Betsy's Birthday Bash
Excerpted from a Betsy-Tacy Journal Article by Julie Chuba
"When it came time to make out the list for Betsy's birthday party,
Betsy's mother included Tacy... She invited fifteen boys and girls in all. 'I hope to
goodness it will be nice weather,' said Betsy's mother. 'Then they can play out of doors.'
" (Betsy-Tacy)
One hundred years later, more than 200 guests arrived in Mankato,
MN, ("Deep Valley") to celebrate again that special fifth birthday party, which
also became a celebration of friendship. The guests came from New York, California,
Georgia, Texas, Illinois, and all points in between! They arrived by train, plane, bus,
car, airport shuttle, and for all I know a few may have even come by way of Mr. Thumbler's
hack. Minnesota became a mecca for those on the Betsy-Tacy pilgrimage, and there were
numerous stops at B-T shrines along the path to Mankato. Friday night was
"Easter/Springtime in Deep Valley," and the tables were decorated with little
Easter baskets, cards, and favors, with the B-T fans only adding to the colorful scene
with their bower of plumed and flowered hats and pretty dresses. Upon entering the banquet
room, everyone was given an Easter egg which contained paper money and a pin to be used on
a shopping expedition in the Deep Valley "shops" set up in the room. We could
buy chocolates at Mrs. Chubbock's candy store, choose pretty lace mats, and ornaments at
Lion's Department store, dye our own Easter egg, try on hats at the milliner's shop, and
trade our pin for a tiny glass bottle of colored sand on a cord at the sand store, which
was staffed by a young trio of girls shouting, "Sand for sale!" After dinner,
things got serious with the trivia contest as avid readers tested their knowledge and
memories of their favorite books.
The next day, Saturday, was a busy one, with everyone trying to do and see as much as
possible. After a muffin-tasting breakfast, we gathered to hear the keynote speaker,
Elizabeth Riley, who had been the editor of the Betsy-Tacy books. For most people, Ms.
Riley was indeed the highlight of the entire weekend. She is a very active, intelligent,
handsome, white-haired, witty, 89 year old woman who could probably charm anyone into
reprinting those last few B-T books! Riley regaled us with anecdotes about Maud, whom she
clearly adored; Maud's illustrators, Lois Lenski and Vera Neville; and her own experiences
as a pioneering woman in the publishing world. (She was chosen by Robert Crowell, about
whom she spoke with great respect, to be the first woman to head a publishing firm.) We
learned that Riley didn't have to edit Maud's books very much, because "Delos had
gone over them with a fine-toothed comb. He had a sharp eye for character and words."
We also heard about the preparations for the publication of Betsy's Wedding in 1955. Ms.
Riley said that noted writer Esther Hautzig (author of The Endless Steppe, among other
works) begged to be allowed to be in charge of publicity and promotion of the book, as for
her "Maud was the essence of all that was good about America," and she went all
out, with a reception at the Waldorf complete with champagne and wedding cake. Invitations
were sent to all the area librarians, and they looked so much like real wedding
invitations that at least one library worker was wracking his brains trying to think of a
suitable wedding gift to bring for Betsy and Joe! The Betsy bride doll (which now lives at
the Blue Earth Historical Society) was made of paper mache, stood about four feet tall,
and wore a hand-made veil, which Esther repaired every now and then as the doll toured the
country for a few years. Riley said that "Maud was glowing from her toes to the top
of her beautiful hat," on that day, and that "Delos was very proud of Maud; in
fact, everybody was proud of everybody." The audience was absolutely captivated, and
was loathe to let Ms. Riley go. Her memories really helped to bring Maud to life for all
of us.
A fashion show followed, and we saw examples of a vintage sailor suit, a wedding dress, a
bathing suit, and a beautiful, elegant, creamy satin Henri Bendel gown (the latter
displayed on a mannequin by the gown's owner, Juanita Juarez, who dressed in appropriate
Betsy attire throughout the convention). Cheryl Harness then demonstrated the art (or
trial) of getting dressed during Betsy's time, starting out with the underwear and
progressing through corset, corset cover, bustle, petticoats (one of green taffeta), long
skirt, white blouse, jacket with leg of mutton sleeves, and a hat-all made by Cheryl
herself. We also enjoyed Anne Smisek, the "Hat Girl," who is a high school
student with a hat collection numbering around 750, dating from as far back as 1850. Anne
has won several speech competitions and gave us a sample of her hat speech, which was
delightful.
Lunch was spent either gulping the contents of your box and trying to squeeze in a visit
to the Carnegie Library or Tacy's house, or the convention shop, or, if you were a member
of the "Cyberspace Crowd," you spent your time eating at Washington Park,
peering at name tags, and finally meeting face to face the people you've been sending
email messages to for months or even years. There were many exclamations, hugs, jokes, and
photos taken, and the best I can describe it is as a reunion of people you'd never met!
Jini Lake, Maud's goddaughter, even brought her laptop computer to the park so everyone
had a chance to log in and send a message to those people unable to attend the convention,
taking them along just as Julia and Betsy took their family along by their letters home
from abroad. While all this was going on, the kids at the convention had their own special
day, meeting at Tacy's house for lunch and then an afternoon of crafts and games. They had
their pictures taken in the piano box and then made frames for the pictures, designed
birthday cards for Betsy, and returned to their families with their own grab bag of B-T
goodies. Meanwhile, the adults were attending more workshops. Participants could learn
about Mary Pickford and other silent film stars and performers (including Chauncey
Olcott); pick up a few book collecting tips from a serious collector; learn about Lois
Lenski and her illustrations; and retrace Betsy's trip abroad out into the Great World,
complete with photos and excerpts from Maud's own diaries.
When they weren't attending workshops or bidding on silent auction items, B-T fans could
be seen all over Mankato, taking bus tours, driving by Crowd member homes, trudging up the
Big Hill, sitting on the B-T bench, finally getting inside Tacy's house, gazing up at
Carney's sleeping porch, reading excerpts from Maud's "Okto Delta" minutes
(which were hilarious) at the Blue Earth Historical Society, and visiting the library to
see the little glass pitcher and mural of Maud and scenes from the B-T books. B-T fans do
not waste free time. Saturday night was the big event-Betsy's birthday party. Kelly
Reuter, Minnesota's own version of Martha Stewart, had decorated the tables with brightly
colored packages, balloons, and goodie bags which contained, among other things, a framed
picture of Maud, aged 5, with her curls still in place. There was a pink birthday cake and
ice cream, and of course we all sang "Happy Birthday" to Betsy. Entertainment
was provided by the Silver Moon Vintage Dancers, who came in full costume and who danced
the one-step, the two-step, and all those fiendishly difficult "Tib" dances
mentioned in the books.
But the highlight of the evening was the Rhetoricals, where B-T fans had a chance to strut
their stuff. And strut they did! Peter Steiner, "Cab's" grandson, was a poised
and charming host, and I was honored to start off the festivities by reading excerpts from
the birthday party chapter of Betsy-Tacy-on my own birthday, no less! What more could one
ask? The singers (or Julias) among us included Laurie Botes Zaepfel, who sang "The
Merry Widow Waltz" (from Betsy in Spite of Herself) and "Yip-I-Addy-I-Ay"
(from Betsy and Joe) with much charm and expression; young Courtney Kleinschmidt and Allie
Reuter, who yowled through the "Cat Duet" in full cat costume with red bows;
twelve year old Anne Fidler, who beautifully sang "Tonight Will Never Come
Again;" Cheryl Harness, who led a sing-along of "What a Friend We Have in
Maudie;" the Washington D.C. B-T Chapter, which sang "My Wild Irish Rose;"
and the NEWBETSYs, who sang a touching rendition of "Merry Widow" with new
lyrics written by Deb Holland. We also heard the Southern California Chapter do an
inventive "choral reading" of Maud's lyrics to "Same Old Story"
(mentioned in Betsy in Spite of Herself). Then we heard from the writers (the Betsy's),
who presented their essays: Helen Soule Mott, who gave us the unabridged "An
Adventure on Puget Sound;" Juanita Juarez, inspired by Emily of Deep Valley, read her
version of "An Awakening of a Social Consciousness;" and Elizabeth Wells
presented Betsy's own senior class oration, "The Heroines of Shakespeare."
Finally, it was time for the dancers (the Tibs). They were billed as "The Tap-Dancing
Betty Crockers" because they had discovered through their email conversations that
not only had they all won their high school's "Betty Crocker American Homemaker of
Tomorrow" award, but they all knew how to tap dance, as well. Fortunately, this crowd
had "plenty of pulchritude," so the Rhetoricals did not lack "cute, snappy
broilers" (Betsy and Joe). The hoofers included Lani Jordan, Anne Kolibaba, Carla
Kozak, Ann Reilly, K.C. Summers, and Jamie Wimble, and they brought the house down.
Sunday dawned very hot and humid, so it was a relief to head out to Murmuring Lake
(Madison Lake) for lunch at the inn. This was Frances Kenney's (Tacy) birthday, so the
decorations took on an Irish theme, with shamrocks and lots of green. At each place was a
little tin box advertising Singer Sewing Machines (which Tacy's father sold) and inside
the tin was a piece of luscious chocolate cake decorated with shamrocks or leprechaun
hats! "A day at Murmuring Lake did not have one climax; it had three: the three
superb meals." (Betsy Was a Junior). We had one of those superb meals, complete with
fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, and two desserts. After lunch we were serenaded
by our own Irish tenor, who led us in singing "My Wild Irish Rose," in
honor of Tacy.
While for many this signaled the close of the convention, a hardy group gathered that
evening at the historic Butler House Bed and Breakfast for Sunday Night Lunch. All the
fixings for a true Mr. Ray sandwich were there: homemade bread, butter, onions, salt and
pepper, vinegar, and slices of cheese and turkey, for those less than enthused about onion
sandwiches! Of course the coffee pot was on, and there was a plate of fudge which seemed
to disappear quickly. Happy B-T fans settled themselves throughout the sitting rooms,
kitchen, stairways and halls, and spilled outside onto the large open porch. Of course a
sing-along followed, with all the old songs being played until the music was interrupted
by the blaring of the tornado sirens outside. Undeterred, everyone trooped down into the
basement and continued their singing until the "all clear" was sounded!
The whole weekend was filled with fun, excitement, and joy at connecting with other people
who share the same passions and "rich inner lives" (to quote fellow B-T fan
Jessica Weissman). There were whole families who attended, along with mother-daughter
teams, grandparents and grandchildren, best friends, new friends, and a few brave spouses,
and all of them seemed to be smiling from head to toe during their sojourn in Deep Valley.
Like Betsy, I feel that I, too, was given the present of a friend - of many friends, from
all over the country - at this event.
The Betsy-Tacy Society
P.O. Box 94
Mankato MN 56002-0094
Webmaster@Betsy-TacySociety.org
Lenski/Neville art used by permission of HarperCollins
BTS logo by Cheryl Harness
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