The Van Buren press., 1893-07-29
IN WOMAN'S BEHALF.
IN THEIR OWN HOME. q
What the Women Have Accomplished a
the Worlds Fair.

EE=f 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 of the construc-
tions, Mrs. Palmer, the president of the
board of lady managers, drove the ia
nous ''last nail" to its appointed place
in this one. Surely man would be ex-
cusable in this case in giving utterance
anew to the old laughing complaint
that toll he never SO laboriously toward
the successful issue of some difficult
matter, he is sure to find at the goal
ahead of him woman. However he
would now 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 fiattery were formerly bestowed
upon them as members of vaguely de-
fined intuitive domain.
As response made after four centu-
ries to Queen Isabella's daring venture
in sending from Spain an unknown
man on an expedition to problematic
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 roy
atty 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 ham
diwork are not seen. 1t is claimed that
furnished by them. They fill large
percentage of all the clerkships and
represent nearly all callings.
In architecture their building COM
pares favorably with any other on the
spacious grounds. Built in the style
of the Italian Renaissance it stands in
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 symbolizing 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 precendents to follow gave
themselves up to their own sweet fan
cics and have realized their ideals.
Remaining faithful to their interests
of home-malling, 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 parlors fitted up with
all that is attractive and useful invite
visitors to remain awhile and forget all
care and WEAKNESS. To the same in
stincts are due the placing of comfort
able seats in all available parts of the
grounds and buildings. The large and
well-flled library presents cozy ap-
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 10 be displayed in the
Gallery of llonor-the great central
hall running through the building-and
in the rooms opening from it, 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 at
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 handiwork
of it's 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 to
the graceful caryatids supporting the
roof, all bear testimony to the feminine
skill.-Chautauquan.
EDUCATION OF WOMEN.