The herald., 1896-02-22
THE FRIDAY MORNING CLUB
Mrs. Frank Virgins and Mr.. Frederick
Warde the Speakers
Observations on the Atlanta Exposition by ths
Former and Woman as Portrayed
by the Latter


Mrs. Frank Virgins made an interesting
address, showing what women had accom-
plished at the fair at Atlanta, and Fred
erick Warde, the distinguished tragedian
who has been charming theater-loving Los
Angeles this week with high class drama,
took up the thread of woman's accomplish
ments, turning them into the channels that
he loves best.
Mrs. Virgins who with her husband has
charge of the Atlantaen exhibit from the
chamber of commerce, gave very enter
taining accounts of what she saw, with de-
scriptions of the California building which
In it colonial charac teristics was the most
artistic on the grounds, of the medals that
had been awarded the state, and partlcu-
larly of the woman's building the subject
of the address being "Observations on the
Atlanta Exposition"
The woman's building she said, whose
architect was woman, and which was
big store house, showing The talent, genuts
and handlwork of womankind whsther in
art, science or inventions, was especially
notable as being the first effort of the wo'
men of the south to thus assert Themselves.
That, as a whole, it had to endure the
criticisms that always attacked woman's
work everywhere, but that it could claim
the distinction, most justly deserved, OF
bringing forth and again showing to the
world the latent talents of retiring women
who, in the responsibility OF such an un-
dertaking, had the equal compensation OF
gaining valuable business ideas.
There were many delightful congresses
held at the exposition, said Mrs. Virgins,
when many great and brilliant lights of
the educated world held forth on all the
most entertaining topics of the day. as well
as on subjects pertaining to social and in
dustrial conditions, and economics of the
household, the state or the country. Mrs.
Virgins concluded with number OF ex-
tracts taken from an address by John
Temple Graves, the orator of the day,
which consisted mainly of a eulogy on
southern women.
Mr.. Warde came in in time to hear the
conclusion of the lecture, and when called
upon to give an address TO the club, took
up the thread of what he had gathered
from the bject of the morning-Woman.
He made speech somewhat as follows:
ut is a little embarrassing that ! see no
more of my own sex present to lend me
physical support, but will trust to that
mercy which is always found in the heart
of the lady--or, as l prefer to say, the
woman. l am always ready to pay hom-
age to every woman in every land, but
prefer the woman whose noblest role in
the drama of life is that of honored wife
and loving mother.
1.-THE women of Shakespeare must ever
be my type of that intellectually, nobility,
maternal instinct, and all qualities that
make loving woman.
"In the whole of the fabric of Shake
spears plays there is not one single new
woman, and have no wish to see the new
woman so prominent that we old men
have to retire to the shade. do not object
if woman becomes SO athletic as to out
strip me in riding a bicycle, or If she rides
horseback astride, but should not want to
see a lady of either kind Iii my house.
And do not like to enter court and see
a woman trying a case. 1t isn't fair. With
a beautiful, pleading woman on one side,
and a common garden man on the other,
what verdict can you expect?
Thackeray has my ideal of a woman in
Lora Pendennis, who aids her husband to
write his editorials for the Pail Mall Ca
zette and at the same time is able to pre-
pare OF bath or use goose grease when
the children have the Group. When wom.
an is placed in the army of the battles of
life she reminds me of those massive crea.
lures, the Amazons. Woman should
strive to be what man loves. just as much
as the man tries to please the woman he
loves. A man loves and admires those
gentle, soft qualities that make her the
sympathetic companion, his consolation,
and the sharer of his joys and griefs. Man
was made first; woman was created not to
be his rival or his physical equal, but his
helpmeet." s.,.aa.,.+ ,- s-,.. ,g...4.,
Mr.. Warde.then drew what is the most
beautiful and the most affecting picture in
the world-the young mother with her first
born in her arms. He elevated her to
sphere beyond common mortals, not of
this earth. He ideallzed and almost del
fed her, and most emphatically asserted
that this was the woman he revered, he
loved, he worshiped.
When Mr.. Warde had concluded the ap.
plause was not so loud nor so general as it
might have been. That an address of this
kind should be delivered before "such
body as the Friday Morning c!ub,' was
the outspoken sentiment after the signal to
adjourn, and the many and diverse express
sions of opinion, the conflict of approval
and disapprobation. and the little skir-
mishes for and against were very amusing.