Name/Title
Aug 30, 1912 Historic Pageant in Honor of Sarah WellsEntry/Object ID
000431Tags
Bull Pageant, Bull Picnic, Sarah WellsScope and Content
[Left Column Article]
HISTORIC PAGEANT IN HONOR OF SARAH WELLS
(Continued from first page.)
bute to Sarah Wells,” written by Mrs. William H. Bull, who also arranged the musical numbers that were given so effectively during the Pageant. The solo by Miss Mills, the greeting by Willard R. Bull, the addresses by William R. Bull and the Rev. W. A. Eisenhart were given as arranged for in the artistic programs that were distributed to the guests. Space does not permit a full review, but they will doubtless be printed later as well as the names of all those taking part in the pageant, and those who contributed financially.
Many kind words were given that were not expected. Judge William Bull read a letter from President Taft expressing his appreciation of the invitation and voicing his regret at not being able to be present, and preceding the business meeting Jesse Durland gave an inspiring address.
The procession to the tables was led by the host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Ebenezer Bull, of the old Stone House, who were untiring in their services and courtesy and who gave hearty welcome to all to enter their historic home, the mecca of the Bull family. Too much praise cannot be given to the committee, especially Harry Bull, the president, Mrs. Susan Howell and Miss Margaret Cocks, and all who worked so faithfully and were rewarded by the successful day and the congratulations of the guests who came from such distant places, and represented so many branches of the family tree. The register contained the autographs of many people of prominence from near and far, including Mr. Zabriskie, of Hackensack; Editor Haines, of the Honesdale, Pa., Independent; Judge Seeger, of Newburgh; Mr. and Mrs. DeMott and Miss Smith, of Ralston, N. J.; Worthington Whitehouse, of New York City; W. J. Leddell, wife and daughter, of Summit, N. J.; Hon. Henry Seacord, of Washingtonville; Cadet H. N. Bull, of West Point; Prof. and Mrs. Moore, of Colgate University, and hundreds of others.
The loan exhibition contained some priceless heirlooms—rare old china, lace and embroidery made by Sarah Wells; a belt obtained by Peter Bull from the Indians by a gift of tobacco, the rare old paper written the day of Sarah Wells’s funeral, containing a list of her children and grandchildren, samplers, exquisitely worked, rare old paintings, silhouettes and engravings, silver and linen, Indian relics, the wedding slipper of Sarah Wells’s daughter, Margaret, with the high heel (and yet the speaker of the day spoke of the foolishness of the modern woman who wore high heels), the wedding gloves of another daughter—made by hand of the softest kid and reaching to the shoulder, the wedding ring of another daughter and books with quaint inscriptions, while the Stone House itself is the best of all the heirlooms, the enduring work of our ancestors—where we hope to meet again to sing together the “Tribute to Sarah Wells.”
[Right Column Poem]
Our kindred ’tis of thee,
Fair maid of destiny,
Of thee we sing.
’Twas Sara Wells by name,
To Orange County came,
Ne’er dreaming her future name
Abroad should ring.
Dense thro’ these woods and drear
She faltered not through fear,
Did well her part.
How Nature wrought her spell,
Lies not with us to tell,
On the resultant facts we dwell,
Of Cupid’s art.
She married William Bull,
Whose heart and head were full
Of Life’s great plan.
Strong, sturdy, staunch was he,
Skilled hand in masonry,
Proud of his ancestry,
Old English clan.
They labored, loved and gained,
A homestead, still retained,
With sacred thought.
See, there the structure stands,
Built by their able hands,
Stones from the surrounding lands,
In her apron brought.
Now may we emulate,
Each worthy deed and trait,
When duty calls.
So that our progeny,
Of us as proud may be,
When they are relating history,
Ere life’s curtain falls.
At the business meeting the following officers were elected for the coming year:
President—Harry Bull, of Hamptonburgh.
Secretary—Whitfield H. Bull, of Washingtonville.
Treasurer—Jesse Bull, of Oxford Depot.