Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-08
TOURISTS ENLWEN
HOOVER HOME SITE
Modest Iowa Quaker Town
Stirred by Question of
Sabbath Breaking.
Iiy Consolidated Press.

by Consolidated Press.
WEST BRANCH, Iowa, July T.
With tourists pouring in from all over
the country, a great change has come
over West Branch. the little Quaker
Village where Herbert Hoover was born
Ways of the modern world. even unto
vanity and commercialisnl, like the SER
pent that entered Eden, are Subtly max
ing themselves felt along sunny and
peaceful main street and in the resi-
dence section where children play IL,
shady yards and housewives exchange
greetings over bright flower beds or un-
der loaded fruit trees.
There's the question of Sabbath
breaking, which for the first time in
the history of the village Is affordins
yrave concern and much diScuSSicn, Be-
fore Hoover'S nomination West Branch
knew naught but sober seclusion with
the clear peal of church bells. Some OF
the women attending the Friends
Church, of which Mr.. Hoover's father
and mother were members, still wear
the gray Quaker dress with bonnet and
kerchief There are no motion picture
theaters In town to even raise the ques-
ton of Sunday closing.
Tourists Change Routine.
Now all Is changed Sunday is the
biggest day of the week for tourists who
come from far and near to see the
humble little cottage where the Repuh-
lican presidential nominee was born.
Motherly Mrs Scellars, who has lived
in the same house for 40 years, simply
cannot get her cooking done BECAUSE OF
people crowdtng in at all hours of the
day to view the room In which Herbert
Hoover first saw light.
Unfortunately. that room now is Mrs
Scellars' kitchen So far she has re-
fused to charge admission to the house
but she did yield. with many misgiv-
ings. to the plea of the Commercial
Club that she sell refreshments on Sun
days So a booth has been erected
beside a flag in front of the house, and
the gurgle of pop bottles now joins the
soothing murmur of WapSononoc Creek
which runs close by.
Keeps Guest Book.
Within three days following the
Hoover nomination scores of people had
registered in the guest book on Mrs
Sceilars' front porch News that Hoover
will make his second campaign speech
In West Branch Immediately after his
California notification has given still
further impetus to the energy which
has struck the placid old town.
The Commercial Club, In spite Of
Quaker ancestry, Is very much alive to
its opportunity. and Is leaving nothing
undone to make the affair memoir
able one. The speech will probably be
made on the big athletic field back OF
the West Branch schoolhouse. A COM
mittee of citizens has offered to rent
Mrs. Scellars' home to turn 1t over Ia
SightSeers.
But where on earth would I go?'
asks Mrs. Scellars. II think they ars
working little bit too fast. I am going
to wait and see If he is elected before
l move"
To suggestions that she give up hei
kitchen. let them rope 1t off and install
a bed to resemble the one in which
Hoover was born she is also adamant.
Teacher in Spotlight.
Molly Carren, Mr.. Hoover's former
school teacher, was interviewed II
times and photographer IL times the
day after his nomination and for q
while the good little Quaker lady how
cred perilousiy on edge of temptation
OF having her hair waved. but it ended
In Mrs Carran turning down reporters
because she was too busy getting ready
to entertain her Sunday school class
While reporters fumed and fretted, the
elderly ladies of the Sunday school class
we're enjoying Ice cream and cake and
as a LEGAL paper reported it." very
pleasant afternoon was had with sew
ing and chat"
But it was more than that. 1t was a
victory for the church In the first round
with worldly things. such as vanity and
fame. Had 1t been only a question OF
helping Herbert Hoover, Mrs. Carron
would not have hesitated but to her
dismay she discovered that the element
of vanity was entering into the affair
so she dismissed reporters and turned
to more unworldly persons.
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