The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-05-13

! During the long, tedious months of the
summer, when nearly everyone succumbs
to the microbe of laziness-more politely
called "ennui'-there will be one busy wo-
man within Birmingham's precincts who
will be working with indefatigable zeal
' and untiring energy for the entertainment
and edification of her fellow townsmen
| and townswoman, and that is Mrs. John
B. Reid, the manager of the woman's
| department of the Alabama State Fair
| association.
The state of Alabama in general, and
the city of Birmingham in particular,
feels a distinct pride in Mrs. Reid's work,
and the wonderful results she has accom-
plished in days gone by promise to be du-
plicated in the future by her success in
the management of this most important
department of the great fair, which has
become a part and parcel of Blrming
hams progress and uplift.
Every avenue will be open for womans
ingenuity and cleverness to take advan-
tage of the opportunities offered by the
coming fair, and there is no branch how
ever small, but that some encouragement
is held out for talent in this direction.
Already scores of good housewives are
making their preparations for exhibits
next fall. Needlecraft is engaged in ex-
tensve plans for everything in this par
|
ralist, professional and otherwise, each
is eagerly planning to enter his or her
spoils in the coming exhibition at the
fair of 1909.
A word to those who are not yet in line
for the wcslS: Shakespeare made one Of
his characters in King Henry v to say
that "Self-love, my liege, is not so vile
sin as self-neglecting." which, If consid-
cred carefully, is really only another way
of exclaiming that the sins of commission
are not so black as the sins of omission.
a theory which is likely to give rise to
some disagreement To those who are In
the affirmative of the argument 1t may
be of some consequence to know that
took the idea of accomplishing as his
religion. Do something. Do something
wrong if you can't do something right
but dol Action, after all, is the test-not
supineness.
"Ohl a crime will do
AS well, reply to serve for a test
As virtue golden through and through"
To Browning the sin of the "unlit lamp"
and the "ingirt loin" was as much to be
condemned as the lamp burnt in a wrong
cause or for mistaken purposes.
And so much for those who are laggard
do something of interest which will add to
the attraction of the coming fair, it is
lsher duty to do it,; and Mrs. Reid begs
that women all over the state commence
their work now for the forthcoming ex-
hibition.
In an interesting chat few after
moons ago with Mrs Reid, when I found
her bright and CHEEKY as usual, surround
ed by a world of fair literature, letters
and inquiries enough to turn one gray,
asid:
IT have found you just where I wanted
to, Mrs. Reid-right in the midst of your
fair work. so could talk to you about
IL to my hearts content
To which she laughingly replied: "You
find me just the busiest and most en-
thusiastic woman you ever saw
r'And what are the prospects for this
years fair?' I inquired.
"Fine-simply splendid said Mrs. Reid.
'T feel enthusiastic because | see so
much Improvement in the period of a few
years in which have been working for
this department. You see my point is to
emphasize the work an educational
factor, and you may be interested to know
that a few years ago I had one smart,
energetic little woman who made every
thing the catalog called for, and through
her efforts, as well as my own. 1 have
been able to enlist the interests of many
women to follow in her footsteps and
show just how smart and how busy
we women are in Dixie land"
(which over-illustrates the Browning
idea to which I have just alluded-of
not only doing something. but doing 1t
ALL" I jestingly remarked. Last year
the individual booth idea seemed to make
quite an impresslon-will you repeat
that?" I asked
"Oh, yes" was the prompt reply. This
year we have arranged for more money
for these same spaces and feel confident
of very general interest from over the
state. Not including these prizes there
will be those for Individual pieces of work