The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-29
Virginia At THE FAIR.
An Urgent Appeal TO the People OF the
State to Raise 5000.

state 10 lshlsS c1oBVoo'
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. Jan. 26.
To the Editor of The Times:
A crisis is upon us. Virginia is certainly
to appear at the Columbian Exposition
There is no longer any question as to this.
But the burning question is: How is she
to appear? In honor or dishonor? In
beauty and glory, as she deserves at her
childrens hands? or in poor and meagre
fashion such az shall draw down upon
her the finger of scorn and dersion?
Our Legislature appropriated for this
purpose s25, 000 the smallest sum Of any
State in the Union that is represented at
all
This sum, however has proved more
than sufficient to build an exact copy
Of Mount Vernon, but it is wholly in
adequate to the preliminary expenses or
furnishing the building, Transporting the
furniture and valuable relics and then
maintaining IT as an establishment during
the six months of the Expositiel
To answer this question, then, as lovers
Of their State would wish IL answered
seems TO be left to the patriotism OF
our citizens collectively and Individually
The time allotted for action, too, Is very
brief In the course of the next three
months II must be decided whether the
Virginia exhibit Is TO be a success or
failure.
We call upon every Virginian-man
woman and child-to bestir themselves
and do something to contribute TO their
mother States fit representation at this
coming assembly Of the earths peoples.
That this sort of enthusiasm is COM
municable may be proven by single
incident:
An elderly woman is warmly inter-
ested i'm the cause, especially urging
skilled needlewomen TO the production OF
articles meet for the occasion. Her lit
tie granddaughter, aged four, was found
knitting diligently. what are you doing
that for?" was asked. ITO dive damma
for the Virginia zibit." answered me
babv patriot. And a bit Of that child S
embroidery is indeed worthy to be seen
at the Exposition.
Firmly do we expect our people TO rise
en- masse and be equal TO the demands or
this crisis When were Virginians ever
known to dsappoint, when called upon
in an emergency?
Our State may congratulate herself
upon the character Of her home repre-
sentation Our Virginia Board Of WORLDS
Fair Managers are efficient and untiring
In their labors. If the people. especially
the county supervisors. second their
efforts nobody need be afraid that Nir-
ginia will not rank as the peer or any
State in the Union.
Then how fortunate are we In their
lady assistant, Mrs. Lucy Preston Bealel
When we say that all who are privi-
legged to know her personally eXclaim,
with one voice: "She is the very woman
to represent Virginia worthily," how can
we give her higher praise or endorse
more fully the wisdom Of board that
had the discernment to select such a
representative from more than hun
dred candidates for the position?
The plan proposed by the board and
so eloquently advocated by Mrs. Beale
If carried out, cannot bear heavily upon
the purses or energies Of any one section,
and yet must yield the required $1,000
II we only exert ourselves, everyone OF
us-to see that our own town or neigh
borhood does not fall short Of doing her
duty.
II is proposed that each OF the hun
dred counties. through her supervisors,
or by giving some popular entertainment,
or by plain subscription, should raise $50
If this be DONE success will be inscribed
upon the banner that is so soon to float
from the roof Of our loving reproduction
of Washingtons home
And let not State pride nor the spirit
Of emulation be the sole motives impell-
ing us TO exertion, but rather desire TO
testify to our sister States, and the
nations of the earth, that, as people, we
Virginians Of to-day, cIeave fast to the
principle that Washington eXemplihed.
and which brought down upon our infant
Republic the blessing of the Almighty
ONE OF THE PEOPLE.