The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-30
Miss Frances StilIweIl, Writer and Producer of LoOely Pageants
By JOSEPHINE NIXON HENLEY


 Successful achievement by any woman of the state is of deep interest to every one in Alabama, no matter in what line of endeavor she may be engaged.
 i A talented young woman. whose home is in Birmingham and who Is gidely connected throughout the
 Sate, Is Miss Frances Byrd Stillwell, who has been visiting her mother, 1 Mrs. J. W. Stiilwell, and her sisters, Miss Lyda H. Sullwell and Miss Clara Stillwell, here for several weeks.
 Miss Lyda StillwelI has hosts of friends in Birmingham and Is espe- cialiy beloved by tho little boys and girls, for she has a school for child ren just beyond the kindergarten age. These little people who are lucky enough to attend Miss Stillwelrs school take with them into the higher grades thoughts of kindness and gen. tleness with thorough grounding in elem entary work.
 Artistic Surroundings and Talent
 Miss Clara Stillwell is an artist, and during residence in St Louis gave much time to the practice of painting.
 Amid such studious and artistic surroundings 1t is not surprising that Miss Frances Stillwell possesses tAl- ents and ability to use them.
 "I graduated at the Birmin ghan high school" said she, and later went to St. Louis. where I took a . Kindergarten course and studded physical culture at tho Y. W. c. A., Syhere I became a teacher.
 Here I met Miss Nina B. Lamkin, who Is a recognised authority in physical training and in the produc- Eion of beautiful pageants. who is Inow in New York city.
 Miss Lamkin encouraged mo to go to Columbia college and take a reg . ular course in this work, which was wonderful training and delight in many ways.
 T have been engaged for several years as a teacher of physical culture . in the public schools of St. Louis. and besides this, during the chatauqua season. I travel with tho Coit-Alber 'Indeperdent Chautauqua company. Her Work with Chsutauqua Company T am going now to McComb. IL. |nnd to Shelbyviile and Meran. Ind. 'In each own at which Ire ohau- |tauqua exhibits a committee has been selected to gather together the ehil- dren for my pageant. Th<y are of
 
 Ito those of higa school. T train them during the week that i've are in the city, and on the last |evening of the chautauqua tho page |ant is produced upon our stago. T have shown pageants in . num- |ber of different cities, and with . ariety of subjects. There have been several patriotic |plays. and in 1918 I directed The Pied Piper of Hamelin' in Hunts- Iville.
 Description of Paxeantm This year I will show q Flower Garden. where Truth will show I-every child through 'Wisdom's' love lily garden The children. dressed like Lovely flowers represent thoughts of purity. gentleness and love. "Wisdom's part is always taken by some prominent man of the com- Imunity because he must give cut shs Thoughts and ideas. Truth Is represented by a high |school girl. and 1so children take hart in the play. T plan and compose my pe~y, write |the verses in which the story is told and adapt them ts snitabis music
 T also design and msks sAs sAss- |dren's costumes. which hes kept ne |very busy during my stay in Hir- |mingham.
 'They are all finished nsw. end |I am ready to leave on my tour. after