The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-16
THE CHARLESTON
EXPOSITION
Continued from Page Three.)
THE woMAN's BUILDING.

1t was a wise choice that made the old
Colonial home the Woman's Building
for it was vantage ground to start
upon The ladies of Charleston have car
ried out the history of the estate, and
the building is fitted up in characteristic
colonial style. In it's chambers are the
rarest of furniture and silver, yielded ur
to aid the Exposition by the older citi-
zens of Charleston, who prize them as
invaluable heirlooms. On the walls are
old family portraits of priceless value
the production of early American artists
the names of Gilbert, Stuart, Morse, Jar
Wis, Sully, Copley, Fraser, Allston, West
and others equally we'll known in their
age.
The building is of two stories and
glass encloses the wide piazza of the
first floor, where a cup of "PinehurSt
Tea" grown at Summerville, twenty five
miles from Charleston, can be enjoyed
The tea farm there is the only one on
this hemisphere, and the tea is equal in
flavor to the best imported The product is
the result of many years of experiment in
tea culture, which now is beyond the
experimental stage. This has proved
that tea can be grown profitably in Am
erica, and a company has been formed
controlling seven thousand acres of land
a thousand of which will soon be under
cultivation.
Within the building, adorned with
plants and flowers. the scene is beau
tiful one. Here in hallway with its
curved stairs and in paneled rooms with
antique furniture the paintings and ar
ticles of vertu are to be seen. In the
library are books whose inspiration was
woman's brain, and among these are
some from the private library of Presi-
dent Roosevelt
restaurant of special interest is
within the building and is dubbed "The
Carolina Rice Kitchen" where the UNI
initiated are given an opportunity to
learn how to rightly serve the delicious
cereal, so largely raised in South Caro-
lima, which boasts of many great rice
fields.
Another feature, and one a boon to
tired mothers. is the Day Nursery,
where children are cared for during the
day, and in room close by is shown
how hospital nursing is done by trained
nurses.
Then there is the silk culture exhibit.
In the early history of Charleston there
was fine export trade in silk, and ex-
hibits of this early industry are shown.
BY the untiring energy of the ladies of
the committee the silk worms were
raised on mulberry trees in Charleston,
reels were constructed and beautiful
white silk made especially for the Ex~
position.
This domain of fair woman, a partial
and incomplete list ofs;whose attraction
has been given. is presided over by one
of Charleston.s most charming women.
Mrs. Sarah Calhoun Simonds President
of theF Board of Woman Managers. She
is a member of the family of the Illus
trious John c.. Calhoun. and has moro
than a State reputation as one OF the
most popular women in South Carolina.
She has great executive ability, her per-
sonal charm and high social position adj
ding to her other qualifications for the
successful conduct of the exacting duties
of her position. In this work she has the
aid of representative women from all
sections of the State, whose earnestness,
ability and energy are aiding in the great
success of the Woman's Department. The
other members of the Board of Women
first vice president; Mrs. Rawlins
Lowndes, second vice president; Mrs.
William Aston Pringle, secretary; Mrs
B. F. Aston assistant secretary, and
Miss Henrietta Murdoch. treasurer.
In, addition to these there is long
list of prominent ladies of the State
who have charge of various matters per-
tanning to the department and lady COM
missioners from other States, Mrs.
Charles Price representing North Caro-
lima in the list.
One delights to linger over the charms
of the Womans Building, for it is place
of great fascination. and once within it's
hospitable walls it is hard to bid 1t even
an Eau revoir.
Passing on across the Common, where
views of the beautiful Ashley and of the
always charming live oaks are to be had
the visitor soon steps into the wide
pOrcb of tho