Birmingham age-herald., 1894-12-09

IAr items Of social interest will be gladly EoIed in this column II sent to Mrs. George c. Ball, 2lsl Highland avenue,l
 The address delivered last Wednesday evening at the First Presbyterian church by Miss Kearney of Mississippi created a genuine enthusiasm. The men and women who heard Miss Kearney spsak, with few exceptions, were unprepared for SO finished and eloquent speech. and were fascinated with the lecture and lecturer. As people we southerners are not inclined 10 look leniently upon public speaking on the part of women. Until recently the women ot the south have attempted nothing of the kind, and those from other sections who have insisted upon the right to be heard from the pulpit or rostrum have met with ridicue and opposition from us. We are conservative race, notwithstanding our many impulses, aud we naturally cling to time- hoBoTed customs and are stow To adopt the methods and manners of the present day which in any way con 1ct with our training lad our Traditions.
 Many of the earliest wome1 speakers of the north tspoussd the cause oi the negro, and advocated the emancipation o unr slaves in so offensive a mau ner as to cause us s 8 a people to abhor women speakers. The female revlValists who came among Us were earnest, good women to be sure. but their methods frequently excited only our ridicule and som times our animos ties. So that ewoman speaker' has become almost 8 term of reproach even among the most enlightened ana progressive south erners. And DOW, when n T. fined, culti- vated Mississippi woman with the eWeeL accent that only pertains to our section, WI h the most charming personality and in the most perfect English talks for an hour to an audience disarmed Of criticism aud enth iastic of praise, an advance has been made for women by wouIan. And why should not the daughters of the south excel in oratory? Surely only the lack Of oppor- tunity and experience has prevented many from distinguishing themselves upon the rostrum. Oratory has always pertained to the public men of the south. Many of the most celebrated orators of America were from our section, aud upon all topics of state and national interest southern men have Leen foremost as speakers and writers, and it is to be cx- pected that these gifs have descended in many instances 10 the women in whose veins flowed the blood Of these men of genius. Until now the oratorical gift has lain almost dormant in our women, but who knows what the future holds2
 l do not wish 10 excite any terror iu the minds Of well regulated men and women by tfe pro ceding statement of plain facts. l am not at all anxious that our women
 
 does speak, argue and present q cause with the exquisite charm of Miss Kearney of Mississippi. confess to an in iense pride in the fact that the south has produced a woman who can do these things and yet remain the refined, womanly woman that she is.
 Another woman who has all the gentle manners, musical voice and digniied bear ing of the traditional woman of the south is Miss Julia Tutwiler, who is enrching our state with her energy and her genius. She is, beyond all doubt, one of the dis tinguished Alabamians Of today, and no woman is accomplishing more than she along lines which elevate and improve our people. Her insistence upon prison re- forms entitle her to the gratitude of all humanitarians, and now that she has poused the cause of a reiormatory school or prison for the youthful criminals gives hope that this measure may be acted upon by the present legislature.
 It is proposed that Mount Vernon, near