Morning journal and courier., 1892-03-12

Some of It's Facts and Fancies.
 Written for the JOURNAL AND CoURIERl
 THAT LAST MAIL.
 As is we'll understood, the $200,000 Woman's Building at the Worlds Fair, a handsome and substantial edifce, rapidly approaching completion, was designed by a young lady, Miss Sophia G.. Hayden of Boston, who is regularly on duty to see that her specifications are carried out
 Three groups of statuary for the adorn- ment of the attic cornice have been de- signed by Miss Alice Rideout of San Fran cisco, the successful one out of nine com petitors. Tine figures are symbolic of "Woman's Virtues" ""Womsn as the Spirit of Civilization" and "Womans Place in History"
 The caryatides that will ornament each side of the entrance will also be the work of bright young girl, Enid Yandell of Louisville, Ky. The north, south and west each being thus represented in the work of gifted daughter, woman from the District of Columbia is to be accorded the honor of doing the interior decorative painting from competitive designs fur nished by women artists.
 As to the doors to this building, the best being none too good for us, the president of the board of lady managers has applied, through the imperial commission to the German government, for permission to copy the great bronze doors of the Stras- burg cathedral. There are no more fla | nous doors in the world than these, de- signed and executed by Sabina Steinbock, sister of the architect of the cathedral, and ! oJu arto p1x pofb | ing could be more suitable for the doors of | the principal entrance than a reproduction | of this remarkable work of art. In the | event of the consent of the government, the board of managers will request the i'm | perial commission to name some German | woman who is equal to the artistic task of 1 reproducing the doors. Should no one be found there, the work will be given to
 some American woman artist best quail
 fled for the ambitious undertaking.
 Another fact as to the Woman's Build ing is that the last nail used ill it's com pletion is to be driven by Mrs. Potter
 Palmer, President of the board. So many l would witty references have been made
 to the anticipated driving of this nail that
 it has gained notoriety little expected by
 those who planned the ceremony. It has
 been spoken of as an lawful responsibili-
 ty,' "the real test of the equality of the
 sexes," etc., and Mrs. Palmer has even
 been adjured to consider the master Fly exploit of Jsel, wife of Heber
 the Kenite, Q treacherous creature.
 who, when her guest was "fasi
 asleep and weary" smote a tent nail
 into his temples, so that he died. It was
 barbarous age, and the act was one oi
 perfidy, so, though after it "the land had
 rest forty years" " the deed is one to be ex
 cused by the need of the time and not of
 fered as worthy of imitation by American
 women of to-day, therefore, dear fellow
 scribblers. let us have no more comparisons of this offensive sort Besides, any house
 wife who has hung her own pictures, and
 put down her own carpets, knows that il is just as easy for a woman to strike { nail on the head as it is for a man no skilled in manual arts to hit a nail on tht
 thumb; just as simple and not so sinful
 since the remarks of women on such occa
 sions have rarely to be plotted out by thu tears of that badly -overworked recording angel.
 Concerning this same last nail we ar
 DOW furnished with enthusiastic descrip , tions. It is the gift of the women of Mon . tana and is elaborately and wonderful made. The head of this glorified nail is t 8 a shield bearing the coat of arms of Mon q tana, reproduced in native gold without a trace of alloy. The symbolic figures vii 2 be made of gold of different hues. Tn 2 a waterfall in the foreground will be of ligh Il colored gold sunk into the shield, tn n plough and pick of darker shade, as wi n be the background of relief. The wreat
 supporting the escutcheon and the figure 'e of the two men supporting the whole o d either side will be of rich yellow nativ it gold. Underneath will be the scroll bea . ing the motto of the State, and in the ul 10 per portions of the wreath two Montar B. sapphires are to be inserted. The wor
 is to be done . with great ski s+ and care, as the figures are not merely @, o' graved, but are wrought separately an 1e fastened together.
 or The hammer which will drive home tn es valuable nail is worthy of it's mission. os is contributed by the women of Nebrasl 70, and made of native Nebraska woods, ,inla ne with precious ores. Given, such ne he and such hammer, and to bring them or contact woman of strong, fine characte :. marked executive ability, tactful, discre ~ and wholly admirable, it would be stran or indeed if that last nail does not slip in e. ts place as firmly and gracefully as Mi