The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-30
THE WORK In ATLANTA.
MRS. JOS. THOMPSON PRESIDENT
OF THE WOMA Ms DEPA RTNENT.
By Their Tlreiess Energy, Raised Fourteen
Thousand Doilars in Four hon'ns-
Their Binding superior to Chicago's.

want 10 Give 10 the best Of my aoil-
iiv some idea Of the immense amour.
Of work being done here by woman, ana
I'm tne irtfre7t Of woman. for the cotton
states and international Exposition, 10
he given i'm this city next fall so much
has already been written on this SUD
ioct. but really too much can scarcely
be said about the energy, enthusiasm anu
capability which have been put INTO inc
work by the women. The IDEA OF having
a Southern Worlds Fair Of 1 may 50
term iD originated IN the mind OF Mr..
w. A. Homphli. a wealthy gentleman
and ono of the owners Of the Atlanta
Constitution. The entht sasm which
was manifested by the friends 10 whom
ne communicated his plans quickly
stread itself through the entire city,
and that enthusiasm has never tagged
the interest has never lcssered, on the
contrary. all seem more eager for the
succoss OF the enterprise, as the magni-
tude of the undertaking grows upon
them. The suggestion that the women
should have a distinctive part in the
Exposition came from Mr.. s. NJ Imam.
one of the wealthy cotton merchants.
CAS- I am not writing on the achieve
ments OF the men. I VIII say nothing In
praise OF them, or / might use many
with both the gentlemen whom l have
mentioned)
4 committee Of five women was .ap-
pointed by the organizers. which COM
mlttee, in its turn. was TO elect prosi-
dent OF the WOmans Department.
These five were: Mrs. Lculie ~. Gordon,
Mrs. S. NJ. lnman. Mrs. ". II. FeltCn,
Mrs. W c. Lanier and Mrs. r. s. Bar
rctt. They then elected Mrs. Joseph
Thompson to fiji this most important
position. Mrs. Thompson was pre-emi-
nently suited 10 this flee, and her
friends were quite certain that she
would fill IL admirably. but even her
warnest admirers have been astonished
az her marvellous success. BY birth and
breeding. by beauty and wealth. she is
worthy 10 reign queen over her SIS
tiers. but even her intimate friends were
SURPRISED a the rireless energy the
executive ability. and the exquisite tact
which she has displayed. Women. you
know. between ourselves. are hard 1,
manage and only a tactful. wirsome
woman can do it successfully.
pIvIs on OF WORK.
Mrs. Thompson. with commendable
modesty, insists that any other woman
could do all she has done. but with all
due respect 10 her statement and
bow TO her modesty, l must beg leave
10 differ from her. as 20 all women pos
sessing the qualifications necessary 10
MI the important position which she oc-
cup.es.
IL Is impossible for me TO give the
heads Of all the numerous committees,
time and space viii not permit 1t. but
the following seem 10 me 10 be the most
important OF the officers and committees:
Mrs. Joseph Thompson. president;
Mrs. w. G. Lanier. first vice-prescent;
Mrs. 5. NJ. lnman. second vice-presi-
dent. Mrs. Gov. Atkinson. honorary vice.
president; Mrs. Hoke Smith. honorary
vice-presIdent: Mrs. y. Il. steele secre-
tary; Mrs. \. l.. Thornton. treasurer.
Mrs. Louie NJ. Gordon. representative at
large: Mrs. H.. $. Barrett. :ePresenta-
tive at Washington. ID. c.. Mrs. w. A.
Hemphill, chairman OF Committee on
Professional Work OF Women; Mrs J. X.
Oil Uhe brilliant "Maude Andrews'D.
Chairman on Committee Of the Press.
and Mrs. Hugh Angler. chairman on
Committee OF Music.
When the Womans Department was
organized It started without one cent in