Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-09-18
VIRGINIA WOMEN IN The
WORLDS FAIR.
WHAT a VIRGINIA MEMBER OF
THE TVONAN'S EXECUTIVE CUM
MITTEE HAS TO SAY.

Last Saturday, Mrs. X. G.. Paul OF Har-
risonburg, a member OF the Executive
Committee of the Board Of Lady Mana
gers of the World S Fair at Chicago, and
who has just been appointed chairman Of Il
committee to prepare a prospectus setting
forth the objects and scope Of the Board,
arrived at the Virginia Hotel here on her
way home from Chicago. Her husband,
Judge John Paul. met her here. The TACT
that there is a growing interest among the
ladies of this section in the Worlds Fair
and the share the women of the South are
to have in it, induced q representative OF
the INDICATOR to call on Mrs. Iaul. she
very kindly answered the questions asked
her and seemed anxious to give all the IN
formation possible
Is there much interest shown in Falr
official circles about the Southern women
Yes. l was pleased and perhaps little
surprised too, to see the universal apDrecl-
alton for Southern women. Our Northern
and Western sisters are so greatly III ad-
vance Of us in organization and business
training, that they might be pardoned Tor
thinking they could manage the Woman s
Department without us, but such is not
the case. They say that Southern women
have displayed such conspicuous domestic,
social and artistic talent, such bravery III
war. such heroic patience in defeat and
poverty, and such unequalled energy and
resource in building up our fallen fortunes
that they must have QUIZ help to carry out
their great undertaking. they invite our
sympathy and cooperation and are dispos-
ed to recognize it most generously.
Has the disposition been manifested in
any practical way, by appointment to COM
mitteeS OF so on?
The standing committees of our Board
have not yet been appointed, but do not
doubt that the Southern ladies will be gen.
erously dealt with. Of the special COM
mittees appointed, one was to prepare a
prospectus, setting forth the organization,
objects, plans and scope Of the Board of
Lady Managers, of this was made Chair
man. You willperceive that this is quite
an important committee. Our aim is to
show to the nations, woman S work in all
ages and climes-woman' s share in making
the history Of the world, and to devise the
best methods Of doing this. This prospec-
tus is to be sent out to every State and Ter
ritory of the Union, to Canada. Mexico,
Brazil and all the South American coun-
tries, to England and all the Kingdoms and
empires of Europe, Asia, Africa and Aus
tralia, to the islands Of the ocean-in fact
to the ends of the earth. The selection of
Southern woman for this position shows
that our President is inclined to recognize
the South most generously.
What, practically speaking are the things
Southern women are expected to do?
Well, that is rather difficult question
to answer. In an organization like ours
whose scope is international it is difficult
for the authorities to define exactly the
duties Of any section. Each section is pre-
sumed to know best it's own history, its
own achievements, industrial OIL artistic,
and it's own needs. Southern women know
what they have done In the past, what they
are doing now, and what they are capable
Of doing in the future. 1t is taken for
granted that they can devise ways of set
ting all this in material form before the
eyes of the world. However, our Board is
preparing plans Of State work to be sent
out, as uniform in method as possible and
yet sufficiently elastic to be adapted to diff
fering localities. These will be widely dis
tributed and will doubtless be of great as
sistance.
How can Southern women begin the
work toward carrying out the ideas of your
Board?
Well, it is my opinion that the great
need of Southern women is organ5
cation. Their great weakness, the lack of
it. There are many strong, practical wo-
men, many brilliant women in this and
other Southern States, who are deeply in
terested in the advancement of their sex.
Without being suffragists at all, they wish
to secure for women all educational and
property rights, SO that the Southern girl
who is compelled tosupport herself may be
allowed to do so in any way congenial to
her. AS individuals these women have but
limited influence, as an organization their
power would be great and it would con-
stantly increase. It seems to me that if
they would but realize that fact they would
at once take steps to concentrate their
forces. And as organizations they could
anoNp,nlich q rpoat yNOpH for. tho
Department of the Columbian Exposition.
1t would be well in my opinion to begin by
forming q Woman's Columbian Associa-
tion in every Southern State where no
such association has yet been established.
How can this be begun?
Well, all the existing organizations of
women in a State, Virginia for instance,
such as literary, art OF social clubs, all
charitable and reform associations, it's in
dustrial unions, etc., could form themselves
into larger association, without merging
their primary organizations, to work for
the interests of women, by promoting the
woman S exhibit Of their respective States
in the Columbian Exposition. If our
women could but realize what a tremen-
dous impulse that grand display Of woman
work in all the centuries, in all the nations,
will give to the cause of woman's progress
in things material and immaterial, they
would surely hasten with eager hands to do
their part. But Pm afraid | IN talking too
long, 1 IN so intensely interested in this
work that when | begin to talk of it I don't
know when to stop.
Are there any women from the South on
the official Board of the Women's Depart
ment and who are they?
Mrs. Chas. Price of N. c., is Sd Vice
President; Miss Katherine Minor of La, is
18th Vice President; Miss Nellie Beck Of
Flo Ming Gantriu of KontuoI1u Mrs