The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-12

partnent of the Selma fair, a prominent event in the Black Belt and one attract ing the most representative people in that section.
 Before Mrs. Reid left for Selma she re- ferred to the large amount of work neces- sary to the successful development or this department Of the fair When asked to outline the constructive principles In building up the womans department. Mrs. Reid said that she considered 1t of the first importance to keep in touch with the women throughout the state, in order to keep alive any interest aroused at proceeding fairs.
 From my long experience continued Mrs. Reid, T recognize the importance of personal talks and appeals to those women who live in small communities, and who seldom leave their farms, and who for this very reason need an in centive to develop their work along the lines that will make 1t acceptable in the state competitions It is the busy, in- dustrious woman who sews, cooks and un- derstands what to do with the products of her farm. to whom these annual compe- titions should be most helpful, and 1t is this class of women, not the idle class that are really showing to the state what its agrieulturing possibilities are, what is being done in the fruit industry, and what they can do on their farms. I consider that the wholesome competition provided by the state fairs and county fairs to be the one incentive to these women year after year, and that no other undertaking will give them the same opportunities. 1 know that it broadens them and inter- ests them and that they look forward to the fairs as the one bright event of the year, when they can see what other women are accomplishing.
 'The womans exhibit at the state fair exceeded all expecta tions, so extensive and interesting was it to even the casual vis- itor, and it's success only shows what the fair means to hundreds of women more or less isolated from the large cities. l have seen the gradual development of the woman's department and 1 know that many people do not give it it's proper value, that they regard 1t only an ordinary exhibit of no dlework or quilts, that probably have been exhibited years ago. I admit that some of the work has been exhibited too frequently, but the im- provements noticed in the exhibit this year show that some radical changes were made. Every year l have 'weeded' out the catalogue, and 1 can see now where I could have made other improve ments that would have strengthened the fair exhibition this year. What is need ed Is more care in properly classifying the exhibits, raising the standards of WOi IN, diio tlleIeDS Idhl1lS IL HlOTt ulIl- cult for exhibitors. What we want is the quality of exhibits, not the quantity. and 1t Is this fact that I tried to im- press upon many women, who were dis appointed that their work was not award ed any blue ribbons"
 Mrs. Reid further emphasized the prac- tical side of the womans department of the fair, and as she developed point after point her sincere interest in her work re- vealed itself by her earnestness and her desire to see the work of Alabama women placed upon the highest plane. While with the closing of the fair it would seem that Mrs. Reid's active work was over for the present, she is so deeply imbued with the spirit of work that she cannot lay aside the interest aroused by her weeks of association with so many in- dustrous women in Jefferson county and throughout the state
 At the state fair Mrs Reid was ably assisted by her daughters. Mrs. Emma Reid and Miss Annie Reid, The work of decorating the exhibit hali was superin- tended by Miss Emma Reid and it's hand some appearance was due to her sug- gestions.