, however, as on October 14th Wiltwyck Chapter gave a reception to the President General of our Society, Mrs. Daniel Manning; the State Regent, Mrs. James Belden, and Miss Forsyth, Vice-President General. Mrs. G. D. B. Hasbrouck gave her beautiful home for the evening. A band of Daughters decorated the rooms with palms and flowers. In spite of a pouring rain a large number assembled and the reception was a very great success, the whole scheme being carried out in a charming manner. The next day, October 15th, by invitation of the Colonial Dames, the Chapter attended the ceremony of the unveiling of the tablet erected in the memory of George Clinton, at the court house, after which the officers and local board were asked to a luncheon at the house of General George H. Sharpe. At the annual meeting in November our Regent and most of our officers were reëlected; so that there are no great changes in Chapter affairs to chronicle. But this has not been to our Chapter a year of unclouded brightness. We have mourned the loss of a valued member, Mrs. Anna Elizabeth Hardenbergh, who from the early days of our organization has been a faithful and interested friend. And into the household of several of our number sorrow and death have come. We sympathize with all those who are. mourning for loved ones who have left them. Several of our members have been transferred to other Chapters, but their loss has been balanced by the additions to our membership. A band of one hundred and eighteen intelligent women, pledged to patriotic working together for the good of the place in which they live, ought to be a power whose influence is widely felt, and when we remember that our whole Society comprises at least twenty-five thousand, what a strong force it is, if we keep true to the aim we started with, as expressed in our Constitution-"To cherish, maintain, and extend the institution of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love of country and to aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of liberty."-KATHARINE BRUYN FORSYTH, Historian. LETITIA GREEN STEVENSON CHAPTER (Bloomington, Illinois). To the Letitia Green Stevenson Chapter has this been a year of great undertakings. It seemed as if in advance of that great wave of patriotism which has swept over our nation, our Chapter was so thrilled with patriotic enthusiasm that its members were not content merely to meet from month to month, but in December, 1897, decided to offer cash prizes to the pupils of the grammar grades in our city schools for the best essays upon patriotic subjects to be chosen by the Chapter. Two hundred and more essays were submitted and judged by committees appointed by the Regent, Mrs. De Motte. From these, the best eighteen were chosen to be the prize winners. February 22, 1898, was the date set for the awarding of the prizes, and on the afternoon of that day a large audience assembled in the Grand Opera House to witness the ceremonies of the day. The ladies of the Chapter were seated upon the stage, which was handsomely decorated with the national colors, with a portrait of Washington over all. In the absence of our Regent, Mrs. De Motte, who was in attendance on the National Congress at Washington, District of Columbia, Mrs. Mary A. C. Marmon, Vice-Regent, presided over the exercises. The Board of Education and officers of the schools occupied the boxes and the pupils competing for the prizes were seated in front of the stage. Cash prizes amounting to thirty-six dollars were distributed among the winners. The first six essays were read to the large audience present, by members of the Chapter, Mrs. F. C. Vandervort, Mrs. Sain Welty and Mrs. I. N. Light alternating in the reading. For lack of time, the essays taking the second and third prizes of two dollars and one dollar, respectively, were not read, but after a few remarks from Mrs. Dr. Marsh, referring to the object of the contest, she read a list of the prize winners, calling them to the platform, where the prizes were presented. Musical numbers were interspersed throughout the afternoon's program, the High School Glee Club and Miss Louise Pomeroy giving their services to make the occasion enjoyable. The celebration was most unique and highly gratifying to all, and Letitia Green Stevenson Chapter certainly earned deserved laurels by the manner in which this most successful contest was planned and carried out. The event of the year was the reception of May 2d, in honor of the President General of our organization, Mrs. Daniel Manning; the State Regent, Mrs. Henry Shepard; and the visiting delegates to the Illinois Conference of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The plan, as arranged by the Letitia Green Stevenson Chapter, of Bloomington, for the entertainment of the visiting delegates, was a complete and successful one. About three hundred invitations were issued for the reception at Cooper Hall, and it is safe to say that very few of these were declined. At the appointed hour the reception committee and the ushers were on hand to assist in making the affair a success. The reception room was gay with flowers and drapery of flags and bunting, and the silver loving-cup presented to Mrs. A. E. Stevenson by the National Society held a prominent position and was admired by all. The receiving party consisted of Regent Mrs. H. C. De Motte, President General Mrs. Daniel Manning, Mrs. John M. Jewett, of Chicago, Mrs. Adlai E. Stevenson, and Mrs. Henry M. Shepard, State Regent of Illinois, and Mrs. Dickinson, Regent Chicago Chapter, assisted by an introduction committee. At nine o'clock the doors into the supper room were thrown open, and the tables and decorations displayed. The Stars and Stripes hung in graceful folds from chandeliers, cornices and walls. Ashton's Mandolin Orchestra played sweet, soft music from behind a screen of palms and ferns. In the center of the room a table had been prepared with plates for eighteen and handsomely decorated with flowers and candles. Here were seated the guests of honor and a number of the members of George Rogers Clarke Chapter, Sons of American Revolution, of Bloomington. Mrs. De Motte was toast mistress, and after the refreshments had been discussed, she, in a few well chosen. words, introduced Mrs. A. E. Stevenson, who proposed the toast "Our President General," to which Mrs. Manning responded in a delightful vein. Mrs. Henry M. Shepard gave the toast "To the Illinois Sons of the American Revolution," which was enthusiastically received and responded to by Mr. Charles L. Capen, President George Rogers |