The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-19


 
 handsome pin money sums every veal Mrs. Reid gives the name of one woma in Birmingham who makes several hun dred dollars every year preserving am I baking This earning capacity was SC cured through the helpful agency of tn woman's department of the State Fai and through the opportunity it afford for coming in touch with the buying pub lie. Scores of women have been able t' improve their methods of domestic worl through the same means.
 This will be Mrs. Reid's tenth year al manager of the woman's department o the Alabama State Fair. She has helC the same position with four other stat fairs and is considered one of the mos enthusiastic and competent women in th' work in the southern states.
 Several times she has been employed tC oversee the arrangement of women's ex- hibits in other fairs and instruct tho managers.
 Mrs. Reid Talks 'I am earnestly devoted to the work of making a success of the woman's de- partment of ths State Fair. If it was a ! show I would, of course, not take the interest. But appreciating the fact as I do that it is a great educational work an enterprise that will elevate the women of Alabania to something practical, I love the work and never allow my interest to lag through the entire year. It is hard work, very hard work, and there are many unpleasant features at times but when I see the practical good that is being done I forget all this
 'The. woman's department of the State Fair offers the best possible opportunity for the woman who can and will make something of value to get in touch with possible purchasers. Buyers are always found for articles of value and the way is opened for future business.
 Now, there Is no woman but likes to make some extra money by her individual effort It makes her feel more independ- ent, and monye so made gives by far the most. satisfaction. Even women who dc not have to provide their own funds like to make some extra money. Others are
 
 with the family expense account. Every housewife should desire to know the best methods of preparing those delicacies and necessaries that go on her family table Opportunities for acquiring all these ends are afforded or are aimed at in the woman's department.
 The Woman's Agent
 ''The state fair is the woman's agent and it's value as such is coming to DC more and more appreciated by tht thrifty and practical women of the state There are many women in Alabama who have built up important industries in 2 small way. They have accomplished much of this through the advantages of fered in the state and other fairs. "I will have something more thar s1200 to distribute as prizes at the coming fair This will be supplemented as usual by gifts of value from merchants and business men of Birmingham
 "A new feature will be introduced this year that we believe will stimulated ex. hibitors from counties over the state That will be prizes of $25 for collective ex. hibits from counties of the state. Fom prizes of $25 each will be given for the best county exhibits of womens work This feature may be extended in future fairs, and prizes of $25 given to every county that will install a collective ex- hibit.
 Of Practical Value 'If the women of Alabama could real ize the practical value that the fair is to | them in an economical way I am sure that many more of them would take ad- vantage of it. It is highly educationa and far reaching in value to the woman | who wants to do something besides be- | ing merely beautiful and accomplished ir l fboSa ri nf rrala crpf1eS a conversation. Every serious woman wants to be practical at times, wants tc do something of value to help the family or her neighbors. The fair offers an ex- ceptonal opportunity for educational re- search for cooperation. and for practi- ca lexperience. Besides all this, as I said before 1t affords an opportunity and about the only opportunity to get in touch with a market.
 'The woman's department of the state fair this year promises to be more ex' tensive and interesting than any that has ever been held in the state"
 Mrs Reid is woman of wonderful en- ergy and capacity for hard work This is combined with tact and executive displo- macy that fits her most admirably for the work in which she is engaged and in which she is so successful.
 A BesutifuI Story She tells a beautiful story that well illustrates the irIspirational value of the womsn's department.
 A few years ago a woman brought Mrs Reid a beautiful piece of needlework and requested that 1t be put on exhibition She was very solictous that the work be taken good care of and not soiled or lost During the conversation she told Mrs Reid that the work was not her own. but that of her husbands first wife; that her husband pri5ed it so highly that she would not have anything to happen to it for the world
 Mrs Reid was deeply impressed with the unselnshness of the second wife. and while she informed the woman that she could not enter the piece for contest, as it was not her own work, she would like to have it on exhibit and assured the woman that no harm would come to it. Mrs. Reid spoke to the woman very feelngly and appreciatively of her unsel- fish pride in the work of her husbands former wife and told her that she should try to do something equally as good. That the mere effort on her part. though she did not succeed. would certainly be pleas ing 10 her husband. who seemed to take such pride in matters of this kind The would-be exhibitor confessed that she had never thought of it that way. but promised to try.
 At the next fair the woman returned This time she was accompanied by the husband He was all smiles and ex- nre...<1 Ii. annraDiafinp If Mrs Raid's