American Agriculturist, June 23,1923 
529 
“She Wrote the Pageant, You Know” 
A Visit to Mrs. G. Thomas Powell—Ideas For the Home Dressmaker 
POWELL of Glen Head, Long 
Island, who wrote the Farmers’ 
Week Pageant, you know—” 
Of course Mrs. Powell was a very 
popular and well-known woman in New 
York State farm affairs before the first 
performance of her work at Syracuse, 
but ever since then she has been known 
largely as “the author of the pageant” 
and anyone mentioning her name is 
sure to speak of that really noteworthy 
piece of writing. 
The pageant, with its sound knowl¬ 
edge of farm life and problems and its 
strongly optimistic philosophy, was in 
itself an introduction to the woman 
who wrote it. But Mrs. Powell is the 
sort of person who is so vitally and 
genuinely interesting in everything and 
everybody else that it was perhaps just 
as well to have a 
little idea of her 
work before meet¬ 
ing her. Otherwise 
she might never 
have thought that 
subject important 
enough to get 
around to! 
Mrs. Powell’s 
g:reatest charm—and 
she has many—is 
perhaps her beam¬ 
ing smile. When 
the train pulled in 
to the little Glen 
Head station, down 
on Long Island, she 
stood smiling a wel¬ 
come on the plat¬ 
form and when the 
city bound train 
pulled out some 
hours later, the last 
impression was of 
her cheerful wave 
and smile as she 
saw her guest safely 
on board and start¬ 
ed to turn the little 
car around towards 
home again. 
In between the 
welcome and the 
goodby came a real 
old-time visit, dur¬ 
ing whieh we rocked 
and gossiped in the 
big front room, talk¬ 
ing about every¬ 
thing under the sun. 
According to Mrs. Powell, who is not a 
native-born Long Islander, Nassau 
county is a pretty nice place to live, 
and the big comfortable house, the wide 
fields stretching out behind it and the 
tang of the sea-air which drifts in no 
matter how far inland a Long Island 
farm may be, all seemed to confirm her 
in her belief.' 
“The population of the Island is con¬ 
stantly shifting, however,” said Mrs. 
Powell. “Recently something very amus¬ 
ing happened, which certainly made us 
feel like the oldest inhabitants. 
“At the back of the house we have a 
loud but useful dinner bell with which 
I call Mr. Powell when meal time comes 
around. It isn’t especially handsome— 
at least in our eyes—but it serves its 
purpose. 
“A little while ago, a liveried chauf¬ 
feur left at my door a note from one of 
the big estates which now lie all about 
us. The letter, written on crested 
stationery, in a very dashing handwrit¬ 
ing, said that the lady of the estate 
had admired the quaint old bell which 
hung behind our house and that she 
hoped we would not be hurt by her re¬ 
quest that we sell it to her. Under¬ 
standing how we must cherish it, .she 
said, she would be willing to pay almost 
anything for the privilege of owning 
this beautiful antique.” ■ 
Mrs. Powell paused and chuckled 
reminiscently. Her sense of humor is 
'’ery keen and she evidently got much 
enjoyment from the experience. 
Origin of “The Quaint Old Dinner 
Bell” 
“Well, e called a family council. My 
husband sugge.sted that w'e ask her $75 
and that then, just as tlie bargain was 
to be conchKh'd. our little golden haired 
haughler should run in, burst into tears 
I and say, ‘Oh you’re not going to sell dear 
?i‘eat-grandfather’s dinner bell are 
Mrs. G. Thomas Powell is a much 
beloved woman, not only in her 
own community of Glen Head, 
Long Island, but all through the 
State. She is an enthusiastic at¬ 
tendant upon the annual Farm¬ 
ers' week at Ithaca, and many 
who do not know her personally 
feel as though they did, because 
they have seen her and heard her 
speak at the conferences there 
By GABRIELLE ELLIOT 
you?’ That would boost the price to 
$ 100 . 
“However, after amusing ourselves 
thus, truth conquered. I sat down and 
wrote the lady a prompt reply. I told 
her that we were not especially attached 
to the bell and would be glad to sell it at 
a fair figure. But, I added, it might 
save trouble if she simply got another 
like it, direct from Sears-Roebuck. That 
was where we liad bought ours, about 
six months before, and the cost was 
$3.67 plus freight. No, she never an¬ 
swered my letter—or came for the bell.” 
A different kind of neighbor, accord¬ 
ing to Mrs. Powell, but one in whom 
there are many possibilities for develop¬ 
ment, is the immigrant farmer who 
has recently settled 
in such large num¬ 
bers on the Island. 
As we drove to the 
station, the road 
swar'med w<th 
youngsters just out 
of school, and all 
apparently, m e m - 
bers of the suicide 
club and willing to 
meet their end at 
that moment. Mrs. 
Powell, however, 
managed to avoid 
them neatly, and 
even had time to 
beam in her mother¬ 
ly way upon the 
small impeders of 
traffic. She had an 
eye for the cunning 
ones and the path¬ 
etic ones alike, and 
pointed out an in¬ 
dustrious Polish 
housewife valiantly 
painting her house. 
“She has the right 
idea,” said Mrs. 
Powell approvingly. 
Then the talk 
came back to the 
pageant, and it de¬ 
veloped that this 
was by no means 
her maiden effort. 
Another pageant, 
written for “Old 
Home Week” at 
Port Byron had pre¬ 
ceded it, and, indeed, she had always 
liked to write. 
The Lifelong Desire to be a Writer 
“It was my great dream as a girl,” 
confessed Mrs. Powell, “but I never 
thought I should actually achieve even 
a small portion of fame. When the 
pageant went so well at Syracuse, and 
was repeated successfully at Ithaca, 
during Farmers’ Week, I certainly felt 
amply repaid for any work it may 
have meant in writing and staging it— 
that was all a labor of love, anyhow. 
And it seemed to me that much of the 
credit should have gone to Jared Van 
Wagenen, Jr., and all the other par¬ 
ticipants, who prepared their roles so 
carefully and were so fine in them.” 
The Port Byron celebration, it came 
out, centered lai’gely in the historical 
pageant which Mrs. Powell wrote and 
which enlisted the services of all ages 
in its many picturesque scenes. Last 
July was the 50th anniversary of the 
founding of the Port Byron Academy, 
of which Mrs. Powell was a graduate, 
and the school was made the center of 
all the celebration. The population of 
this historic village was swelled from 
1,100 to 6,000 on the evening of the 
pageant, and the realistic Indian and 
pioneer scenes were especially popular 
with the descendants of the original set¬ 
tlers in both the cast and the audience. 
At dinner—as bountiful and gener¬ 
ous a meal as one would expect from 
such a hostess—Mr. Powell joined the 
group, and the talk turned to the two 
daughters, absent at school, the family 
music, which was suggested by the 
presence of a piano and violin stand, 
and the unsuspected state of house¬ 
cleaning which, Mrs. Powell solemnly 
stated, had upsf't the house from top to 
bottom. Its effects were quite unnoticed 
in the airy, comfortable downstairs 
rooms however, and when the guest de¬ 
parted it was with great admiration 
for the woman who could so cheerfully 
welcome company to a home in the 
throes of the spring seizure and who 
was so mistress of herself that she 
could sit down for a good, long, neigh¬ 
borly chat unconcerned by the goings-on 
of pointers and plasterers over her head. 
THE CORDED FINISH 
There is nothing that gives a taffeta, 
satin or wool dress a more tailored 
effect than to finish it with cording. 
The neck, armholes (if the sleeves are 
set into an underwaist), waist line (if 
the waist is the long effect), the tunic 
or side panels—all can be finished 
nicely this way. If the method ex¬ 
plained herein is carefully followed 
there should be no trouble in cording 
correctly. 
First, cut bias pieces 1% inches wide, 
sew together and press. Now hem one 
side flat, sew on where cording is de¬ 
sired just as you would sew on a fac¬ 
ing. Turn seam back toward the dress 
and smooth down or press, put the cord 
next the seam and turn facing over 
the cord and draw facing tightly. Hold 
smoothly, for the cording cannot be 
pressed. With a double silk thread, 
back-stitch the cording, being careful 
to take the shorter stitches on top and 
the longer ones underneath, as the 
stitches on top shouldn’t show. 
I find this the easiest and best way 
of cording.—B illie Hughes. 
TWO PRETTY SUMMER DRESSES 
H ere is the ideal every-day dress 
—comfortable, easily made and 
laundered and withal attractive look¬ 
ing. The touch 
of trimming re¬ 
lieves its sim¬ 
plicity. Notice 
how economical 
this is of 
terial. 
ma- 
No. 1719 comes 
in sizes 16 years, 
36, 40-inches bust 
measure; size 36 
requires 3 yards 
of 36-inch ma¬ 
terial with % 
yard of 36-inch 
contrasting ma¬ 
terial. Price, 12c. 
Just the fea¬ 
tures for which 
the stout woman 
looks are con¬ 
tained in this 
style. The length¬ 
ening panels, long 
front lines and 
full sleeves all 
make, it becoming to the heavy figure. 
No. 1677 comes in sizes 36, 38, 40, 42, 
44, 46 and 48- 
inches bust meas¬ 
ure. 4% yards of 
40-inch material 
with % yard of 20- 
inch contrasting 
material will be 
required for size 
36. Price, 12c. 
To Order: 
Write name, ad¬ 
dress, pattern 
numbers and 
sizes clearly; en¬ 
close correct 
amount; send to 
Pattern Depart¬ 
ment, American 
Agriculturist, 461 
Fourth Ave., New 
York City. Don’t 
forget to add 10c 
for the summer 
catalogue. It is 
a mine of ideas, 
and tells you what 
clothes you need 
as well as how to make them. 
Better spring tonic is found in plenty 
of eggs, milk and greens than ever 
The 
“Pride” 
Send for 
Catalog 40 
A Modern Bathroom, $60 
Just one of onr wonderful bargains. Set rom- 
prisea a 4, 4^ or 5 foot froii piiantcled roll rim 
bath tub, one 19 inch roll rim enameled flat- 
bark lavatory, and a ayphon action, waah- 
down water closet with porrelafn tatik and 
oak post hinge seatj all china index faurefs, 
nickel-plated traps,and all nickel-platedheavy 
flttlnpR. J,M.SEIDENBEBGCO.,Inc. 
264 W. 34 St. Bet. 7ih ai d sth Ave». N.Y. C. 
Delivered toyou Free 
for 30 days trial on approval. 
Choice of 44 Styles, colors and sizes 
of famous Ranger Bicycles. Express 
prepaid, at Factory Prices. • 
save th« email monibly payments. 
And <mulpn3ent at half 
g usual prices. Write forremark- 
•able factory prices and marvelous terms, 
MoAiI Company wrn.i 
CaU D«pt. p 76 Chicago today 
RAISE SILVER FOXES 
Capital unnecessary. $5 or more a 
month will give you some highest- 
quality breeders. Investigate NOW 
our plan of unequaled co-operation. 
SILVERPLUME FOXES, Inc. 
^Box B-37. 
Keeseville, N. Y. 
VEGETABLE PLANTS 
Cauliflower. CabhaRe, 
Uruasels Sprouts, 
_ ^ Celery, Tomato, Sweet 
Potato, Kale, Egg Plant, Pepper plants. 
PI nWIiD DI AWTC Ue'phinium, Foxglove, 
rLl/TTLK iLnlNllJ Poppy, ColnmWne. Aster. 
Pansy, Salvia, Zinnia, Ver¬ 
bena and other perennial and annual flower plants. 
RFRRY PI ANT^ strawberry plants for August and 
liinlllJ planting: pot-grown and runner 
plants that will bear fruit next.summer. Raspberry 
Blackberry, Gooseberry, Currant, Grape plants, lor fall 
planting. Roses, Shrubs. Catalogue free. 
HARRY D. SQUIRES, HAMPTON BAYS, N. Y. 
[i eream separator, l 
trfod, tested, high/ 
guality separator. 
Famous for close 
'skimming, modem | 
improvements, eco¬ 
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I ■ at a price that makes 
the Galloway the world’s greatest separator 
bargain that your money can buy. 
CREAM CHECK PAYMENT PLAN 
Makes ft easy to own a Galloway. Oiff . 
terms spit your poeketbook, onr spe- ^ 
elal offer permits you to try ft before^ 
you buy It, Write today. 
Sniliam Galloway Co., Oapt. 343, Waterloo, Iowa 
1400 Fruit Trees on 
128-acre Farm with Growing Crops. Horses, cow, brood 
sow-, IIX) poultry, vehicles ; on improved road at edge vii-, 
luge; city markets; 90 acres rich level bottomland for 
variety choice crops, 25-cow, brook-watered pasture, esti¬ 
mated 800 dords wood. 1400 apple trees, .50 pears, grapes, 
berries; good 2-story, I-room house, porches, fiO-ft. barn, 
garage, poultry houses. To settle now $K,500 takes all, 
less than half ca,sh. Details page 87 Ulus. Catalog Bar¬ 
gains—many States. Copy free. STROUT FARM AGENCY, 
150R Nassau Street, New York City. 
c non nnft cabbage, cauliflower, 
J,UUU,UUU BRUSSELS SPROUTS, CELERY PLANTS 
CABBAGE (All Varieties).$1.76 per 1000; 6000, $ 8.00 
CAULIFLOWER (Snowball).. .$4.60 per 1000; 6000, $20.00 
BRUSSELS SPROUTS.$2 6# per 1000; 6000, $12.00 
CELERY (All Varieties).$3.00 per 1000; 6000, $12.00 
Cash, vnth order. Send for J.ist of all Plants 
PAUL F. ROCHELLE. Drawer 269, MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY 
EQUIPPED DAIRY FARM S',71,To‘;;5 
l.arsre barn with 16 atanchlons ; horse barn : four hen houses; 
brooder house ; srranary and Ice house. 11-room boardinir house. 
5 minutes' walk to post ofRoe, stores, p.hurches and hiah school. 
Terms. W. D. UTTER, Agent for Greene and Albany 
County Real Estate, GREENVILLE, N. Y. 
PATENTS 
Write today for free in¬ 
struction book and 
Record of Ittvenfion 
blank. Send sketch or model for personal opinion. 
CLARENCE A. O’BRIEN. Registered Palevi Imiv- 
yer, 904 Southern Building, Washington, D. C. 
I 7 
Send No 
Money! 
The' Style, 
u • 1 i ty is 
u r © to 
\d e1iK b t 
\you. 
t spring 
“BEAUTY. 
^FITS»* 
You will «njoy 
their irlove-ftttm« 
J genuine Kid 
eather uppem. 
flrlfcted for lonff 
wear. Flexible 
leather eolea, 
A 6prfn8ry rubber 
heels. Beauty, 
On OrriVdl Quality combined’ 
ka dk ^ ^ Your friends will 
yr n O admire their (rood 
tp I *70 perfect 
I SEHO NO MONEY 
* TMtagi Pay on Arrival 
Size 
—If in doubt, send 
numbers In best 
_ shoes. Mon* 
ey oackGuaran- 
KushCoupoilM 
and Save *2°^ susr't«d 
Bradley Boston Co., Dept. IS, Boston 17, Mass. 
Rush m» pair guaranlasd Spring " 8aauf»-ms^" I RISK HOTHiRO, 
Name .. J........ 
Address...\Slge.. 
