Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-21
QUEEN OF THE DAY.
IN THE RACE ron HoNoRs AMERi-
GAN GIRL IS FIRST FAvo.IrE'
An IDEAL OF HAEf ARTISTS.
Leading Newspaper illustrators OF
N. Country Have sketched Her In
p,.,ur...ue Peses-Here .. Their
rhanl-gsving Contributions.

,,1 then the American girl should De the
,,,os, contented OF mortals. The emancipa-
ton OF worms n. that hackneyed slogan Oh
,hos. who declare the sex to be fetrereo
nv the tyrant man. fails Fat In America
FOR want OF a suitable foil thanksgiving
pay 1897 will fnd the American girl as
other Thanksgivings have found her, mol
ernancipated--for she never was en-
siaxed-but free as the bright. frosty air
that wooes her athletic frame, sending
IN. blood coursing swiftly through her
veins and imprlnting the charming uhse
OF robust health on her cheeks. III any
one thinks there is room To doubt this'
then let the doubter watch the passing
show when the American girl taxes ule
centre of the stage on Thursday next
competing for supremacy as queen OF inc
festival with that other glorious institu-
ton of Thanksgiylng-the turkey gopoier.
A good place to view her al her pes'
will be from the sidewalk OF any smooth
paved street Of our cities, or rom the
pathways OF macadamiged country roaas-
Here. In the natriest and newest OF ncy-
Gle rigs. she Will be seen, with her cheeAs
aglow. her bright eyes sparkling, ner
prettv hair dancing merrily in the WIND.
bowling along a-wheel at a pace tbat
surely has nothing in common with
chains or letters, unless 1t be the oleyeie-
chain that enab les her TO challenge the
wind to a trial of speed and beat the oio
fiirt In a canter. The manner Ia which the
American girl has taken advantage OF TINS
glorious sport bears ample testimony 10
the fact Iha: when she wants thing SIC
will have g. and knows how 10 take Ia .
fullest advantage OF what Is hers py
right II the shades Of the dear OLD grand
mothers OF the days of wheel and olstan
could return to earth next Thursday. ard
gather along the highways AMI oyways
where laughing, chatting, free, and happy
columns of wheelwomen fly by, they VIII
surely return TO the land of shadows with
feelings OF regret that their lot was not
cast in an era when women ind more
healthfui means of employing their time
than the laborious and combining duties OF
the old-fashioned home life. That the
cnange Is vastly for the better, even the
most disgruntled and cross grained critic
Of the up-to-da womanhood will admit
Instead OF the paie-faced, narrow-chested
woman OF the wheel and distaf era, the
sKectator who chooses q front seat 10
view the passing show of Thanksgiving
Day, 1897, will see q long procession OF
rosy checked, 1.-THE limbed, happy,
healthy and wholesome specimens OF
lemininity that speak contentment Ia
syery action.
Vylng for honors with the bicycle girl
u Thanksgiving Day, 1897, is that sport
loving sister OF hers, who dotes on the
touxled-headed heroes of the football
,,.fa 81
the gr1diron meet to fight inch by inch
toward the coveted goal, brulsing and
batter.ng each other In the interests of
The famous game, whose season ends next
Thursday. there will be heard the music
OF shrlll cheers from fair threats; there
will be seen the waving of flags held in
neatly -gloved hands, and the enthusiastic
applause of the hosts OF feminine adj
mirers that will pack the grandstands
and shout for the glory OF the American
sport. No football scene In the coun-
try will be complete without the Amert-
can girl to cheer the contending heroes
on to victory. What matters Ii how the
game goes. Is IL not recomDense enough
Tor those who must swallow the bitter
lose of defeat that sweethearts and sis
ters who have watched them straining
every nerve and muscle for hours In
vain effort to win, stand ready to sym
pathize with and cheer the broken
spirited losers as well as to congratulate
the winners? For the sake of the bright
eyes that watch the struggling and mud
begrimed contestants on the football
fields of Thanksgivng-Day. 1897 each man
will summon up every ounce OF reserve
force in his muscular frame and fight
for the mastery with the same spirit that
prompted the knights of old TO couch
lance, clap spurs 10 steed, and dash on
for fame and his lady's guerdon. 1t is for
the sake OF the American girl that bruises
Will be counted as naught and blood
flowing glorled in on the football Held
next Thursday True, there are some
who entertain the mistaken notion that
the honor OF college or club is the fore
most incentive 10 victory but those VINO
don the padded suit and fight for glory
on the football field know better. A
point gained on the gridiron means a
point gained IN the anxious heart or the
bright-eyed spectator on the grandstand;
q run down the field in the face OF fierce
opposition is made because the athlete
who carries the ball to the goal knows
that he carries with 1t the hopes and
fears OF one OF the fur-clad onlookers who
has eyes in the game for him alone; a
kick that sends the oval soaring glorious
ly through space In the direction of the
coveted posts is accompanied by feel
ing of Joyful anticipation because the
owner OF the foot knows that somewhere
AIMING the crowd of spectators one pair OF
eyes watches the progress of the ball with
a fiuttering heart. What nonsense to
think that the perspiring heroes struggle
for the supremacy of their college. They
run and tackle and kick and bleed for
the honor OF the American girl, who has
their hearts in keeping and no one knows
Il better than she.
But IL the American girl will shine
where healthful sport is the programme,
she will positively glow around the les
tive board and In the social circles next
Thursday. The thought OF festival
without her is too gloomy a prospect 10
be entertained. In the frost-brighteneo
features OF the outdoor girl have their
peculiar charm, there is another and an
especial attractiveness surrounding the
indoor girl who. daintily attired In SHIN
mering loneliness. presides al the Thanks
giving table and adds grace and beauty
to the home. Compared to her The
Thanksgiving bird is a sorry delusion IN
spite OF the hold he has on the hearts
Of the citizens. II the American girl has
herself cause for thankfulness, 1t Is q
small matter In comparison with the
gratitude that should be entertained by
the male half OF humanity towards the
shaper OF our destinies that she is with
US 10 heighten the brightness OF the day
She Is worthy theme for poets and
fitting topic for the orators OF the day
Let poets summon the muse and orators
tax their vocabulary to the utmost, ane
do fun Justice TO worthy subject--tht
rh.rL. .ts,t..o mas GIRL of 1877