The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-17
THE WORLDS EXPOSITION
WoMAy,s WORK AT THE GREAT FAIR
Thoughts on Her Connection with the En-
terprise-The Mt. Vernon Building
and the Home Of Washington.

affects the masses and permeates. with it
benefcent influences. every stratum of 30
ciety.
This great national enterprise Of celebrating
/ the fOur-hundredth anniversary OF America
advent 20 the cognizance Of an old aud wait
! ing world is pregnant. not alone with grea
unitarian possibilities. but much that Is ele
waiting and expanding: and while the impulse
given to commerce. manufactures. art and
science may. in its realism more yiyidly I'M
press the political economist the sagaciou'
statesman and phil0sophie thinker will esti'
mate as well the powerful unitylng influence
which a community Of purpose inducing
strong cooperative effort for the realization
OF an idea essentially grand ana patrlouC
may bring TO bear on shaken nationality;
Perhaps as potent natlOnallzerS, next 20 Tor
eign wars. rank these grand Industrial uhuer,
takings of a people. and where nation IS al
the federal type. as is ours. and It IS conse-
quently necessary that patriotism assume a
sort of tw0-tod growth or take on. as Il were,
a secondary development. these great synthe-
sizing agents have work in meeting the
centrifugal and disintegrating influences
prone to overpower. through the fact that we
are less apt 10 forget we belong 10 a certain
state OF section than O. remember We are cltl-
zeDs Of a common country.
But the writer. woman. here reflects that
% many a noble womans heart comes often
sense Of humiliation that her citizenship Is a
sort of unknown quantity and her patriotism,
however lively. an unnOted and UnreckOned
thing, regarded az in her. hardly q sentiment
native and original. hut secondhand and
superlnduced through connection with father,
brother or husband Is it easy 10 calculate
how much Is lost 10 patriotism and national
spirit IN the fact that this ennobling and
necessary sentiment is 50 little cultivated. 50
poorly recognized IN wOman's breast, from
which II would best, earliest and most heart
lily transfuse itself through that of the tender
and receptive boy Though there Is scarcely
an affection which depends more on early fos-
terng. 1t is a sad tact that there is too little
effort on the part OF the trainers or our
youth 20 inculcgte and develop patriotism.
but We congratulate ourselves that this
Worlds Fair TX is being planned IN way
not only TO catch the interest but 20 arouse
the patriotism OF women to whom the nited
States Government in formally Offering par
ticIpatl0n and aid gives. though for the first
time. official recognition. The organlzationo OF
the work IS both thorough and complete, and
Is II now stands amended by the crea-
ton of auxiliary members IN each
county, any failure in the work must
arise from other causes-a reflection which
should move each member 20 look
closely to her efforts and her methods. But
let every Virginia woman. whether member
OF a board or not feel that it IS hers TO aid
with labor. money, tongue or pen, TO excite
to enthusiasm. 70 incte TO effort. TO klndle
TO action.
As we know. it is the essential and fual
motive Of all effort TO prepare and collect ex-
hibits worthy Of award specimens of ma
teral production and artistic skill. illustra-
tiOns of scientific achievement. statistics OF
moral enterpr.ses-augh that shall be recOg-
nized as Quickening the worlds impetus up
ward and onward. Let those who have not
the skill or originality to produce aid any who
may have talent sufficient, but lack Of means
We cannot create genius. but we can dis
cover and encourage Il; time and Opportunl-
~ may not allow the fostering of village
Hampdens" OF mute. inglOriOus Millions
for the occasion. but the occasion may inspire
US 10 the duty OF now and hereafter lifting
up the ways de Glottos, of furnishing aid 10
struggling oteyensOns end kumseys.
10 is maintained that woman does not pos
sess much creative force. that her OrigIna-
ti0ns are few and though it is easy 10 find the
reason why. without admitting that there Is
IN the nature OF things any necessity for the
past or future existence OF the fact. we yet
must acknowledge that in the high irma-
meut OF inventive genius hers s a star Of
lesser magnitude, and that her laure.s are
fewer in the field of material contriyance than
of moral achievement
Perhaps few women shall be able 10 con-
tribute any startlingly new ideas 20 the grand
ExpOsitIo n in any form, but there is one home
spun. practical work for a very practical and
substantial purpose that every earnestNirgInia
sister may at once take hold upon, quite
reckless OF her lack of creative power in any
other direction. lt Is that OF deylsing e1pe-
dents or creating plans for raising money for
the Mt. Vernon building ct Chicago.
The scheme or erecting on the Exposition
y. H.. al 4
ton IS one which appeals peculiarly 10 the
taste and appreciation of Virginia women.
and while it is designed as "A house OF rem
devious tor Nlrginlans 1t will at the same
time bear 70 them and 70 others higher sig
nihcance. Other States may rear more lordly
structures. but the gathered world will gaze
upon the home Of Washington. and in gazing
will recall that as the champion OF liberty his
fame has covered the earth that as the in
cOwupuble patriot victor the glory of his in
tegnty Is the common Inheritance Of man
kind. but as the nOOlest expression OF lofty
manhood he was the offspring Of Viz
gluia. In gazing they will reflect
that though Greece may have been
for the world the earliest % dstill
from It's groasness refined and brilliant
spirituality, though Rome from her civil
struggles was the first 10 evolve the grand
principles OF civil law the rugged TeutOn
has IN every age from his freed0m-loving
soul bred out the spirit of liberty. and Viz
GINA. in that land Of its most perfect en-
bodiment. has produced him who made way
for It's birth and guarded its storm-rocked |
cradle. Therefore. shall she at the Column |
bian Centennial take proudly her seat before
Italy. who hath produced the great discoy-
erer before spain who, in her ROYAL wisdom.
sent him forth; for through the gift of her
son she hath crowned that work with glory.
At this hour, when is contemplated q
monument 10 Southern womanhoOd let not
the women OF Virginia fail of devotion Can |
not We anord for q little while 20 make patri |
Otism the fashion, IL will pay and tell for
now and hereafter as no Partisan folly shall. |
Cannot we steal a moment from the frivolous |
goddess 70 let its glow once more sufuse our
hearts, Why may not women ana girls cherish |
state pride and nurture 10 even 10 the point
Of sacrifice for such q cause.
Now there are several ways Of sacrificing: 4
one the crude. outright way in which the I
victim feels 1t % be a sacrifice the other
where Il IS 80 ingeniously disguised that one 4
rather enjoys t. and whoever attempts TO /
raise money by taking up collections or beg |
gng dry So" will soon find which method /
she Is pursuing. and get little |
money besides. No method possessing so |
little grace and tact can ever be rewarded I
have always thought that Atlas. If be cot the /
world upon his shoulder by lifting il perpep. |
ticularly without lever or inclined plane was /
doubtless reminded IN 50 doing Of any cOllec- |
-ion he may have taken up In going /
about the business IN that awkward WAY Won |
generally succeed IN sacrificing yourself aud |
your gange for won roofo $50 !