Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-29

ton, and at the present Juncture, when
new life and new ventures are ammatlng
the south, the old bone and sinew of the
south'S prosperity must be alert to mann
tain their place and to hold in allegiance
the invasion of aliens. The negro mas a
cnance just now OF international 1mpor-
lance II his leaders and ADVISERS, even
among his own race, seriously and pro-
foundly consider the matter and sound
she right rally cry.
Among the most select of society girls
in almost every southern city have peen
privileged to visit L have been amazed
to find that they are intent on assuming
some active work for the betterment and
alienation of human conditions among
those who are unfortunate. Flesh, lovely
souled, beautiful patricians, proud as
Luciter are considering how to raise
money to betriend frlendless children
and to care for the infirm. The world at
large has a contag.on of good intentions,
especially in the midst OF the much mis-
understood southern people. Pure, patrl-
otto Amercanism dwells in all its gran
deur south of Mason and Dixons line.
Romantieism and general literature must
find in the south it's true field and ex-
ponents. The country is athrill with the
most heroic deeds never yet told. Here
is to be found rare quality OF gracious
refinement and fullnesS OF unused Intel
lectual culture that must soon burst INTO
song and story. The suavity of the sun,
the luxurance of the country, nature,
sorrow, defeat, earnest purpose, accept
ance of the inevitable, have put ster-
ling mark of distinction upon southerners.
The women who have entered the front
Enthusiastically in journalism-haVe
amazed the unprejudiced on-looker, and
no matter what they may achieve they
cannot now surprise their critics. Ihey
hold in their own hands the die; let them
decide how they will cast it into i'm
perishable shape. But in their efforts
Inn hh
mercy no favor will be shown them;
their reputation must stand solely upon
their own personal merit, and nothing is
to be accomplished by quiescent aspira-
ton. Labor ominit Vincit Is the pro-
phetic motto of the wise in this revolving
age of competition. The peculiar clannish-
ness of southerners, the good Fellowship
and family familiarity between southern
men and women offers rare opportunity
for the sexes to comprehend each other
better than any other people have ever
been amongst. Certainly 1T has developed
some traits of local egotism that strikes
the observer at first as having bellttlng
tendency, but upon closer 1nVestigatlon
it presents another phase and assumes
proportion which is harmonious IN the
tout ensemble of character. Lack of or
ganization and uncertainty in direction
are two of the present difficulties in the
movements agitating southern women
Once self convinced as to methods there
will be no doubt as to their cohesive
unanimity of effort The chivalric in
diligence bestowed by southern men upon
southern women is a foundation stone
not to spurn, but upon which to step TO
obtain a higher and safer plane. ASKING
a charming woman, who mas Deen an
.dolized daughter and wife, living shel-
tered from every rough mind, and pro-
tected in every way, who has lately
emerged into the activities of a club com
mittee and press woman OF new IDEAS,
how her father and husband regarded
her new departure, she naively remark
ed "Oh, they say me not, nay But, L
ventured to press her. do they oppose
you?' "Oppose me-" she exclaimed in
great surprise, oppose me, why they are
proud of me and hold me up--like l am
an enviable pattern for other women
Still quered How are they reconoiled
Ito the fact that this new work robs them
of your society, occupies your thoughts,
to the exclusion of your old time devo-
ton" Hush" she laughingly replied,
they feel like they are doing all this
through me; In fact, they think they
made me- and believe they have" What
more could be said than this little ladys
confession of power.
M. NCH-sHELToN.'
While the lawmakers are taking in
hand the nuisance of large theater hats,
which have wearied a long-suffering pub
lie for many years, some sensible woman
in the Times-Democrat expresses herself
in a common sensed way, which will meet
the approval of women as well as men.
Apropos of this question, 1t has always
seemed passing strange that girls are
willing to attend the theater, opera
house or concert hall wearing large hats,
which, no matter how picturesque and
becoming at other times always make
the wearers appear little outre in the
evenings Small bonnets or hats, of
course, are the proper and stylish head
gear for evening entertainments or mat
inees, and, leaving out of consideration
the inconvenience to other people, the
large picture hat Is very ruralesque on
such occasions. But the New Orleans
woman thus tells her tale of woe:
I'm dealing with the high hat you as
sumo that all women are offenders and
that only men are sufferers. You are
wrong in both instances. Many women,
like myself, are most careful in their Sc
lection of theater headgear, and / see
many others wearing large hats remove
them Immediately on taking their seats
without waiting to be asked. These are
ladies' Again, women suffer more at
the hands Tor heads) of their sex than
men do for their average stature is less.
IF the managers of the various thea
tiers will pass and enforce strict edicts
respecting the removal of all but the
most modest theater bonnets they will
be more warmly supported by the women
of New Orleans than the men. Saturday
/ went with a friend to the Ada Renan
matinee. We had seats in the balcony.
Two ladies Cd in front of us stood during
the entire performance. We saw moth
ing. / asked an usher to request these
ladies to sit down. which he refused to
do, saying he could not interfere. Anoth-
err victim near us asked the wearer of a
towering hat to remove 1t. which she re-
fused to do. Do you not know that the
women will rejoice to have the manage
ment come to their relief no less than
the men?
when was a girl all women. in the
south at least, went to the theater bare
headed, unless they were quite elderly.
A very pretty graceful fashion, and I
never heard of any one taking cold from
it, Dainty little clouds of tufts or lace
wells were thrown over their heads on
the streets
STANDING GRIEVANCE"
The woman's board of the Tennessee
Centennial celebration are already ac-
lively engaged preparing for an exhibit
that will be a credit to them and our en-
tire section. They are determined that