1916- President and Mrs. Wilson's Luncheon and Reception

The following articles detail the luncheon and reception prepared for President and Mrs. Wilson in Charlotte, North Carolina.

 

The Charlotte News 5/21/1916, p. 2 and 5/21/1916, p. 2

 

 

LUNCHEON FOR THE PRESIDENT AND MRS. WILSON 5/21/1916, p. 2

  President and Mrs. Wilson were tendered a very elegant luncheon yesterday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Southern Manufacturer’s Club, by a number of citizens of Charlotte, the luncheon being served in a private dining room of the club, and covers being laid for 80 people.  

Sweet peas were used in decoration and the table appointments were handsome, silver being laid for eight courses. The list of guests was as follows:  

Guests.  

The President and Mrs. Wilson; Secretary Daniels, Governor and Mrs. Craig, Governor and Mrs. Manning, Senator Overman, Dr. Cary T. Grayson, Secretary Joseph Tumulty, Hon. E. Y. Webb and Mrs. Webb, Mayor and Mrs. T. L. Kirkpatrick, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lassiter, Dr. and Mrs. W. J. Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Heriot Clarkson, Mrs. W. H. Porcher, Miss Lena Young, ex-Gov. Edwin Warfield, of Maryland; Col. and Mrs. Leroy Springs, of Lancaster; Col. J. C. Horner, Commander Wurtzbaugh, Gen. Laurence W. Young and Mrs. Young, Mrs. Ralph Van Landingham, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Wilkinson, Mr. W. B. Sullivan, Mr. W. C. Dowd, Mr. and Mrs. George P. Wadsworth, Major Bright, of the Richmond Grays; Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Dalton, Col. and Mrs. A. L. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Chambers, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Draper, Hon. And Mrs. H. N. Pharr, Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Guthrie, Mr. and Mrs. John M. Scott, Mr. and Mrs. John M. Morehead, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Stuart W. Cramer, Mrs. Latta C. Johnson, Dr. Archibald Henderson, Mr. and Mrs. F. B. McDowell, Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Miller, Jr., Mr. Gaines Woodrow, Mr. Woodrow McKay, Dr. and Mrs. C. A. Bland, Mr. and Mrs. David Ovens, Col. and Mrs. T. L. Craig, Hon. C. A. Webb, Mr. Baxter Durham, Col. J. E. Erwin, Col. Williams, Col. George McNeill, Col. Frank S. Lambeth, Col. John D. Langston and the adjutant general and five colonels on the South Carolina staff. -  

 

DR. HENDERSON PRESENTS NEW EVIDENCE  

Before one of the most brilliant audiences that ever gathered in the city, Dr. Archibald Henderson of the University of North Carolina, distinguished scholar, historian and author, presented new evidence and evidence that satisfied his audience, that the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was signed on May 20, 1775, and not on May 31. The evidence, gathered by Dr. Henderson through a period of research covering ten years or more, had to do with the events of the year 1775 in North Carolina. The crux of the situation, Dr. Henderson declared, was when the news of the battle of Lexington reached Charlotte and he presented indisputable evidence to show that they reached Charlotte on May 18 or 19 and could no have been as late as May 20. One of the most notable bits of evidence in the collection was obtained from Miss Adelaide Fries of Winston-Salem and was in the shape of old Moravian records.  

Miss Julia Alexander was mistress of ceremonies during the evening and introduced Mayor T. L. Kirkpatrick, who presented Dr. Henderson to the audience. Dr. Henderson was listened to with the keenest throughout the delivery of his address, which lasted an hour or more. His argument was logical and convincing and his presentation of the subject so forceful that his address must stand as one of the greatest contributions of proof of the authenticity of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.  

At the close of his address he presented to Miss Julia Alexander a facsimile of the new Moravian record, this donation being made to Miss Alexander as a representative to the Mecklenburg Chapter, D. A. R. To Mayor Kirkpatrick, on behalf of the city, he presented a beautiful reproduction of the portrait of Queen Charlotte, owned by Elizabeth Maxwell Steel, great-great-great grandmother of the donor.

 

 

 

 

PRES. WILSON AT THE GRAND STAND 5/21/1916, p. 2

  He and Mrs. Wilson Met by Distinguished Citizens of the Two Carolinas – Mrs. Wilson a Beautiful Woman – Her Gowning the Perfection of Style and Taste – Flowers Presented from D. A. R by Master Parks Dalton.  

In the president’s stand centered the high-tension interest of the multitudes, for there, were President Wilson and Mrs. Wilson.  

As the President and Mrs. Wilson left the handsome Packard, owned and driven by Mr. Osmond L. Barringer, and ascended the steps of the platform the vast crowd rose to its feet and cheered and waved for minutes.  

President Wilson wore a Prince Albert, gray striped trousers, gray brocade, tie and silk hat.  

Mrs. Wilson was simply but elegantly gowned, her dress being of midnight blue Georgette crepe embroidered in silk of same shade. The underdress was of white taffeta. Across the crepe sleeves were two narrow bands of white satin, and the neck was finished with a white satin collar and lace.  

About her throat she wore a whole white fox. Her hat was of black lisera turned up on the left side with chinchilla ostrich. Her gloves were white kid with small black stitching on back, and her fan white ostrich. Her corsage of pink orchids and lilies of the valley was sent her by Stonewall Jackson chapter, Daughters of the Confederacy, with request that she wear it as a tribute from the home of Mrs. Stonewall Jackson.  

Mrs. Wilson is a strikingly beautiful woman in feature and person, her picture giving no idea of the marvelous beauty of her eyes, features and coloring – a beauty, every line of which pronounces her a woman of gentlest birth, highest refinement, poise and elegance of bearing.  

Basket of Flowers for Mrs. Wilson  

As Mrs. Wilson took her seat, and immense basket of flowers, a tribute from Mecklenburg Chapter, D. A. R., was presented her, the presentation being by Master Parks Hutchison Dalton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Dalton. Master Dalton had the honor of being presented to the President and Mrs. Wilson. President and Mrs. Wilson stood throughout the hour or more the parade was in passing.  

The ladies on the stand, and the many distinguished men who came from far and near to do honor to the President and his beautiful wife, all had the pleasure of meeting them.  

It was a distinguished gathering representing the White House, cabinet and congress: the great states of North and South Carolina with their chief executives and staffs.  

During the parade some one presented Mrs. Wilson with a big hornets’ nest, which seemed to interest her very much.  

President and Mrs. Wilson showed especial interest in the Confederate veterans. As Mecklenburg Camp passed the stand the Marine band played Dixie and the crowds yelled.  

An interesting incident of the President’s ride up North Tryon was his bowing to Miss Ella Young, dean of Queens College, who witnessed the parade from Mr. R. M. Miller’s residence.  

Miss Young had visited at President Wilson’s home in Princeton, and when told of her presence he bowed to her.  

Souvenir for Mrs. Wilson.  

When Mrs. Wilson returned to the Southern Manufacturers’ Club, where the Presidential suite had been arranged, she found another beautiful basket of flowers from ladies of Charlotte, and in the basket was a silver goblet as a souvenir of her visit. On it was engraved:    

“To Mrs. Woodrow Wilson from the women of Charlotte 141st anniversary Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, May 20, 1916.”  

  On the other side of the goblet was engraved a hornets’ nest, the insignia of the county.  

On the Platform.

To the left of President Wilson sat Mrs. Wilson, and to her left Governor Craig, of North Carolina, Mrs. Richard Manning, wife of Governor Manning of South Carolina, Mrs. Thomas Leroy Kirkpatrick and Lieutenant Hudson Millar.  

To the right of the President sat Governor Manning, of South Carolina and to his right Mrs. Craig, wife of Governor Craig of North Carolina, Secretary Josephus Daniels, Senator Overman, Congressman Yates Webb.  

Very near the President sat Col. T. L. Kirkpatrick, major of Charlotte, who was the chief inspiration of the Wilson 20th, and Rev. Dr. A. A. McGeachy, D. D., pastor of the Second Presbyterian church, who made the prayer of the occasion.  

Besides governors’ wives, other ladies invited to have seats on the stand were Mrs. Yates Webb, of Shelby, Mrs. Laurens Young of Raleigh, Mrs. Victor Bryant, Mrs. John Wylie and Mrs. Gilbert White, of Durham; Mrs. Latta C. Johnston, Mrs. A. L. Smith, Mrs. William E. Thomas, sister of Chairman Frank McCombs, of the National democratic committee; Mrs. I. W. Faison, Mrs. J. P. Caldwell, Mrs. John Adger, of Belton, S. C. Miss Ethel Wynne, of Raleigh, Mrs. Charles F. Dalton, Miss Agnes McMasters, of Columbia; Mrs. Cameron Morrison, Mrs. A. Grieg, wife of an officer in the army, Mrs. E. R. Preston, Mrs. L. B. Newell, Mrs. Hollis Connor, of Raleigh; Dr. Archibald Henderson and daughter, Miss Curtis Henderson, of Chapel Hill, Miss Adelaide Caldwell.