to its happy Daughters, and in the belief that the Chapter will always be found ready to respond to the call of patriotism in a manner worthy of its sires, the Historian wipes her pen, and folds her record.-ANNA FALCONER PERRIN, Historian.

NEW ALBANY CHAPTER.-Among the most delightful entertainments during the holidays was the Charter meeting of New Albany Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, at the home of the Misses Hedden, Dewey street.

The decorations were beautiful, flags festooning the windows, and greeting the guests on every hand.

The members appeared in colonial dress and the costuming was exceedingly quaint and most becoming in every instance. Miss Mary E. Cardwill, as Mary Washington, presided with a calm dignity and grace, sustaining most charmingly the lovely character she represented.

The program opened with music by Mrs. Hedden and Will and Earl Hedden. The charter was then presented to the Chapter by the Regent, Miss Mary Cardwill.

ADDRESS OF THE REGENT.

Members of the New Albany Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Guests:

It is with peculiar pleasure I welcome you this evening at the time when we as a Chapter feel that we are to be legally launched upon the stream of our national as well as local existence as a chartered organization.

In presenting the charter to the New Albany Chapter, my mind naturally reverts to the afternoon, less than a year ago, when a little group of ladies of revolutionary ancestry gathered at my home, upon my invitation as prospective Regent, to talk over the feasibility and desirability of forming a local Chapter. The meeting, as some of you know, proved to be one of exceeding interest, even enthusiasm. Of the number present only one, myself, was a member of the national organization, and at that time only one other person in the city belonged to the Daughters of the American Revolution, Mrs. Annie Elizabeth Evans, who had joined the organization some

time before upon my invitation. Her claim was founded, as was that of another of our members, our Historian, Mrs. Frank Gwin, upon the record of Colonel Henry Heth, a member of the Order of the Cincinnati, whose commission, signed by Washington, is owned by Mrs. Evans.

At our first meeting, last January, six of the ladies whose names were enrolled on our charter were present. It was decided then that we should meet again the following month to take more positive steps towards organization. At that February meeting Mrs. Sarah H. Henton, a member of the John Marshall Chapter of Louisville, was present and gave a bright talk upon the work of the national organization and its aims, and urged the immediate formation of a Chapter in New Albany.

A few application blanks which the Regent had in her possession were distributed and more promised as soon as they could be obtained from Washington. These blanks were delayed somewhat, as the request for them was sent at about the time of the annual meeting of the National Society, when the National Registrar had her hands full of other work. They arrived, however, in time for the March meeting which had been appointed to be held at the home of the Regent. At this meeting a preliminary organization was effected, to be merged into a Chapter, with the same officers, as soon as the requisite number of National members, twelve, could be obtained. The Regent had received her appointment in the usual way from the State Regent, Mrs. C. C. Foster, of Indianapolis, and as the only authorized person it was her province and duty as prospective Regent, to appoint the officers of the prospective Chapter, who were to serve also in the same capacity in the preliminary organization. These officers as appointed. appear on our charter as follows : Vice-Regent, Mrs. Frances Rice Maginness, who was the first person to fill out her application papers after we had decided upon a permanent organization, hence number three on the Chapter record; Secretary, Mrs. Helen Mar Fawcett; Registrar, Miss Fannie M. Hedden; Historian, Mrs. Martha T. Heth Gwin; Treasurer, Miss Anna F. Card

will; all of these officers were among the first accepted by the national organization, and, with one or two exceptions, have been at every meeting we have held.

At the April meeting the Regent had the pleasure of reporting ten or eleven application papers had been sent to Washington with the prospect of at least seven acceptances that month.

At

The May meeting was held at the hospitable home where we are gathered to-night, where a few braved the elements to attend and enjoy the excellent program provided by the Chairman of the Program Committee, Miss Theo Hedden. that time the seven members referred to were announced as accepted by the National Board. Moreover, information had been received which warranted us in believing we would have the requisite number for organization by the time of the June meeting, as six more application papers were then at Washington, with the certainty of three being accepted. Hence it was decided to form our Chapter the following month, in commemoration of the battle of Bunker Hill. Every arrangement was consequently made for organization at that time. A large number of ladies, including the prospective members and invited guests, assembled at the home of the Secretary, with the expectation of seeing the Chapter formed. After the meeting opened the Regent announced that the required number of national members-twelve-now made it possible for the organization of a Chapter; but, she added, three application papers were in Washington still unapproved, to the great disappointment of their senders, each of whom wished to be a charter member. More than that two other papers had just been sent in by ladies who also wished to be charter members. The Regent suggested as that was to be the last meeting before fall, when there was a strong possibility of the acceptance of these applicants, that the organization be postponed until October. The suggestion met with hearty approval and a vote taken resulted unanimously in favor of postponement.

In spite of our disappointment that June meeting was a most delightful one, the most successful one we had held and a fitting close of our six months' effort and to our work as a preliminary organization.

Before the meeting of the National Board in September, two of the waiting applicants had their papers verified and four more applications had been forwarded to Washington. Those six were accepted by the National Board in September and we then numbered eighteen members. Our pleasure in this result was somewhat marred by the failure of one we very much desire to have in our ranks to make her claim good.

On a day ever memorable in the history of the Chapter, October 15, 1898, the New Albany Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was born, on historic ground, within the northern boundary of Clark's Grant, five miles from town, at the home of Miss Annabellah Smith, whose persistent desire to be a charter member had given our roster eighteen instead of twelve names for a beginning.

No name could be decided upon which seemed quite good enough to bestow upon the lusty infant and none has yet been found. Hence its would-be sponsors come before you this evening asking you to believe we will do our duty by it, in spite of an apparent dereliction at the start, and will try to make our Chapter a worthy child of its native city, New Albany. Before reading the names of the sponsors from this beautiful charter, permit me to tell you in a few words what is the animus of the organization known as the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The little experiences we have had, in tracing our ancestry that we might ally ourselves with this national body, has given us a taste of the delights of genealogical research. There is something in it which appeals to our intellect and to our pride. With the eagerness of those intent upon solving problems we hunt down our forefathers whom we had never before thought of, and with ever increasing zeal we look hither and thither for elusive missing links; and, alas, for our peace of mind, after we have reached the revolutionary patriot we are not content; we must know, not only in one but in each several lines, as far as possible at least, who was the emigrant, or first American ancestor of the name. We do well if we can stop there. Often we seek across the sea for the founder of the family; and so strong at times does the genealogical fever become that the

victim can hope for no cure until, like an American of whom I have heard, he has traced his ancestry back to Adam without a break in the family chain.

There is more than curiosity, however, in this genealogical fever. It takes forcible hold of the imagination and of the human love of mystery and romance. There is something which thrills us in a simple name which joins us with the past. And there is an inexpressible satisfaction in the thought of being linked by blood with those who have gained for themselves niches in the temple of fame. I feel myself able to sympathize even with those who have organized what, from an American point of view, is undoubtedly an order of snobs, the order of the Crown. Few would object to the blood of royalty, for that would at least seem to indicate blood which had made itself felt. Yet that very idea is a mistaken one, at least where hereditary monarchy is concerned. But in the mistaken or false feeling there is a suggestion of a true one, one which the most American of Americans can nourish without detriment to his American spirit, a pride in ancestral achievement. In this feeling lies the germ of and the value of patriotic societies.

The avowed objects of the organization known as the Daughters of the American Revolution are, in the words of its constitution:

"To perpetuate the memory of the spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence by the acquisition and protection of historical spots and the erection of monuments; by the encouragement of historical research in relation to the Revolution and the publication of its results; by the preservation of documents and relics; and of the records of individual services of revolutionary soldiers and patriots, and by the promotion of celebrations of all patriotic anniversaries.

"(2) To carry out the injunction of Washington in his farewell address to the American people, "To promote, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge,' thus developing an enlightened public opinion, and affording to young and old such advantages as