The evening times., 1898-09-08
PATRIOTIC GIRLS.
They VIII Rival the DOys in Build
ing n Narship.
CFrom the New York Herald.)


The boys of the country who are plan
ming TO raise several million dollars with
which to build a great battleship for pre-
sentation 10 Uncle Sam are not to have
monopoly of that sort OF patriotic effort
The girls are coming to the front as
friendly rivals of the boys in a similar
undertaking, and If all goes we'll there
will eventually be added to the navy an
American Girl as well as an American
Boy.
The idea to build an American Girl bat
tleship a a twin for the proposed Ameri-
can Boy was originated by Miss Maude
Mears, of No. 52s Buriing Street, Chicago.
Miss Mears is a pupil In one of the pub
lie schools of Chicago, and the daughter
of well-to-do parents, who have lived
many years in the Western metropolis.
Miss Mears is patriotic from head 10 foot
and has taken particular interest in the
developments Of the Spanish-American
war because seven of the young men
whom she has taught at Sunday School
are serving their country in the navy.
The fund with which TO build the Amer
lean Boy is to be raised by popular sub
scription and chiefly through appeals to
the children of the public schools. Miss
Mears will not infringe upon this field,
which the boys are already cultiVating
with no little success. but will rely upon
lllt IllOHtl SditItlIiiS capacity VI tAltt
typical Yankee invention. the endless
chain.
The young Chicago miss mas received
hundreds OF letters commencing her idea,
from girls who desire 10 be associated
with her in this undertaking. The scheme
has been cordially indorsed by leading
Chicago citizens. and has taken a strong
hold upon many members of the fair sex
young and old, who see in it an appOr-
tunity 10 prove to the world tina, the girls
| of the country are fully as patriotic as
the boys.
An organization has been perfected for
the purpose of conducting the campaign.
with Miss Maude Mears a. president. Miss
! Tillie Heuchiing secretary. and Mrs
! Charles a. kerfoot as treasureF-all of
| Chicago. The list of directors and the
! executive and advisory commit ees soon
! 10 be selected, will embrace the names OF
| many women we'll known TO the country.
Letters explaining the purpose OF The
! promoters Of the scheme are TO be sent t.
| Mrs. Mckinley, 10 the wives of the Cab
/ met officers, and of high officers in the
! army and navy, and TO thousands of other
| women throughout the country When
| the project has become widely known and
people in all parts of the country have
| begun 10 talk about The American Girl. "
| the endless chain will be set in motion
! Money. il is expected. will come rolling
in. and will pile up so rapidly that the
| Cincinnati youths and their army of sup
| porters in the American Boy scheme
will turn green wi n envy. Other means
| of raising money will also be adopted
| later on. Miss Mears and her fair asso-
! ciates are full of resources. but al presen;
are devoting all Of their energies TO pre-
! liminary work.
A Chicago property owner who will do
| all he can to encourage the girls in their
patriotic race with the boys has given
| them indefinite use of a fine Office at No
| - Dearborn Street. rent free Many let
| tars have already been received from per
sons anxious to subscribe directly to the
fund without regard 10 the endless chain,
and asking when and to whom the money
should be sent.
Not a few inquiries come from members
of the male sex Mrs r W Dickins wife
| of Commander Dickins. of the United
States Navy, is enthusiastic over the
girls plans. .Sand will actively assist in
pushing them to successful conclusion.
The first subscription received at the
office of the American Girl Battleship Or
ganization was 81 from Mrs. H P Coli
| grow of Chicago. A bevy of little tots
nave sent 10 cents each Caroline Mar
tin, of No. 65 West Ninety-sixth Street.
| New York, heard of the efforts of Miss
Mears and her colleagues and wrote for
authority to raise fund among her
friends and acquaintances at home
1T seems to me" said Miss Martin.
that this is about the first chance the
girls of the country have had to demon
strate that they remember the Maine"
Another miss who is bubbling over with
patriotic enthusiasm writes in this way
we girls are wild to show our patriot
| ism as well as the boys. Idea is splendid
Do let us know how we can do the most
for the American Girl
These are but fair samples of a huge
stock of letters already received by Miss
| Mears. and the boys who are working
like beavers to raise money for the build
| ing of battleship will do we'll to look tC
their laurels. The girls are after them
with a rush. and they will be the first to
give the nation a great floating mOnu-
ment to the memory of the heroes of the
Maine they will know the reason why