with a membership of 4,356, inclusive of the 103 "Real Daughters," whose names are, or have been upon our roll. The interest of Connecticut Daughters centers around the educational features of the work, practically every chapter having at least some share in it.

Nearly every chapter cares for the graves in its locality of Revolutionary soldiers; and nearly every one gives school prizes of money, medals, pictures or books for historical papers or for highest standing in entrance or graduating examinations. Night schools for non-English speaking people are carried on, lectures on American history are given in several different languages. These lectures are illustrated with stereopticon views, and are very attractive to foreigners; several traveling libraries are making the tour of the State, locating here and there among the foreigners, and reading rooms have been established in certain Italian and Hungarian settlements.

A total of about seventy tablets, boulders, memorial gateways and fountains have been erected in Connecticut by the Daughters, and a broad work is being quietly carried on for the education of white children in the mountains of the South, and also in behalf of our own Connecticut boys of Revolutionary descent. As a pastime, certain chapters are making a study of scientific forestry, much to the advantage of shade trees which line the country roads.

The George Junior Republic and Societies of Children of the American Revolution appeal to some of our chapters, and considerable attention and assistance is given in their behalf.

The introduction into the public schools of manual training and sewing classes has been accomplished by other chapters. The Ellsworth Homestead, which some years ago came to the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution, is a gift from every known descendant of Oliver Ellsworth, third Chief Justice of the United States, still attracts hundreds of visitors each year, 866 being the number for the last season. The Connecticut Daughters have recently received from the Librarian of Congress the gift of a number of very valuable books of reference, which have been placed in the library at the Homestead. In addition to individual and chapter gifts to Continental Hall, our contribution included the State coat of arms, painted by our South Carolina friend, Mrs. Robertson-and the $2,000 which for four years has been waiting the call of the Connecticut column for the Memorial portico.

An invitation recently came to the State Regent to prepare, or to have prepared, a summary of the actual achievements of the Connecticut Daughters since the organization of the first Connecticut chapter, the article to be printed in a well known magazine of history which is published in New York City. This has been done, and among the facts revealed by the chapter files was a particularly interesting one concerning the financial record of the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution. One scarcely likes to speak in the same breath of mere dollars and cents in connection with commemorative and historical work, and yet their brief mention often serves to emphasize the scope

and importance of the work itself. It is therefore with a feeling of justifiable pride that I refer to the figures taken from the treasurer's books of each Connecticut chapter, these figures showing that since the present State Regent has been in office, and exclusive of fees and dues sent to the National Society, the Connecticut Daughters have expended upon their local commemorative, historical, educational and patriotic work the sum of $180,000.

After fourteen years of active service, the close of the Eighteenth Continental Congress will also bring to a close the official career of the present incumbent of the office of State Regent. Once more I desire to emphasize my abiding faith in the principles of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. It has a distinct and a very unique mission to perform, and it is a mission which calls for high ideals and a spirit of self abnegation if it is to accomplish the plans and purposes of its founders. I shall take with me into the privacy of a sheltered life, the happy memory of many sweet and gracious friendships with Daughters from Maine to California, and leave to a valued successor a united and harmonious constituency whose superb record for faithful, unselfish, enthusiastic and uplifting efforts for the highest and best interests of Home and Country can never be told in words, but whose influence for good will be felt for decades to come in the fine old Constitution State.

CONNECTICUT.

Madam President General and Delegates to the Eighteenth Continental Congress: It is always a happiness to be able to report that the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution continue in well doing along their several lines of patriotic endeavor, and that their adherence to the objects and aims of the National Society, as indicated by our constitution, is as unquestionable as it is encouraging and invigorating. Until five years ago our activities were centered about such "objects" as are mentioned in sections 1 and 3 of Article II of the Constitution. Having practically completed the work in Connecticut in the matter of "perpetuating 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," our attention was turned to the aims of the Society as expressed in Section 2 of Article II, where we are told 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.'" Our very efficient State committee for this department has recently prepared and sent out to each chapter a new circular outlining the work for the coming year, and a set of sixty stereopticon slides has been purchased to be shown in connection with lectures on American history to be given for the benefit of our foreign citizens. This had proved to be a very captivating activity and each year the interest increases, and more and better educational work is

accomplished. Thirty of our forty-seven chapters are now earnestly engaged in what we call patriotic education work, and in doing this work we feel that we are not only obeying the injunction of the Father of our Country, as incorporated in our National Constitution, but in educating and trying to make good American citizens and patriots of a certain class of American and foreign born children, we are doing the very best kind of patriotic work for home and country.

An interest which is dear to the heart of every Connecticut Daughter is the care and maintenance of the Ellsworth Homestead. This place continues and as long as its four walls shall stand it will continue to be a Mecca for patriotic pilgrims. During the last season and up to the middle of November, 866 guests visited the homestead. It is beautifully cared for by the custodians, who have been in charge since the gift came to us, and State pride, as well as Daughters of the American Revolution pride, will keep us vigilant in our guardianship of this historic spot. In addition to individual and chapter gifts to Continental Hall, our contributions include the state coat of arms for the audience room, and the $2,000 which for four years has been waiting the call of the Connecticut column for the memorial portico. Our membership remains practially the same as last year. From 50 to 100 new members are admitted each year, but the losses by death swing the pendulum back again to a general average. Among our gains this year, we count two newly discovered "Real Daughters," and Mary Wooster and Hannah Woodruff Chapters claim them for their own. These additions to our record of “Real Daughters" bring up the number to 103 of those whose names are, or have been upon our membership roll. Since our last report fifty-four of our members have passed on to other spheres of usefulness, and prominent among those who have gone from us are: Mrs. Lydia Bolles Newcomb of Mary Clap Wooster Chapter, Mrs. Abbie Gunn, organizing Regent of Judea Chapter, Miss Rhoda Thompson and Miss Sarah Prichard, of Melicent Porter Chapter. Miss Thompson was one of our few remaining "Real Daughters" and Miss Prichard will be remembered as the author of many very interesting Revolutionary stories.

Mrs. Newcomb was an enthusiastic and unselfish co-worker for Daughters of the American Revolution interests from the early organization of chapters in Connecticut. She was a member of the State Regent's Council for many years, and the value of her services as consulting registrar and as editor of Genealogical Notes for the AMERICAN MONTHLY MAGAZINE cannot be over-estimated.

In connection with the recent preparation of a history of the achievements of the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution, the interesting fact was brought out and verified from the records of each chapter's treasurer in the State, that since 1895, and exclusive of fees and dues sent to the National Society, the Connecticut Daughters have expended upon their historical, commemorative, educational and patriotic work the sum of $180,cco. Chapter reports are as follows:

Abi Humiston Chapter, Thomaston.-The more or less dilapidated tombstones of twelve Revolutionary soldiers' graves have been cleaned and reset by this chapter, and it has given $10 toward the Mary Merriman Abbott memorial fund.

Abigail Phelps Chapter, Simsbury.-On the eleventh of November, 1908, this chapter enjoyed the fifteenth anniversary of its organization. The event was fittingly celebrated at the home of one of its early regents, who made the occasion memorable by presenting to each of the hundred or more Daughters who were present a silver souvenir spoon, having in its bowl an etching of Continental Hall. The chapter has given a $50 scholarship toward the education of a Connecticut boy at the Suffield Academy, and has contributed toward the Daughters of the American Revolution printing fund, to a fund for the historical pageant in connection with the Hartford Bridge celebration, to the birthday gift for our poet-laureate, Miss Fanny Crosby, and toward the Red Cross fund for relief of earthquake sufferers in Italy. Eleven Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books have been purchased, thus completing the set, and the usual care of the Revolutionary cemetery has been given.

Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth, Windsor.-This chapter continues its prize of five dollars to the public school pupil who writes the best essay on a historical subject, and it has also contributed $25 toward a scholarship at the Suffield Academy.

Anna Warner Bailey Chapter, of Groton and Stonington.-The Anna Warner Bailey Chapter has raised several thousand dollars this year, which will be used for the purchase of land adjoining, and to be incorporated into the Old Fort Griswold Tract. This land is a part of the historic Revolutionary battlefield on Groton Heights, but has never been State property, as has the fort itself. This wise expenditure of money will greatly aid the State Commission in charge of the property to carry out its plans for desired improvements, including a memorial gateway, in this interesting locality. A contribution for Continental Hall will be made at the coming Congress.

Anna Brewster Fanning Chapter, Jewett City. A flagpole, from which floats a fine new flag, has been placed near the chapter's memorial boulder at "Old Patchaug." This boulder commemorates the lives and services of seventeen Revolutionary soldiers who died upon the field of battle, or while prisoners in the custody of the British. The chapter has presented several valuable books to the borough's public library, and has celebrated various historic days with interesting commemorative exercises.

Anne Wood Elderkin Chapter, of Willimantic.-A $100 scholarship has been given by "Anne Wood Elderkin" for a boy at the Suffield Academy, and $50 to the local Young Men's Christian Association. A boy in whom the chapter is interested has been personally assisted in ways which will enable him to remain at school and improve his educational advantages.