Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-06-14

Holds Tenth
Anniversary
Especial to The Herald.l

HARLINGEN June Is. - Ten
years ago, the Rural Club women
In both Cameron and Hidalgo
counties were thrilled with the in
apguration Of the Encampment, for
Home Demonstration women.
ts{was held in the old hotel at Santa
Maria in charge OF Mrs. Guppy
and her sister. Both were untiring
In their efforts TO make every one
comfortable.
Miss Myrtle Lovelace was the
Home Demonstration agent at that
Time, and 1t was her idea and
through her efforts, that that pri-
NAL meeting was such a success
and II has still continued to be the
nigh light Of the year.
It was no small task to transport
the necessary food and bedding
down to Santa Maria. There we're
no well known roads, and lots OF
sand and several OF the visitors
lost their way, but p~ersevered until
they arrived. They carried provi-
sions and food, also bedding and
pillows, plate, cup knife, fork and
spoon. They cooked their w meals
had programs, put on some Of the
clevereSt stunts each night and
enjoyed every minute.
Miss Bonnie Campbell, Of the A.
d. M. Extension Service was pres
ent, and two other agents.
Pictures Of that group were taken
by Miss Lovelace and Miss Camp
bell and were exhibited by Miss
Campbell at the recent meeting.
The picture shows the guests array
ed in shirt waists and long skirts
and sailor effect hats. Miss Camp
bell and Mrs. /. G. Webb were the
only ones present in this encamp-
mert, that attended the pioneer
meeting.
Another meeting was held the
next year. at the same place. with
the same condition. except that
there were more in attendance. Both
Of the counties attending and new
rural clubs forming.
In the following years, meetings
were held at McAllen. az Llano
Grande clubhouse, at Sharyland. at
Rio Hondo at Stuart Place, with
Miss Adele Hill, Mrs. Jewell and
Miss Dorothy Porter being present.
The latter has been successful in
raising the standard OF the Home
Denomination work from its rapidly
increasing efficiency 70 a still
higher degree.
Miss Campbell said that two years
ago the 25th anniversary of the
extension service vas celebrated In
Houston in a fitting manner.
p.i903, at Terrell, Texas, this
ide4 Of extension service started,
vefN strange to relate in the far vi
sionkd mind OF a man. Simon
knapp. now 20 years old. The first
work started with girls in 1919,
after the passing Of the Smith bill
for adequate funds for carrying on
the work for the extension car
ming. The organization was launch
ed in 1912 when there were II Home
Demonstration clubs in Texas.
Miss Edna Trigg was an instructor
In the first work. called the Horse
and Buggy Stage" as that was the
common mode Of going about the
country.
Then Standardization Of pro-
ducts was i-naugurated, and next a
marketing system was started.
The work then spread to Home
improvement and by 1915, the work
was spreading over the state. In
1918 there were As or so demon
stration agents. In 1921. there were
123 agents. $4,000 women members,
and 20 members in the staff or
promoters.
With the additional comforts
brought into the rural home life.
and the different outlook on life
that IL has brought TO these cap
able. ambitions farmers families IL
has indeed \Tou@it a wonderful
change in their homes. This splen-
did vision OF the future ~foreseen by
the keen mentality OF Simon Knapp
and his brother. Bradford Knapp.
is being fulfilled to the extent OF
the greatest imagination.
In hundreds Of rural homes,
food Is conserved. the latest inn
provements in sewing. beautifica-
ton OF house and y.rd and a wide
ming of a-caaaTltance is 10 be seen.
also adding TO the family larder and
often sums 10 keep out the living
expenses. Most OF all il seems the
women acquire Doise and knowledge
OF the world around them.