Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-01-15
The Worlds Fair.
A RINGING APPEAL TO THE WOMEN OF
VIRGINIA,

A RINGING APPEAL TO THE WOMEN OF
VIRGINIA.
The undersigned have been chosen as
the representatives from Virginia upon
the board of lady managers of the WORLDS
Columbian Exposition, and IN view of the
near approach of that great display OF
the products of mind and matter, and OF
the fact that the Virginia Legislature Is
now in session and will be called upon to
make an appropriation so as to have Viz
ginia properly represented, we think this
an appropriate time to cali upon our own
sex for assistance, and to remind them
this is the first occasion upon which
women Lave been given the opportunity
to show what they can do in an enterprise
OF this kind.
We do not understand our function to
be that we are in any way to assert what
is called women's rights while anxious
to inspire our women to take interest III
the Worlds Exposition, and while re-
solved that women,s work and women's
capacity shall have full representation
and recognition there, we realize that the
chief burden of the enterprise is to be
borne by men, and the greatest opportun
ity for work among women Is IN urging
the men OF Virginia to take an interest in
the exposition, and creating the strong
public sentiment in its favor here which
1t so richly deserves.
Virginia was so little represented at the
Centennial exposition at Philadelphia in
1876 that she was Only conspicuous by
her absence, and the only structure rep
resentiDg her there was erected by the
private outlay of one of her public spirit
ed sons. There were many reasons then
for her failure to make public appropria-
lions of this kind. There are none such
excuse if this ancient and glorious COM
monwealth does not take the place at
Chicago to which she is entitled. II Is |
not only on the grounds of the ancient
prestige, her splendid part III our nation
al history, and her claim to representa-
ton as one of the Oldest and most power
full of all the States that we urge upon
her women to see that Virginia is proper
ly represented. What we consider even
more powerful than all these sentimental
considerations which we by no means
underrate, is the recuperatiye energy
Virginia has shown of late years. the
wonderful material development that has
taken place here, and the great oppor-
tunity given us by the worlds exposition
to exhibit her material advantages to the
world and turn towards her the capital
and population which are the hope OF her
future. We believe her women realize
the opportunity as thoroughly as her men,
and her women's influence united and
brought to bear can do much to stimulate
the vigilant and liberal spirit of our men.
We invite the women of Virginia to
form women's societies in every county OF
the State with the object of securing first,
liberal appropriations by the Legislature,
and second, collecting the best that their
respective counties have to display, 80
that at Chicago every county of Virginia
shall he such that whoever visits the
Chicago exposition will not look upon her
display as merely that of her past glory,
but shall see her people are alive ana en-
ergetic, her products valuable and the
state is a desirable place for new settlers.
This is great opportunity for our
State. 1t is great opportunity for
women to help her. If it is seized upon
with enthusiasm by Virginia women
and their work is thoroughly done,
the statement of what they can accom-
plish for our dear old commonwealth, if
made by us, would appear like wild ez-
aggerations.
We appeal to our women to organize in
every county. 1t Matters not how few
may start organizations, or how many
may be formed IN any county. Each Of
panization of this kind can and will pro-
duce good results. We invite correspond
ence and will gladly send forms of organ
Ization of Worlds Fair clubs. To all
such we will have sent the current litera-
ture of the Worlds fair and aid them in
every way in our power. Such cOmmun-
ications may be addressed either to Mrs.
John Paul, Harrisonburg, Virginia, or
Mrs. John S. Wise, No. - East Twenty
second street New York and will receive
immediate attention.
Mrs. JOHN PAUL,
Mrs. John 6. WISE.