Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-19

Tenth and. Eleventh avenues. South High lands. Telephone 9SS)
 In these impatient times of ours, brim- ful as they are of activities that actually push each other with relentless. tireless hands, over the borders of the possible into the very realms of the impossible, 1t is a difficult matter to wait for any thing, notwithstanding the promises that it will come bith the patient biding or our time. To watch and wait enters but little into the philosophy of today, but still, as we all know, the old-fashioned theory sometimes startles you with em- phatic results that impress you with the force and justice that pertains to the "eVening up'' of human affairs. Ihese reflections come about because of an en- trancingly refreshing episode chronicled a few days ago in the bright pages or the woman's department of the Atlanta Constitution. Now this great democratic daily, the Constitution, which does such valiant service for the unterrified south ern democracy, is largely circulated Tn this good state of Alabama, and every one who reads its pages knows thar a gifted woman-Mrs. Maude Andrews Ohl --edits the woman's department with re- markable ability. She is, as we also are aware, judging from her writings, a woman of enthusiasm where her friends are concerned. and for months the read CTS of the Constitution can testify her pages have been filled with reiterative commendation. admiration and adula- ton of the Atlanta woman's board of managers for the great exposition III general and of Mrs. Joseph Thompson Tn particular. This was natural, from civ ic standpoint, and the constant telling or their achievements, of their gowns ana their jewels, and the daily statement as to the name of the artist who fashioned these gowns-which with a stange una nimity was always Paquin-was passed over with generous consideration by the reading public, feeling that Atlantians view these matters from different standpoint from that of Alabamians. Our women are generally very grateful to be able to pay for the making of their gowns by home dressmakers and have not yet reached the point of estimating their claim to social importance by the name and fame of their sea mistress. But the clothes and the doings of the wom- ans board sank into utter insignificance compared to the constant excitement in- dulged in over the distinguished women who hailed from every section save the south, who went to Atlanta under the pressing invita- tion of the proper author ities. All these women, whose names are familiar to newspaper readers of this generation, were in Atlanta, so the daily press daily stated. Avery few women who had opened their eyes first upon the sunshine of life in the region of the mag nolia and pine were graciously permitted to take part in the deliberations of the convocations but in an excess of desire to inaugurate complete fraternal rela- tions between the sections the celebrated women of the north and of Europe were given a decided preference over their sisters of the south.
 Columns of enthusiasm were written about these notable women, arousing 8 feeling of the injustice of life in many southern womanS heart, for they felt that this greatest of southern enterprises should be the occasion of bringing to the front the genius and achievements Of southern women, as well as those of other lands. Many a quiet talk was fndulged in on this subject by our women, but their unfaltering patriotism. their desire to aid in every way towards the success of the undertaking, closed their lips to public expression of a natural dissatis- faction. These women knew that just here, within the borders of Alabama, as in other states south of Mason and Dix on's line, there are brilliant women whose books have brought them international renown; yet from the beginning to the end of the exposition not one word was heard of them, with a few exceptions, in the daily output of women's doings in the Atlanta papers. The women jour nalists of the south had no expectation of preferment for they as a general thing are too inexperienced to receive the rec ognition that came to the women of the north who are professional journalists. But they with other friends, have for months felt a resentment that the talent ed women of our section, with few ex- captions, who have written brilliant books that have made their names house. hold words among cultivated people, were almost ignored by our Atlanta neighbors. This, perhaps, came about in Q degree because many of the woman's board were, strictly speaking. merely fashionable women, who were unfamiliar with this phase of our advancement. So now, think of it, after these untiring ef forts on the part of the board and the press of Atlanta to boost" all foreign talent, almost to the exclusion of south ern genius, comes this refreshing tale of woe! It seems that some of the female journalists of the north went to Atlanta studied the conditions, were more oEle feted-according to the set of their clothes-and were written about with an inexhaustible vocabulary that excites our profoundest admiration, and yet, with hardness of heart. returned to their homes amid the hills of New England and have given to the world their adverse views of the woman's board and their wonderful work.
 This has excited an indignation that Is commendable in the souls of Allan tians, and the woman's department of
  was varied with refreshing columns of righteous anger on the part of Mrs. Ohl towards these ungrateful New England female journalists. This change of senti- ment and subject breaks monotony that had grown very ponderous to people out side of Atlanta, and in a measure will compensate for much weariness felt on the subject by lockers on. Perhaps if more of the southern women whose books have brought them fame and wealth and have been translated into foreign tongues are invited to partici- pate in the Tennessee centennial they will not write disagreeable things when they return to their homes about the people who spent money. time and ener- gy upon their entertainment. If the Tennessee board will only experiment with more of these gifted southern wo- men, whose books are on the shelves of every good library in the land. and ip- vite them to be present at the convoca- tions, even if their modesty forbids the acceptance of the honors conferred. 1t may prove agreeable from every stand point. If they do accept the invitations extended they can be trusted not to re- fleet upon the generosity of their enter tainers. to say the least. There Is much laor frnr ho nN-