Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-14
THE LADY MANAGERS
MRS. JUDGE PAUL ON THE MEETING
OF THE WORLDS FAIR eOAaD.
An intellectual and Thoughtful Gather
ing-The Women's Century-A Grand
Southern Delegation.
rcorosponoenos Of tn. Richmond Di.Ds,chl

tcoresponoencs Of the Richmond DisDatchl
HARmsoSBURG, VA, Dec. II, 1890.
Mrs. Paul, of Harrisonburg, o MEM
Der OF the Board Of Lady Managers OF
the Worlds Fair for this State, says OF
the recent meeting OF that body in Chi
cago:
1t was, indeed, a notable occasion,
this gathering OF intellectual and
thoughtful women from Gil parts OF the
United States women noted in litera-
tire. ert. and philanthropy and bril-
liant society leaders were there women
Of all ages from the venerable Isabella
Beecher Hooker, with her white hair and
earnest face, to the handsome, bright
girls who represented one or two Of the
States women who represented all lines
Of religious and scientific thought, as
well as the material and financial
achievements OF women in this, the
womau's century"
PROMINENT LADIES.
One Of the strongest women there
was Mrs. Virginia Meredith, OF Indiana,
who knew exactly what to say and how
TO say 1t in as few words es possible.
Another prominent figure was Mrs.
Mary Cicil Cantrill, of Kentucky, whose
knowledge of political methods, with her
cordial manners and magnetic oratory "
gave her great influence.
THE PRESIDENT.
Mrs. Bertha Honore Palmer. the
unanimously elected president, is
above criticism and above COM
ment. BY her dignity, impartiality,
and tact she overcame all preIudices,
disarmel all hostile feelings, aud cap
turei all sections She presided over
the meetings OF the board with a skill,
frmness, and knowledge OF parlia-
mentary law astonishing to those who
had only known and admired her as q
lovely leader OF fashion.
THE SOUTHERN CONTINGENT.
Among the more prominent ladies re-
presenting the southern States were Mrs.
William Reed, of Maryland; Mrs. Mary
Preston Darby, of South Carolina Mrs.
Rosine Ryan, OF Texas and Mrs. Charles
Price, Of North Carolina. The southern
women generally came to the front with
an interest in and comprehension of the
situation fully equal to that of their
northern and western sisters. AS Miss
Couzins, the shrewd and skilful lady
lawyer, said of them, with a twinkle Of
her bright eyes For anti-suHragists
these southern women are the best can
vassers and the readiest voters l have
ever seen
/ only wish that more Of our southern
women and men could have been there,
could have seen and shared the interest
which the preparations for the great Ex-
position is calling forth aud increasing
every day.
THE soUTH's OPPORTUNITY.
They would have realized that an OPP
portunity is to DO afforded the South,
the like Of which may never again DO
equalled, to place before the country and
the nations OF the world the evidences OF
her progress and development during the
last quarter Of century. And there is
no part OF this fair Southland richer in
all that is vet to contribute TO prosper
GUS and glorious future than Virginia.
She has shaken of the depression which
so long paralyzed her, and IS entering
with rapid strides upon an era OF ma
terial prosperity which may surpass all
that the most devoted sons and daugh-
tiers Of the Old Dominion dare to hope,
if they sufficiently realize and improve
this golden opportunity.
WHAT VIRGINIA SHOULD DO.
Our dear old State cannot afford to
stand idly by while other States with no
greater advantages reap the rewards
which public enterprise and liberal legls-
lation would render to us. Our vas.
beds of coal, iron, and lead, our great
granite, and marble quarries, our fine
timber ana rich soil would not long wait
"the magic touch Of capital " when in
contestable proof of their existence Is
placed before the world. The women
of Virginia are and always have been as
deeply devoted TO the welfare OF the
mother State as are her men.
Now is the time for them to show the
qualities which have ever made Virginia
women the foremost III the land.