Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-08-18
ASHEVILLE, n. c.
Miss Belle Kearney Tells About the
Land of the Skies"
CARLOS WILCOX

What the w. C. T U. is Deing in the
Famous Health Resort
Asheville has become, as ali the
world knows, one of the most famous
health resorts in the United States,
on mountain plateau, at an
elevation of $500 feet, with the Blue
Ridge range on the East and the
Smokes on the West with the beau
tiful Swannanoa and French Broad
rivers circling picturesquely round it
and forming junction at its feet, with
peaceful stretches of meadow land
covered with rank, green grass or
ripening grain; with superb residences
and palatial hotels scattered over the
hills and dales, it presents Il picture of
incompatible beauty and grandeur.
Rich Southerners flock here from the
Gulf States through the summer,
tourists returning from Florida in the
Spring "bide awee' in those fascinat-
ing haunts; and every available lodg-
ing place is occupied by wealthy
Northerners during the winter months.
This haven of rest and regeneration is
also Il centre of fashion and gayety.
The different hotels vie with each 9th
eli in giving elaborate balls and ger
mans and the mansions smiling from
many mountain tops are often the
scenes of revelry. In the midst of it
all, the w. G. Il. L. holds its own.
In 1888 a union was organized by
Miss Willard, which has never waver-
ed, but has kept steadily on, growing
in Importance with the passing years,
until now, it is recognized as one of
the potential factors in the energetic
life of Ashevillc. 1t has been the
fountain head of philanthropic work,
starting many enterprises that have
accomplished a marvellous amount of
good. Among them, the Flower Mis-
sion, which has swclled beyond the
limits of a department into an organ
lied charity. 1t has established a
central Office where a salaried sccre-
tary stays and receives applicants and
makes Investigations. The town is
districted and has a superintendent
for each district who reports to the
General Superintendent. Besides the
secretary there is a salaried city mis-
siOnary who attends to the spiritual
needs of the poor and delinquent
holding Gospel Temperance
Mothers meetings, etc,
often making as many as 120 visits a
month. At the central Office there is
an emporium for second hand clothing,
an intelligence bureau and a mending
establishment has just been added.
The State Superintendent of this
vast undertaking is Miss Anna Wood
fin, who, like Jennie Cassidy, has
been a confirmed invalid for more
than 25 years. The kindergarten, a
tremendous philanthropic enterprise,
not directly under the super
vision of the w. c. T. u, has many
of the members on the Board of Di-
rectors who furnish reports to the
State Superintendent of that depart
ment. Before winter the w. C. Il. U.
expects to be established in cOmmo-
dious Headquarters of its own. The
lot has been donated and the archi
tect's plan submitted. When the
building is finished a cooking school
will be started where competent help
can be found. The Flower Mission
will have room appropriated to its
uses and a cheap lodging house for
girls will also be provided and hall
for public meetings in connection with
woman's work.
The Y. w. C. L. U. is also flourish
ishing. The State Superintendent of
of that branch. Miss Anna Aston, who
,l,ax,slIA cfn
turned that will add to its progress
and usefulness. The Y's. have sub
divided themselves into circles of
Kings Daughters, so as to unite the
two works and prevent a separate or
The Kings Daughters
have their meetings in conjunction
with the Y. and all reports are given
in together. The circles have differ
emit names. They are known as the
Y. NJ. G.. A. circle, the Flower Mis-
sion circle, the kindergarten circle,
the Hospital circle, the Children's
Home circle, the Scientific Temper
ance circle.
The last gives sOcials TO teachers
and tries in every way to influence
them so as to have them introduce
Scientific Temperance Instruction
text books in their schools. The Y.
NJ. C. A. gives entertainments for the
benefit of that order The hospital
circle visits the inmates of the Hos
pital that was the outgrowth of the
Fower Mission work, but which has
lately passed out of their hands and
other similar institutions. They all
in a Whatsoever circle and |
raise funds for the benefit of any of
the aforesaid organizations that the