The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-01-13
n process Of construction.

in process Of construction.
A recent visit to the grounds of the
exposition showed that rapid prog
ress was being made in the work.
The grounds are easily accessible from
the city, not more than twenty min
utes' distance by the street cars. The
park was beautiful before man began
to improve on natures handiwork, and
is now even more beautiful. 1t is
said that its site is prettier than that
which any other exposition has ever
had. On this park second white
city is rising, with buildings as white
as those of the worlds fair and form
ing a fine contrast to the blue of the
hills and sky, and the green of the
waters and the lawns. The buildings
are splended specimens of architec-
ture, with most types represented, in
cludiug the Doric, Ionian and renais-
sance, as we'll as the colonial type,
popular 100 years ago in this country.
One of the most important buildings,
and the first to be delivered to the
officials complete, is the Woman's
Building. To the women of Tennessee
is due all of the credit for the building
erected for their use. A woman, Mrs.
Sara Ward. .Conley, was the architect,
and it will be managed entirely by
women under the direction of Mrs. Van
Leer Kirkman, the President of the
Woman's Board. The building has a
fine location in the southwestern por-
tion of the grounds. Its architecture
greatly resembles that of the Hermit
age, the home of Andrew Jackson,
upon which it was modelled, although
there are also suggestions of the Greek
style of architecture, which produce
beautiful and novel effect. The cen.
tral part of the interior is large
rotunda with grand staircase up
right and left at the rear, and the
balance of the building is divided into
handsome apartments for classified
exhibits. The second story of the left
wing, as one enters, is a large assembly
hall, in which numerous congresses OF
women will meet during the exposi-
ton. The workmanship on the staff
columns. the frieze and the figures is
of the highest order.
Mrs. Kirkman, the President of the
Woman's Board, has made an effort to
present striking features OF unusual
interest, and special attention will be
paid to woman's work in the arts.
Every variety of decorative and ap-
piled art will be represented. One
entire room is to be devoted to cera-
mics; there will be an elaborate dis
play of the work of the American and
Swiss wood carvers, and the best wo.
men artists in the country will send
gems from their studios.
Woman's increasing aptitude as a
poster designer has been shown very
clearly during the last year or two,
and a poster exhibition of the work of
women will be one of the features.
The Southern woman, even when she
essays mems work, does not forget the
importance OF her sex as housekeep-
ers, and this is shown by the fact that
the chief feature of the woman's de-
partment will be a model kitchen
where free practical Lectures on cook
ing will be given.
Another room will be devoted to an
exhibit Of the patents and inventions
gathered from all parts of the
country. The surroundings and
achievements of women in Persia,
Turkey, Egypt and Japan will be
shown in three other rooms. One
striking feature will be colonial sit
ting room, an exact reproduction of
room in an old house in Cambridge,
Mass. which was once the headquar-
ters of General Washington. This is
the house now occupied by Alice
Longfellow, in which her father, the
famous poet, formerly lived.
Perhaps the most splendid building
on the grounds will be the fine arts
building, which is known as the Par
thenon. 1t is in the actual center of
The grounds and is said to be perfect