DEMONSTRATION WORK IN INCIDENT, STORY AND SONG 



younger and better educated agents. Time will show whether 

 these new agents will do their parts as well as their prede- 

 cessors. One thing is sure, those who appreciate the princi- 

 ples upon which the work was founded, and the achievements 

 which made it successful, will succeed. Those who do not 

 will fail. There can be no permanent success in any county 

 unless the demonstration idea is preserved and unless the 

 structure is built upon the foundations so properly laid. 



My Interview with Dr. Seaman A. Knapp 



In February, 1911, I was called to Washington by Dr. 

 Seaman A. Knapp to discuss plans for organizing club work 

 for girls in rural communities. There I met Miss Marie 

 Cromer of South Carolina and Miss Ella G. Agnew of Vir- 

 ginia, who had already begun the work in their respective 

 states. 



At that time I had never heard of the ''Tomato Clubs," 

 and when Dr. Knapp asked me to return to Mississippi and 

 organize two counties, I was interested but very doubtful. 

 For nearly two hours Dr. Knapp talked to me, outlining the 

 plan as it had already developed and what he hoped and 

 expected would grow out of that small beginning. At the 

 close of our conference he said: "Through the tomato plat 

 you will get into the home garden and by means of the can- 

 ning you will get into the farm kitchen ; it will then depend 

 upon your tact, judgment, common sense and devotion to the 

 work as to what you may accomplish for the women and 

 girls in the home." 



The vision which Dr. Knapp gave that day has carried 

 the worker through ten years of strenuous pioneer effort, 

 during which every prophecy he made has been fulfilled. 

 Miss Susie V. Powell, State Home Demonstration Agent for 



Mississippi. 



[193] 



