The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-12-09
Communicated
LETTER FROM a FORMER
RESIDENT.
Mrs. Grafton Criticises The Streets
And Makes Some Suggestions
The Work of Women Praised

The Work of Women Praised.
My Dear Lance:
The sweet singer OF Israel hath said.
''out OF the fUliness of the heart the mouth
speaketh." hence this letter to you. for
! have at heart "A matter concerning
the dear old town Of fredericksburg, my
former home, whereof must speak. If /
should hold my peace, believe the very
stones with which the streets are TO be
paved would cry out During my recent
Wit 10 fredericksburg the most historic
town il the grant old State, and dear 20
my heart as the home Ofmy childhood. -
as well as the pride of my matuFer year,
my spirit was east down within me- aud
| was dismayed at the appearance of the
sidewalks and streets not because they
needed paving oh, no. but because of the
dirty, torn, smeared, besmirched papers.
together with the fallen leaves, that lit
tered the sidewalks and streets every-
where.
But where is the pride OF our people
Not dead, only sleeping, just awaiting 20
be aroused by one who loves the old
town speaking word in season and
wishing il TO present the best possible ap-
pearance. and 10 be a comfort and pleas
ure to our own people as well as to the
strangers within our gates. How it
made my ears tingle and cheeks burn to
hear the remarks OF strangers visiting
the old town, who seemed Mortified to
find the streets so unsightly Not a day
passed during my stay in Fredericksburg
that visitors were not driven 10 view the
spot where lie the remains of the mother
OF Washington aud il really was balm 20
my wounded spirit to hear them com
ment on the cleanliness and beauty of the
grounds surrounding the monument.
But oh, the streetsl Something must be
done to clean them and to keep them
clean. And it can be done, for there is a
mighty force of willing workers in the
dear old town Il mean the women), who
must organize and take hold of the work,
just as the women of Georgia. Arkan-
sas and Texas have done, and in fact ali
over our country see what has been ac-
complished by the women who have
come TO the front, proving themselves
help-meets indeed, and while fathers,
husbands and brothers, the bread win
ners, are working by the sweat OF the
brow the women are making the home,
yard, garden, streets, nay, the whole
town Is made to blossom as the rose
Through the united efforts of women
the tin can, the town COW. aud the slow
"porker' are all relics of the past Every
where in the South. as well as all over
this broad land of ours, the growth, i'm
provement and progress ia all lines are
due TO the women, who are working
earnestly TO uplift and help humanity,
seeking to establish the best sanitary
conditions (of which too much cannot
be said). cleaning and beautiiying the
public parks, and, il there are none, work
ing to establish them by building up the
waste places" looking out for the
Planting and protection of trees, which
are ornamental to our homes aud give
such pleasure TO ourselves and to those
who shall come after Us In fact, not a
feature Of public welfare, civic improve
ment, education or philanthropy that
has not been helped in some way by
earnest. energetic club women. Look at
Georgia. Ia were not n Virginia woman
/ would say Georgia is the banner State
of the South. See how her women have
worked TO repeal the law that allows
the incarceration OF juvenile prisoners
with adults and TO prevent child labor
in factories and sweatshops.
Through this letter | wish to send a
greeting, which wish | could have de-
lsvered In person, to his honor, the Mayor.
and the whole Council, asking their CO.
operation in this matter that has arous-
ed all my interest. know well that
this revered and honorable body are fol.
" engaged in settling the weightier mat
ters of the law, but | hope that the
Betty Lewis Chapter of b. A. r., that
baud OF patriotic women of historic
Fredericksburg, viii undertake not the
tithing of mint, anise etc, but OF cleans
ing and Identifying the old town and
will submit to your honorable body
resolutions that will be approved Feel
ing sure OF your gracious acquiescence,
do hereby tender my grateful thanks
word 10 the merchants and business
men calling their attention to this mat
ter is all that ia necessary l know, like
the Council, that they will supplement
and help in every possible way so good
and clean a cause. | know whereof |
speak when affirm that men need only
TO be approached in the right way and
then they always respond to any appeal
made by women, as only men can, and
which Is always the way women wish
them TO do, hence have no fear that this
matter will not be taken up and acted
upon as shall rebound to the good and
beauty OF the dear old town and to the
men. To the women who shall undertake
this work, win aid word to this effect:
Don't be discouraged; don't let any
thing down you, as some slangy per-
son would say. just go right ahead and
clean up, and whatever you hear or don I
hear, don't be discouraged. have pass
ed through similar experience. Keep up
your courage and persevere-above all
things persevere. II any one is so foolish
as TO oppose you, don't listen; just per-
severe 1t will wear away a stone. you
know, in time; SO persevere.
Believing IN the persey erance OF the
saints, | am always, dear Lance, a most
loyal Fredericksburger.
Elizabeth Taylor Mason Bainbridge
Grafton.
Sewickley, Pa, December LIST, 1909