The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-12
MRS. REEDS WORK IN THE
 WOMAN'S DEPAR TMENT
BY ANNIE KEN pRIcK WALKER.

Cut out the woman's department" is what state fair official remarked when the enterprise was taking shape. Per haps," replied Mrs. J B. Reid, who has for five years been in charge of this de- partment, there are women more Inter ested in the products of their farm and it's many industries than they would be in the horse racing or the horse show When weeks later the womans exhibit filled the entire second floor in the eX- hbit hall at the fair the indifference or one fair official was changed 10 surprise, although he could not comprehend how much work was represented in the pro- ducts labeled cakes, bread, fancy work, preserves, jellies, marmalades and quilts and Mrs. Reid was too busy arranging the exhibits to make any explanations
 No woman in the state has the situ- ation so well in hand as Mrs. Reid Through her long experience she has studied every phase of the subject and she is a born manager. She Is practical, business like energetic to her finger tips, treless absolutely, and more than ths, she in sincerely in earnest and takes her work seriously. Her idea is not to get through with it. not to hurry, not to rush things because they are not important enough for her to give up her time, but her policy is systematic work in order that everything, every woman who wants to know something about the premiums and the various exhibits may get what she is looking for and that the informa- ton given out will encourage her to sen her best work. From the time the fair IS projected Mrs. Reid begins work, although her salary may not begin until later, and from that time until the fair closes shs Is the busiest woman in the state.
 She has become so prominently identified with woman's work that in the interval between the fairs she is almost as busy answering letters that she receives ask ing for suggestions about future eXhibi- tions, and a great deal of her time IS taken up In this way, although her off cial capacity, with the fair association ends when the fair closes.
 With the continual demands that are made upon Mrs Reid, and in view of her Alabama women, I would suggest that she be made permanent superintendent If the woman's department of the Alabama state fair, and that the association would authorize her to open a bureau of in- formation for the assistance of women remote from the cities. This bureau need not be conducted on an expensive plan, and during the winter months Mrs. ReiG would not require any assistants, but she should receive permanent salary, com mensurate with her duties.
 Conducting the womans department on It's present practical bases makes 1t all the more necessary for the work to be- gin early, or rather for 1t not to be dropped at all. Unless a woman with practical knowledge and executive ability takes hold of it and deveopes it the women of the state cannot be expected to send their best work In these annual competitions. If they are able in few weeks to make a creditable exhibition much more could be accomplished if through the winter they were able to confer officially with the head of the department and receive practical sug- gestions for the proper development of their work. In view of these facts would urge that Mrs. Reid be made per manent superintendent in order that womans work In this state may be de- veloped through wholesome competitiona such as Is gained at the state fairs.
 Mrs. Reid spent the past week in Selma where she was in charge of the same de-
  Bertha Condo
 Sunday Evening: 7;30-Service of song.
 S00-Address, Miss Helen F. Barnes. na- tional secretary of city department, Chi cago.
 900-Farewell service