Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-19
QUEEN OF THE DAY.
IN THE RACE FOR HoNORs AMEnI-
CAN GIRL Is FIRST FAyORITE.
AN IDEAL OF MANY ARTISTS.
Leading Newspaper illustrators OF
the Country Have skctchcd Her IN
y,.,.s,e poses-uere L. Their
Thanksgiving Contribution
written for the Dlspatch)

most contonted OF mOrtais. The omancipa
ton OF women that hackneyed slogan %
those who declare the sex TO be iettero'
by the tyrant man. falls Nat In America
for want OF n suitable foil. Thanksgiving
Day 1897 will find the American gIl a.
other THANKSGIVING have found her, ho'
emancipated- she never was en-
siaved-but free as the bright frosty an
that woocs her athletic frame, sending
the blood coursing swiftly through het
veins and imprinting the charming tinge
OF robust health on her checks. III any
one thinks there is room TO doubt TINS
then let the doubtor watch the passing
show when tho American girl takes the
centre OF the stage on Thursday next
competing for supremacy as queen OF the
festival with that other glorious institu-
lion OF Thanksglving-the turkey goobler.
good place to view her NJ her best
will be from the sidewalk Of any smooth
paved street Of our cities. or from the
pathways OF macadamized country ROADS.
Here. In the nattiest and newest OF bicy-
Gle rigs. she will be seen. with her cheeks
aglow. her bright eyes sparkling, her
pretty hair dancing merrily in the wind
bowling along a-wheel at pace that
surely has nothing IN common with
chains or fetteTs. unless IL be the bicycle
chain that enables her 10 challenge the
wind TO a trial OF speed and beat the old
nirt in a canter. The manner IN which the
American girl has taken advantage OF TINS
glorious sport bears ample testimony 10
the fact tina. when she wants a thlng sEc
will have ii. and. knows how 10 take IN"
fullest advantage Of what is hers by
right. II tho shades OF the dear old grand
mothers Of the days of wheel and distaff
could return TO earth next Thursday, ard
gather along the highways anCl bywdys
where laughing. chatting free, and happy
columns OF wheelwOmon ny by, they VIII
surely return 10 the land OF shadows with
feelings Of regret that their lot was not
cast in an era when women find more
healthful means of employing their time
than the labOriOus and combining duties of
tho old-fashioned home life. That the
change is vastly for the better. even the
most disgruntled and crOss-grained critic
Of the up-tO date wOmanhOod will admit
Instead of the pale-faced, mrrOw-chested
woman Of the wheel and distaff era, the
Spectator who chooses a front seat 10
View the passing show Of Thanksgiving |
Day. 1897 will see a long procession or
rosy checked. 1.-THE. limbed. happy.
healthy. and wholesome specimens OF |
femininity that speak contentment IN |
every action.
Nying for honOrs with the bicycle girl |
Of Thanksgiving-Day. 1897, is that sport |
loving sister Of hers, who dotes on the |
heroes of the football |
field. Wherever the muscular giants Of |
The gridiron meet to fight inch by inch |
toward the coveted goal, bruising and |
battering each other in the interests of
the famous game, whose season ends next
Thursday, there will be heard the music
)f shrilI cheers from fair throats; there
will be seen the waving of flags held i'm |
leatly-gloyed hands and the enthusiastic
applause Of the hosts of feminine adj
nirers that Will pack the grandstands
md shout for the glory Of the American
port. No football scene i'm the coun- !
ry Will be complete without the Ameri-
an girl to cheer the contending heroes
N to victory. What matters it how the
anne goes. Is II not recomDense enough
or those who must swallow the bitter
ose of defeat that sweethearts and sis
ers who have watched them stralning
very nerve and muscle for hours in a
ain effort to win. stand ready TO sym
athize with and cneer the broken
pirited losers as well as TO congratulate
he winners? For the sake Of the bright
yes that watch the struggling and mud
egrimed contestants on the football
elds Of Thanksgiying-D Day, 1897, each man |
'ill summon UP every ounce of reserve |
orce in his muscular frame and fight
or the mastery with the same spirit that
the knights of old to couch
ince clap spurs to steed, and dash on |
or fame and his lady's eucrdon. II is for
he sake Of the American girl that bruises
viii be counted as naught and blood
owing gloried in on the football field !
ext Thursday True, there are some
Tho entertain the mistaken notion that
he honor Of college or club is the fore
lost incentive TO victory. but those who
on the padded suit and fight for glory
n the football field know better A
oint gained on the grldiron means a
Oint gained ~ the anxious heart of the
spectator on the grandstand:
run down the field in the face of fierce
position is made because the athlete
'ho carries the bah to the goal knows
hat he carries with it the hopes and
ears Of one of the fur-clad onlookers who
as eyes in the game for him alone; n
lex that sends the oval soaring glorious
r through space in the direction of the
)veted posts is accompanied by n feel
* OF joyful anticipation because tho
Tner Of the foot knows that somewhere
n0ng the crowd Of spectators one pair of .
res watches the progress Of the ball with
huttering heart. What nonsense to
ink that the persprng heroes struggle
+ the supremacy of their college. They
m and tackle and kick and bleed for
e honor OF the American girl. who has
cir hearts i'm keeping. and no one knows
better than she
But If the American girl will shine
here healthful sport is the programme,
10 will positively glow around the fes-
We board and I'm the social circles next
thursday. The thought Of a festival
ithout her is too gloomy a prospect 10 p
entertained. In the frost-brightened
atures Of the outdoor girl have their
'culiar charm, there Is another ana an
pecial attractyeness surrounding the | q
door girl who, dalntily attired in SHIN -
ering loveuness. presides at the Thanks =,
wing table and adds grace and beauty :.
the home. Compared TO her the y
bird Is n sorry delusion in y
ute OF the hold ne has on the hearts $
the citizcus. IL the American girl has u
'rself cause for thankfulness, ii Is a a
nall matter in comparison with the h
altitude that should be entertained by m
e male half Of humanity towards the c
laper of our destinies that she IS with vi
TO heighten the brightness of the day.
he IL worthy theme for poets and ii re
ting topic for the orators OF the day. n
Il poets summon the muse and orators ~
X their vocabulary 10 the utmost. and ~
} fun justice TO u worthy subject-the q
girl of 1897. n,
Poets and orators, however, must not pi
allowed TO mOnOpoiize tho phapxa L.