New Britain herald., 1929-08-23
She Once Clung to Apron Strings But
 Now Makes All Kinds of Dresses


 is Kansas City woman who has sewn up a million dollars!
 Her success story also reveals a trusting husband who tied his say- ings onto his wife apron strings. For Nell Donnelly, now manufactur- CT of all types of women's clothes, started her business by making gay, the old-fashioned early 1so0's when women usually wore long skirts, dressing sacques, kid curriers' and boudoir caps around the house. It was her husbands savings that bought her her start.
 Nell had left the farm in Par sons Kansas. to work and save for college. Instead she fell in love with Paul Donnelly who sat across the boarding house table from her. She was just IT when she got married and without knowing 1t, got her college course as well. For her new husband was feminist almost be- fore the word was coined and saw no reason why his girl-bride should miss college just because she loved him. Together they saved and Nell matrculated and eventually got her college degree, in time when 1t was slightly scandalous for married wo- men to go to college.
 That "Narried" Look Upon graduation, moving into | little bungalow in the suburbs of Kansas City. Nell said emphaticaIly to her husband, Tt is awfully nice to be your wife, dear, but do I really have to look as married as my neighbors do in their faded and | frumpy house clothes?"
 II hope not" was lis answer. So Nell started out 10 buy herself a few pretty printed frocks and apror }, to make dishwashing a lit- tie more entertaining and to give zest to cooking. scrubbing. washing and bed making.
 But she could not find them! House dresses on the market for women 25 years ago were as unin- spired, drab and il-fating as pris- oil "idppciS IlI(ll lIty NdSuSlS resembled.
 Nell refused to buy them. bought herself some remhants, cut her own patterns on the parlor floor aGd made some original. flashing looking little frocks. a pink chambray with white rdffles, green print with iaven- der touches and a stunning orange one that almost made it an adven- ture to hang out the clothes and shock her neighbors at her frivolous appearance.
 A Prctt! Ambition 'T remember protesting to the criticism of one older woman that I intended 10 look pretty always, work Or TO work" Mrs. Donnelly laughed at the little girl-wife she then was She replied rather frieidly that I would learn" Mrs. Donnclly did. She learned the next Christmas when she sent friends some similar house frocks for gifts and they liked them SC much they urged her to go mo business and gave orders for cop,es. She discussed it with her husband, told him her idea of selling her dresses 10 stores and he urged her to go ahead. Then she spent day going the rounds showing her sam- pies and came home with orders. he gave her the family savings to buy q power machine, hire helpers and l the attic of their home was her first | factory. and her husband enlisted. She car | ricd on, what with Hoover aprons and Red Cross uniforms, In addi- ! tion to her own lines, she built up such a big business sne had 10 move , into a huge factory.
 A Fine Welcome
 The day Paul Donnclly came back, , after the Armistice, Nelly Don, as her friends all call her. showed her husband a list of orders she herself had placed amounting to years business of quarter of a million dollars. The business was hum ming so fast that he took over the sales end while Mrs. Donnelly bought materials designed dresses and managed.
 With increaing beauty in women - apparel, Mrs. Donnelly sought out new fabrics, new styles, new lines. Hnr frocks began 10 come out of the kitchen and out the front door to the country clubs, sports and visit ing Low she makes a tremendous variety of clothes, in nnumerable colors, patterns and styles. , Has Confidence in Others
 She now has two other women associated with her in business: Mrs. D. D. Mackay who goes all over Europe and America picking fab rics and designs and Miss Mona Ryan who is sales representative In New York and other eastern cities. For Mrs. Donnelly has trem endous confidence in other women's suc- cesses, too.
 Another thing for which Mrs. Donnelly deserves a word of praise. Kind friends advised her to get a Fifth Avenue, N. Y, address for her house trocls, thinking it would be advantageous for their style value.
 My answer to them all has been. Kansas City bought my dresses am Kansas City makes them I could not think of having them appear in disguise. They are midwest prod lets. proud of it and ready to chal- lenge Paris frocks, let alone New | York;"
 Talks roG2