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Mrs. Jessica Ford ReynoldsRS. JESSICA FORD REYNOLDS, wif* of Stephen Marion Reynolds, was notborn here in the physical sense, but►sh,p had a new birth, an awakening' in this citv some Years after coming to% ft.Terre Haute. She is a native of Titusville, Pa. Her early experiences were very much like those of other girls who are surrounded by comforts and possess a. fondness for society. She came west twenty-five years ago when her husband was engaged to superintend the boring of wells during the excitement about oil jn this vicinity. He was regarded as an expert on oil affairs, having been interested in the Standard Oil Pennsylvania fields.The love of beauty has been a passion with Mrs. Reynolds. An anecdote is told of her being found in a village church under construction, sitting looking in wrapped admiration at the soft tones of the interior.Her love of beauty has extended beyond nature, face, form, dress and household furnishings into the broad realm of beauty in the lives of all humanity. She had friends, members of churches who receive spiritual sustenance from the church, but she never could have the same experience. The churches to her did not seem to be getting anywhere and she found it impossible to believe the doctrines required of a church member. While she was passing through a period ofdeep unrest she attend -ofisined a socialist meeting nd heard an address on ihe tenets lt;of this faith that caused a change in her outlook life, quite like what called a conversion the churches. The overhanging clouds dis-*persed and the heavens again became clear and beautiful in her possession of this new found faith. She determined then and there to exert every energy of hermind and heart towards bringing about this transformation, whichshe firmly believes will regenerate not the world, for it was pronounced good by its Maker, but humanity.No one realizes more fully than Mrs. Reynolds the unpopularity of socialistic doctrines as superficially known. She has experienced the bitterness of accusation of insincerity and envy, and of being misunderstood by those whose opinions she values. The constant reiteration that socialists hate the rich has been one that hurt. She affirms that this is not the attitude of the socialist. Lt is not wealth, nor those who are acquiring it that are being attacked. The system that makes multi-millionaires and paupers;1CANDY IS CANDY,ALL OVER THE WORLDO ill- ♦ 1-4 /*» /n1the unscientific, unchristian distribution of the resources of mother earth is held to be the source of evils by those of Mrs. Reynolds’ belief.Ten Years in Advance of the Times,Ten years ago Mrs. Reynolds adopted a style of dress now the accepted fashion of the day. She has ever been the apostle of flowing lines in garments without padding, stiff whalebones, shackled neck, arms or limbs. She has designed blouses and opera wraps which have been pronounced artistic by authorities. What was once thought an indecent suggestion of tlxe figure in women’s dresses are now worn by the most modest women. Mrs. Reynolds always Yaeld that since human beings were created in the image of God it was a false modesty that required women to wear numerous, full heavy skirts to obscure the fact that they' had limbs and feet. She has lived to see her theories in this regard become facts. It is not probable modistes* will ever again be able to get women to wear six and seven stiff, full white petticoats, stays in heavy waists stuffed with padding to give every woman the same sized bust and a stereotyped “model figure.”For twenty years the Reynolds family lived on South Sixth. Mrs. Reynolds named their house “Patch Work Palace.” There they' attracted men and women of literary and artistic taste in advanced channels of thought who were offered a hospitality exemplifying the simple life. They have morethan three hundred letters from distinguished persons written after going home from being their guests. They have also a house book in which are original sentiments written by These talented peoptfa which f’cnishes entertaining reading, and may some day be of rare value.The Reynolds home on South Sixth is rented now. Their only son, Ford Reynolds, is married and keeping house. Their talented daughter, Miss Marion, isstudying at the Chicago Art Institute to be a cartoonist and illustrator. She expects soon to be self supporting in a work which gives her delight. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds are Jiving* up stairs over a plumber's shop on Ohio street in a building that they owl. It is a. combination office and dwelling with artistic touches in furnishings, without which Mrs. Reynolds could not exist any more than a plant can live without sunshine. Trie tiny court iri the rear of thebuilding has been relieved of its unsightliness bytothe planting of flowers and vines. An upstairs commodious rear porch is made into a living and sleeping apartment. The ugliness of the back premises of the store rooms is concealed by soft green porch shades kept at half mast. One lying on a couch there can see the blue of the hi teems by day and the stars by night. Neighboring dwellers hay# -caught the spirit of this beautifying of surroundings and have asked Mrs. Reynolds to plan a porch for them and are planting flowers in their tiny courts. However, the Reynolds' only expect to make this a transient abode when in the city. Thel are both devoting their time to disseminate the tenets of socialism.socialism.♦Eugene V. Debs in a letter says: “I am so glad to see Mrs. Reynolds’ splendid article in the current Social Advance. That is where she belongs, in the columns of the socialist prlt; ss and the field of social agitation. She 1ms so much superb ability as a writer that all comrades should have- flic privilege of sharing in her inspiration.”
Newspaper Details
Terre Haute Saturday Spectator
Terre Haute, Indiana, US
Sat, Jun 08, 1912
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
IN, USA 19 Jul 2020
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