The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-09-06
WOMEN AT ATLANTA.
WHAT THEY EXPECT TO DO AT THE
COMING FAIR.
All Previous Exhibitions of Feminine Work
to Be Eclipsed-Some of Those Who
Have Labored Most Enthusiastically.
Some of the Exhibitions.


Have Labored Most Enthusiastically.
Some of the Exhibitions.
If the women of America take as
much interest in their own progress as
the men do in theirs the city Of Atlanta
is going to see this fall gathering of
them so great that it will astonish the
country. The women managers of the
Cotton States and International exposi-
ton concluded more than year ago
that they would have the finest exhibit
ton of women's work that the world
has ever known, and it looks now as if
they would succeed in this grand re-
solve. There is not field Of feminine
endeavor but that has been looked aft
er by the tireless committees of the
board, and will consequently be repre-
scented in first class style.
The board of women managers of the
Atlanta fair propose to clearly demon
strate the fact that the American wom-
an in the past 80 years has done more
for progress and civilization than two
thirds of the population of the globe.
We had faint glimpse of this truth at
Chicago two years ago; we then found
that our modest fellow countrywomen
had gotten ahead in astronomy and geol-
ogy, in Egyptology and Greek antiqui-
ties, in art and architecture. in music
and literature, as we'll as in humber
endeavors, but the story was then only
partially told. The women of Atlanta
have taken the hint, and where Chicago
filled a page they intend to fill vol
ume.
1t is impossible to bestow the credit
of this magnificent undertaking upon
any particular one of the Al superb types
of southern womanhood, who for 10
months, day and night, have lent every
energy to make their department a world
renowned success. There is credit due
to Mrs. Joseph Thompson, the beautiful
and accomplished chairman of the
board; to Mrs Maud Andrews Oil,
poet, itterateur and scholar; to Mrs.
Porter King, the elegant and erudite;
to Mrs. A. B. Steele, keen, true and
perfect as the metal of her name; to
Mrs. Louie M. Gordon, writer, thinker
and savant; to Mrs. Henry Wilson, the
charming and lovable, to whom agri-
culture, horticulture and Horticulture are
as familiar as the A B @ is to ordinary
folks; to Mrs. B. H. Wrenn, a true spec
linen of the ideal southern woman, bril-
liant and intellectual; to Mrs Clark
Howell, the worthy wife of the famous
Atlanta editor; to Mrs. William M.
Dickson, comely, critical, thoughtful
and broad minded; to Mrs. Grant Will
kins, who suggests Greek statue in re-
pose and the very spirit of American
energy in action; to Mrs. Albert Thorn
ton, graceful, gracious and talented, and
to Mrs. William Hemphill, able, indie
fatigable and attractive. Imagine these
enthusiastic and capable women, re-en-
forced by hundreds of volunteers in their
own state, by 900 representatives else
where in America, in Canada and
abroad, and you have an army which
might move the world.
Like all great armies, it is superbly
organized and does its work smoothly,
silently and effectively. 1t is impossible
to describe here all that they have ac-
complishd.
There is to be an interesting exhibit
from Great Britain, where much inter-
est is manifested in the Atlanta Worlds
fair, and which will send large num-
Der of leading women as visitors across
the ocean next month. Lady Henry Som
erset has promised to attend, and among
others who are expected the Countess
of Carlisle, the Duchess of Bedford,
Hon. Mrs. Hereford Russell, Baroness
Burdett- Coutts and Mrs. Hannah Viii
tall Smith are numbered. The English
end of the fair will be mainly in charge
of Mrs Anne Morton Lane, brilliant
American literary woman who has been
long domiciled in London. She is well
known to the American reading public,
but is better known in the British CAPT.
tai, where she is looked up to as one Of
the coming writers of the land. Mrs.
Lanes plan is very comprehensive
one, and consists in interesting British
manufacturers so that they will send
over exhibits, especially those which
will be characteristic of the United
States and in attracting general atten-
ton to the exposition in the literary
and fashionable circles of London.
No one is better qualified for this pur-
pose than Mrs. Lane, whose drawing
rooms in Covent Garden are often filed
with leading literary, musical, dramatic
and political people of the British CAPT
tai. She has probably one of the largest
visiting circles of any one there.
It is possible that there will be
handsome exhibit from very extraor-
binary English woman, Miss Charlotte
Robinson of Manchester. She was left
upon her own resources when mere
girl some years ago. She had already
received honorable mention in her stud
les for her tasteful work, and deter
mined to devote herself to domestic art,
including household decoration, carved
furniture and the like. She carried off
number Of prizes at fairs at Manches-
ter, Liverpool and London, became IA
NOUS within two years, and put the
highest touch upon her career by secur-
ing the contract for decorating the ia
nous ocean greyhound Campania.
This work will make an addition to
that of our American women. In each
land the progress of the sex has been