Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-08-03
IN W0MAN'S BEHALF.
IN THEIR OWN HOME.


the Worlds Fair.
The Women's building was nearer
completion in all respects at the open.
ing of the Columbian exposition than
any other building on the grounds.
While the scaffolding could not all be
taken down from some Vt the construc-
lions Mrs, Palmer, the president of the
board of lady managers, drove the ia
nous "last nall to its appointed place
in this one, Surely man would be ex-
cusablc In this ease in giving utterance
anew to the old laughing complaint
that toll he never SO lSboriously toward
the successful lssue of some difficult
matter, he is sure To find at the goal
ahead Of him d Woman. However he
would how have TO drop the customary
silly addendum about her not know
ing how she reached the position. In
this most practical work the American
women have justly earned, as an appre-
ciative recognition, the tributes which
in mere fattery were formerly bestowed
upon them as members Of vaguely de;
fined intuitlve domain.
AS d response made after four centu-
fies to Queen lsabella's daring venture
in sending from Spain an unknown
man on an expedition to problcmatic
lands, the queenly board of lady mana
gers in this stately palace of their own
rearing bid the. distinguished descend
ants of the great discoverer and the
present representatives of Spanish foy-
atty n special welcome TO America.
In this great enterprise of the Worlds
fair women stand well to the front in
all of the work. There is no depart
ment in which the results of their han
diwork are not seen, 1t is claimed that
about half the exhibits are managed or
furnished by them They fill large
percentage of all the clerkships and
represent nearly all callings
In architecture their building COM
pares fuvorably with any other OH the
spacious grounds. Built In the style
of the Italian Renaissance, It stands i'll
it's simple and delicate beauty high
honor to its designer, Miss Sophia g.
Hayden, of Boston, The Ornamental
tion Is particularly happy The chief
groups of sculpture symboliSing wom'
anly virtues, were designed by Miss
Rideout, Of San Francisco. The in
terror decoration supervised by Mrs.
Candace Wheeler is in perfect keeping
with the exterior plan, THUS making
the whole work pleasingly systematic,
dignifed and effective. 1t is a substan-
tial realization of beautiful vision in
which originality of conception is dis
tinguishing feature. Its constructors
having no prccendents to follow gave
themselves up to their own sweet fan
cies and have realized their ideals
Remaining faithful to their interests
of home making, which all extremes of
development" prove powerless to
eradicate, notwithstanding the as
sumed fears to the contrary, everything
about the edifice has been rendered as
inviting, In sense as domestic, as pos
sible. Spacious paflors fitted up with
all that is attractive ahd useful invite
visitors TO remain awhile and forget all
care and WEAKNESS. To the same in
stincts are due the plating of comfort
able seats in all available parts of the
grounds and buildings. The large and
well-filled library presents coy APP
pearance. So far as possible its collec-
ton of books and manuscripts shows
what women have done in literature in
all times and all lands. The exquisite
carving of the book cases, the handsome
wall decorations typical of the arts,
science and literature are all the re-
suits of woman's thought and labor.
The exhibits to be displayed in the
Gallery of Honor-the great central
hall running through the building and
In the rooms opening from 1t, form an
epitome of woman's work In the whole
world. Banded together in furthering
this enterprise, representatives from
all foreign nations have toiled, collect.
ing and shipping and putting in place
their choicest possessions; while al
home the native Indian women have
also taken their part in making gor.
geous hangings and other specimens Of
their characteristic ornamental work
Every state is represented in appro
pirate manner, either by the handiworh
of its women or by some typical pro
duction sent by them. From the vesti
bule wainscoated with Tennessee
marble to the various rooms embellish
ed with the natural wood of different
states, from the decorated doorway tc
the graceful caryatids supporting the
roof, all bear testimony to the feminine
| skill -Chautauuuan