Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-21
THE WOMAN'S BUILDING.
WHAT CAN BE FOUND IN THIS
DEPARTMENT
At the Great Worlds Fair at Chicago.
Cosby Letter From Nancy
Huston Banks
WORLDS FAIR GOSSIP,
oecial CORRESPONDENCE of the Gazette.


Special Correspondence OF the Gazette.
CHICAGO, Ill, Sept 1s.-There has been
considerable discussion and much curiosity
as to the contents of the wonlan's building
at the Worlds fair.
At the first session of the board Of lady
managers, the members who failed to see
good many things-to be lamented later
saw their interest in this direction plainly
enough. The act of congress gave women
representation upon all juries> of awards,
for exhibits produced in whole or in part by
female labor. Consequently, since this sec
ton of the Worlds fair bill opened every
building of the exposition to women, 1t
would have been q stupid performance for
the board, by its own action, to have relln-
pushed so magnificent an opportunity to
have returned the generous gilt of congress
and the national commission, by RELOCATING
the woman's department to one building,
and thus making mere SideShow. So the
board promptly voted against separate
exhibit, by an overwhelming majority, and
then began speculation as to what the pro-
posed special exhibit should be. No one
seemed very clear about it, and indeed no
distinct plan as to the character and general
arrangement of the contents of the wonan's
building was formulated until the recent
meeting of the board
The subject was then fully discussed, and
the nature of the exhibit sufficiently defined
10 give very interesting anu colllpIellcIl.
Siye idea. The woman'S building, 1t should
be remembered, was first begun of all the
exposition buildings, and is now in SUI
ficiently advanced stage of construction TO
admit of an Ineligible allotment of space.
Near the main entrance. and adjoining the
vestibule, will be bureau Of information,
including interpreters, and girls and women
guides, under the patronage and indorse-
ment of the board of lady managers. Such
i bureau as this must be of great service,
particularly to ladies travelling alone. In
the main gallery, which is 200 feet long by
thirty feet wide, there will be special eX-
hibit of the most beautiful and brilliant
achievements of women. Precisely OF what
the showing will consist it is impossible at
this distance of time to say, as not only
America but the whole world is to be drawn
upon for the supply. But the quality OF the
display was insured by the action OF the
board resolving ''to let no sentimental SYM
pathy for women induce the acceptance OF
mediocre work.
In the interests of humanity as well as of
art. the lady managers We're urged to i'm
press upon all women exhibitors the abso-
lutte necessity for supreme excellence
in every variety of work. This will
be made perfectly understood at
the very outset. thus sparing dlsappolnt-
ment to thousands of women, while lnsur-
ing magnificent exhibit 1t was not de-
cided whether or not this will be 4 competi-
tive exhibit, but the decision lies wholly
with the board, as the commission has gen
erously given it absolute control OF the
womau's building; and as there Is strong
feeling in favor of some recognition Of par
ticular excellence, such will probably be
made Whenever possible, duplicates OF
especially fine work by women exhibited in
the main buildings, will be obtained for the
wOman's building. OF course, this does
not mean an exact copy of particular
thing, since this would frequently be OBJ
viousiy impracticable; but rather similar
work, of equal value, from the same artist
or artisan.
In the smaller rooms on the same floor
will be model home rooms, aud its needs
no gift of propheSy to foreSee the lasting
benefaction of an exhibit like this From
the Atlantic to the Pacific, from Maine to
Florida, palaces and cottages will reflect
the refining influence the World'sColumbian
exposition for years to come. There will
also be a model kitchen: the beautiful presi-
dent of the board, smiling, said dyspepsia
has been called the national disease, and
we hope to learn from our foreign sisters
the cure Of it. The kitchen will be COM
pletely furnished with the newest and most
approved culinary appliances, and practical
demonstration will be given of model cook
cry. The American housekeeper can here
learn the nutritive value of foods, in
scientific fashion, which should revolution
ize old methods.
In one wing will be exhibits Of philan-
thropic character, in which women are con-
spicuous, and the Bellevue hospital of New
York city, as the finest institution of the
kind in the country, will probably conduct
the trained nurse department. Modern kin
dergartens will also be prominent fea-
ture, and it was suggested that Chicago or
Illinois be given the management of this
exhibit, since it Is. of course, imperative
that trained pupils should be in attendance,
and it would be difficult and very expensive
to bring them from distance.
Another room will show what women
have done in literature, beginning with her
first attempts; with the tinkling madrigal
which she sang to while away empty hours
while woman was still toy; following the
slender but ever strengthening thread, on
through the romanceS which proved to
doubling world that words might be bril-
liant yet decent, on to the valuable treatises
upon the exact sciences produced by the
brainy women of today. There will also
be a club room for women journalists, and
they will be welcomed from every quarter
of the earth.
It may sound trivia. to say there will be
great attention to a large collection of costly
lace, but it is really one of the most impor-
tant features of the whole plan. The
arabesques OF the lace of the Fifteenth CEN
fury have never been approached for arts
tic grace, and the opportunity thus afforded
the designers, architects and artists of
America to study rare old laces, will prove
of inestimable value, and leave lasting i'm
pressions upon the fabrics, architecture and
art of our country.
The second story Is chiefly occupied by
the great assembly ROOM in which many
meetings of vital Importance to the inter-
est of women will be held. And more
rooms are in reserve on this floor for future
disposal
The committee rooms and the administra-
ton room will be in the wings Of the third
story, the roof-garden occupying the center.
NANoY@esToN BANKS.