Birmingham age-herald., 1895-10-01
THE WOMAN'S BUILDING
Formally Opened in the Presence of
 Great Throng.

Formally Opened in the Presence of a
 Great Throng.
 Atlanta, Ga, Sept. 30.-The woman's building was formally opened at Exposi- tion park today. There was great gath ering in the auditorium at 3 o'clock when the exercises of the formal opening be- gan. Gilmore's hand and Cox's orches- tra of beautiful ladies furnished delight full music for the occasion. Mrs. Albert H. Cox leader of Atlanta society, pre- sided. Beside her sat Mrs. Louie M. Gordon, one of the most prominent of southern women, and Mrs. w. H. Eel ton
 pr. I. s. Hoskins opened the exercises with prayer. The young ladies' orches- tra rendered a delightful air and Miss Julia Morgan Harding, the representa- tive of Miss Elise Mercur the architect of the woman's building. delivered the building to the woman's board. Mrs. Joseph Thompson, president of the wo- mans board, received the building on be half of that body. She said:
 This is a noble structure, decorated with rare taste and designed not only for today, but for many years to come. As matter of architecture 1t is worthy of the highest praise. As the creation of the brain of sister woman it deserves spe- cial mention, for never until now, never indeed until in Atlanta in the year 1895, has woman been chosen as an arch- tect- of any great southern event. and never before in the south has an official edifice been built, decorated, equipped, officered and dedicated by women alone Architecture has long been recognized as one of the highest and greatest of hu- man arts. It is all that in many cases tells the story of dead nations, of buried civilizations; it is the best of every great country and every metropolis. When therefore, woman shakes off the ties of depression which have so long bound her and interests herself in the field of this magnificent art, and proves herself the worthy peer of man, it is a feat of which she herself, and we her sisters, may just ly feel proud
 Again, on behalf of the women man. agers, am happy to thank Miss Mercur for the work she has so well done and to declare our high appreciation of the fruits of the labors of her brain. de- sire, also, to thank you, Miss Harding for your charming courtesy in represent ing our gifted architect and for the pleas ant and friendly sentiments you have spoken to us all. It shows that although our land is a continent so far as the eagle very small continent so far as women S hearts beat, and women's affections go out, in the desire to do good
 Mrs. Maude Ohl made short address. followed by John Temple Graves MT. Graves said: "Chicago focused tho art
 
 the world. It surpassed all records and fashioned a new and unpassable stand ard of display As the temporary capi- tai, with the purse and the prestige of the public at its back, it collected history, classified achievements incarnated prophecy and framed the glorious assre- gate with a splendor that dazzled the inn agination of the race.
 Atlanta repeats the story in it's own brave and conquering way. It differs from such as the stars differ in glory If the one exposition was greater in scope, the other is richer in suggestion and as prolific in results.
 'Ths is the souths exhibit of recovery its official bill of health to the com merce of the world. Here Is the splendor manifest of the power held in reserve be- hind the graces of the cavalier, and this is the continuation of the bravest mira cle of recuperation that the nations of the earth have witnessed since Israel rose from Egypt, or the undaunted Frenchmen drew themselves together from the shameful ruin of Sedan
 'I do not strain the record or make comparisons odious when I say that the laurels of Chicago were won by the wo- mems board. I speak the truth of com mon sense here when I declare that after all the incidents of our exposition have been weighed that will remain the rich est in which these brilliant and devoted women, eking their widows cruse to mar vicious endurance. have marshaled the forces of section with consumate skill and made every element of our popula- fawers to fulfiillment in this high and succesgfcl hour
 q may furths. with the ripest courtesy