1927-07-31 FERNBANK NEWS

THE STORY OF THE FIVE STOKEY SIBLINGS

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FERNBANK NEWS.

July 31, 1927. Woods Hole, Mass.

[page 1, column 1]

Items of Interest.

Mrs. Stokey and the Stokeylets arrived in Woods Hole, Monday, July 25, at 6:45 D.S.T.

Miss Marjorie (Billy) and Miss Doris Wilson left on the S.S. "Islander" for New York, Tuesday at 4:40, after spending two weeks in Woods Hole. They are going to buy sundry articles for their new shop before returning to their house in Philadelphia.

The Stokey estate was christened on Tuesday, July 26th. the details of the christening will be given in another part of the paper.

The Saturday Evening Picnic was held as usual, on the Stokey's favorite beach, Saturday, July 30th.

Mr. and Mrs. Sherley, Ella Sherley, Newton and John Sherley visited the Stokeys, Saturday and Sunday, July 23rd and 24th. They had a picnic at Nobska; it began to rain just as they had finished their supper and so they sat in the automobile and watched the storm.

Mrs. Van Doorn, of Milwaukee, is expected in Woods Hole, Monday evening, August 1st.

There are two vacant houses on the Mill Pond this season. Mr. and Mrs. Schramm are not in their cottage but are staying in Philadelphia this summer; they would like to rent but no one has taken the house. Miss Peebles and Miss Jeffers have gone abroad; they would like to sell their cottage.

Fernbank Cottage has a new lantern for its front porch. It is a copper lantern. It runs by electric lights. It is going to be put up as soon as the man comes to put it up.

[page 1, column 2]

Weather. Yesterday looked like a weather-breeder; it was. It was a beautiful clear day, clouding at night. It rained in the night and to-day is rainy, cloudy, and foggy - the same kind of weather which we have had by the week ever since spring.

Fire on a Boat.

Saturday, a boat burned and the owner was hurt very badly. It was by the drawbridge. It was a motor boat (according to R.P.S.); it was a motor sail-boat, according to Aunt Eva. The fire engine went to the boat (but R.P.S. says that Daddy would know this anyway) and put out the fire. Margaret and Aunt Eva saw it. When they saw it it was not burning; there was only smoke coming up from the boat.
Communicated by Roger Stokey.

Event on the Mill Pond.
Miss Kathleen Stokey and Master Roger Stokey fell in the Mill Pond yesterday about 11 o'clock in the morning. They were not hurt. Kathleen is 8 1/2 and Roger is 6 1/2. They were stepping in a rowboat when it happened. The millpond is not very deep, but dirty. They broke a little wharf.
Communicated by Kathleen Stokey

The Robin Family.
Mr. and Mrs. Robin and their three children who have been spending the early part of the summer in their charming nest in the pine tree just north of the kitchen window, have given up their nest and moved to some other region. Two of the robinlets departed early Monday morning but one left on a later breeze. Mr. and Mrs. Robin have had a strenuous season filling three enormous mouths with worms and other delicacies. One robinlet has since been seen in the neighboring pine trees.

We have seen a catbird in our front lawn; in fact, we have seen a lot of catbirds (authority of R.P.S.).

[page 2, column 1]

FERNBANK CHRISTENING.
The Stokey estate on Gardiner Road was christened Tuesday, July 26th at 4 o'clock or thereabouts. A large and fashionable audience was in attendance. At the proper moment Miss Margaret Stokey emptied a dustpan of fine sand brough from across the road and she christened the estate with the appropriate name of Fernbank. The name was selected several years ago but could not be used until the jungle was cleared sufficiently to permit the ferns to be seen. During the preceding week the Misses Wilson had struggled valiantly with the excessive herbage; Miss Billy made a specialy of exterminating the St. John's wort whose garish yellowness gave a wood-like aspect to certain areas; Miss Doris applied herself to the destruction of grapevines and blackberries with such success that many rare plants were revealed. Owing to the active part taken by the Misses Wilson in clearing out the jungle and revealing the ferns, it seemed appropriate to have the christening before they left. The christening was prepared so quickly that no one thought of refreshments, but in spite of the omission a good time was had by all.

The innovation of using sand was desirable because there was an excess of water on the grounds, owing to the excessing rains of the week.

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Kathleen and Aunt Alma collected some fairy ring mushrooms that were growing on the laboratory ground yesterday. Roger likes them. Everybody ate them. K.S.

- - -

The Stokeylets are enjoying the friendship of Master Dick and Master Theodore Clapp in Dr. C. Clapp's rowboat. M.C.S.

The living room has a new chair - a "corrective posture chair."
The dining room has a serving table.
There is a new bed in the guest room.

[page 2, column 2]

SPORTING NEWS

Billy Stokey, editor.

Stone Skipping Contest.
A stone skipping contest was held yesterday evening at the beach. The water was very smooth. The record is as follows:
Miss Stewart 10 or 11 times
Billy Stokey 9 times
Aunt Alma 8 times
Margaret 8 times
Mother 3 times
Aunt Eva 3 times
Roger 4 times
Kathleen did not try.
The stones for the contest were provided by Margaret Stokey.

- - -

Swimming Events.

Margaret and Billy swam out to the raft. The tide was moderately low. Kathleen swam out with Aunt Alma, and part of the time she swam when she was over her depth.

Swimming Under Water Contest
Members --- Billy and Kathleen Stokey.
The numbers mean the number Aunt Alma can count, coutning as fast as she can.
Thursday:
Kathleen 34
Billy 27
Friday
Kathleen: 40
Billy: 38
Saturday
Billy 50
Kathleen 40
K.S.

~~~~~~
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Swimming notes.

Margaret seems to be swimming in good form, as far as the non-experts can judge - she makes good time.
Billy puffed considerably the first day but now can swim a distance of perhaps 75 ft.
Kathleen can swim farther under water than on the water - also for a longer time.
Roger had forgotten how to keep himself up, but he worked persistently and now he can keep himself up, although his stroke is not yet in perfect form. A boy who was watching him remarked that he kept at work better than a 10 year old boy he knew.

[page 3, column 1]

The Picnic.
Saturday at 6:15 a party of eight left Fernbank on Shank's mare for the picnic beach.
Refreshments, consisting of lobster, peanut-butter, and cream cheese sandwiches, tomatoes, chocolate cake (product of Miss Stewart's labors), fruit, and pink lemonade were served promptly.
After supper stone-skipping was indulged in by all except Pickle. The weather and water conditions were unusually favorable.
Pickle collected Algae and had an "Expedition" with the results of her searches. A handsome display was made on a large rock. She pointed out various types of sea-weeds - pop-seaweeds, red seaweeds, and also green seaweeds, explaining that only by actually going out into the water could such valuable specimens be obtained. There was also a collection of shells and stones.
Roger also collected seaweeds and had an "Expedition." Billy had plans for an "Expectation" but no one saw it.

- - - -

From our Correspondents.

Mr. W.P. Stokey and his office and his office men have moved out to Ft. MacPherson and have to wear their uniforms.
K.S.

Mr. Uncle Fred will come back from Africa in less than two years.
K.S.

[page 3, column 2]

ADVERTISEMENTS.

Skipping Stones Made to Order.

Call at FERNBANK for information or at the PICNIC BEACH - at the end of the old stone wall.
Prices very low.

Margaret Stokey
Expert Stone Cutter.

For references:
Miss Dorothy Stewart
Mrs. E.S. Evans
Mrs. W.P. Stokey
Miss Alma Stokey
Master Billy Stokey

---------------
Mrs. Eva S. Evans had never been able to skip a stone until she tried Margaret Stokey's excellently made stones.
Anyone without any skill - or with - can skip stones miraculously - provided the stones came from
Margaret Stokey's Quarry.
___________

DOLL CLOUSE MADE TO ORDER
Miss Kathleen Stokey makes
Doll Dresses
and
all kinds of doll clous
___________

For reference:
Miss Margaret Clarke Stokey
Mrs. K. F. Stokey
Mrs. E. S. Evans
Miss A. Stokey
Master Roger P. Stokey
Master Billy Farmer Stokey (but he says he does not know whether they are good or not.)
____________

Have your Hair Dressed and Curled
at
Mademoiselle Marguerite Stokie's
Beauty Shoppe
Highly recommended by her Ladyship,
Eva S. Evans
PERFECTION is the mottoe.
Parlor in Fernbank Bld'g.

[page 4, column 1]

ACHIEVEMENT OF CAPTAIN CHARLES A. LINDBERGH.

Contributed by Billy Stokey.

Captain Charles A. Lindburth a few weeks ago flew across the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Paris on a non-stop flight. Lindbergh was the first man to cross the Atlantic by himself. The name of the ship was The Spirit of St. Lous. Lindbergh lives in St. Louis.
Lindbergh took 33 hours to cross. He received $25,000. He gave a great deal to the wives of tge dead fliers.

[Here there ought to be a drawing of a plane, but it's blank.]

SWEET WITH HAY
by Doris Wilson.

Alma Stokey, sweet with hay,
Rakes the algae every day,
Just look out your bedroom winders
While she hides it in the cinders.
We learn that there is nary a smell
If one hides it very well,
But if you leave it out to dry,
They say the scent runs pretty high.
And as she rakes the millpond daily
While her sister warbles gaily,
In the sunny music room,
Or in the kitchen wiedls her broom.
One is Martha, the other Mary,
One is short, the other hairy;
One we curl and one we cut,
But neigher maiden is a mut.
Both are full of brains and things,
One's a perfesser the other sings.
And all their guests are brainy girls
With straight-cut hair and permanent curls,
And when the come to the Cape, they say,
They rake the meadow sweet with hay
And pick wild roses and all that,
Crotchet, embroiade, tit and tat,
And go to swim most every day
(After the algae is raked away.)
And never chase around with men
But go to bed each night at ten.
And when the millpond's sweet with hay,
They hide the algae far away,
Beneath the brand new walk of cinders
Underneath the parlor winders.

[Here there is a rudimentary drawing of a plane.]
The "Spirit of St. Louis."

[page 4, column 2]

News Items
All the dead limbs on the pine trees have been removed by the sturdy efforts of Mr. Silva who now occupies the house which was formerly the seat of acticity of the player-piano. The large pile of pine branches is being used for firewood. It furnishes morning work for Billy. When the weather permits he works for a period to the dishwashing period.

The kitchen is the happy recipient of a new coat of paint; it is fine for the kitchen but it was rough on the painters.

All the windowsills are rejoicing in a new coat of paint; so is the bathroom. It is not likely to be painted again until Billy is old enough to do it.

Billy opened the wooden box which contained the lantern, at which A.G.S. rejoiced greatly, as previously she has to open all boxes and crates.

A wooden breakwater has been placed on the Stokey beach to protect the cinders from the dashing waves of the millpond.

Billy has constructed a temporary pier at the breakwater. (It was almost named "permanent" through a misconception or the meaning of the term.)

A shipyard has been established under the livingroom at Fernbank, on the cinders.
_____________________

MUSIC NOTES

A mixed chorus of about 35 members meets every Tuesday and Friday nights at the M.B.L. Club. The chorus rehearses after the M.B.L. Lectures, beginning at 9:15, or 9:30, or alas! even 10:00 if the lecturer persists after his hour is over. Mr. Gorikoff, a member of the Smith College faculty conducts the chorus. They are working on a dozen or more compositions, mostly Russian. E.S.E sings second alto, and A.G.S. tries to, and hopes she succeeds, but since the tenors have become lusty she can't hear herself.
It is planned to give a concert on the night of August 8th, at the Charles

[continued in page 5, column 1]

[page 5, column 1]

[continued from page 4, column 2]

R. Crane cottage.

- - - - - - -

Dr. and Mrs. Alfred Meyer of New York City hold musicales at their cottage every week.
Woods Hole is attracting more and more musicians each summer, and now has quite a musical colony. Mrs. Meyer gives a great deal of time and thought to preparing interesting programs for these musicales. Dr. and Mrs. Meyer contribute much by accompanying the singers as well as by playing duets and solos. Mrs. Eva Stokey Evans has sung each week, and her guest Miss Marjorie Wilson sang at the musicales on the nights of July 28th and 29th. E.S.E.

- - - - - -

Mrs. Meyer discovered a valuable person for the musicales in Mrs. Evans. Theh manner of her discovery is as follows: She was passing Fernbank (which at that time did not know its name) and heard sweet music floating on the breeze. As she relates when she heard the songs of von Fielitz she knew it was an artist, for no one but an artist would be singing von Fielitz, so she rushed impetuously into the house to see who was singing. She found Mrs. Evans accompanying herself and immediately offered to accompany her. She arranged for daily rehearsals with the result that Mrs. Evans has to practise every day whether she wants to or not. The results are wonderful.

Mrs. Meyer is an author but she has found to time to practice, as does her husband who is a retired physician.

--------------------

- - - - - - - - -

Daily, or almost daily rehearsals of the chorus music are held at Fernbank. A.G.S. is having especial difficulty with a Gypsy Song which goes too fast for her; she gets along better with "Oh, if Mother Volga" but has difficulty finding any time to get breath.

----------

Miss Margaret Stokey has astonished all her relatives by the improvement in her piano playing.

[page 5, column 2]

Activities in the Algal World.

Sunday being unpropitious for outside activities, owing to the frequent showers, several young persons engaged in the process of mounting algae. There were many bowls of water, large numbers of library slips, many sheets of waxed paper and many newspapers involved, as well as a pressboard belonging to Aunt Alma and a brick which Roger brought home from the picnic. Kathleen had the largest collection, being the naturalist born collector in the family. If the weather favors collecting and pressing it is likely that an extention will have to be made to the cottage to house the collections. There was an afternoon inspection of the objects in the press at the earnest solicitation of Roger. the specimens were almost as wet as when they were put to press. It is a poor drying day.

---XXXXXXXXXX---

The amount of algae on the millpond is somewhat less than last year. It is rumored that the town of Falmouth has appropriated $1500 for the betterment of the millpond. Curiosity is rife as to the use to be made of the money. It is thought that the algae is discouraged by the rain and cloudy weather.

Two clumps of swamp Mallows which set out two years ago are flourishing. They were entirely lost until the Jungaleers got in their work. Their vigorous clearing away of undesirable plants also revealed an orchid - Habenaria lacera.

Poison ivy has had a hard struggle since the Jungaleers went on their campaign. It has had to run to cover, and very little can be seen without poking into remote fastnesses.

------
Miss Margaret Stokey has shown her proficiency in candy making by making some butterscotch and fudge; they were both enthusiastically received by all present.
------
Miss Margaret Stokey saw the blue heron.

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A.G.S has finished her afghan and now anybody who wishes has the first essential for a nap. All that is needed now is time and inclination.

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