some years, and afterwards moved to New York, where he died, while Mrs Pond was quite young. The family then went to Middletown, Conn., and finally became permanent residents of Boston. It
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NELLA BROWN POND.
was there Mrs. Pond's natural dramatic talent became known to a few friends, who induced her to become a member of the Park Dramatic Company, an amateur organization of great excellence. She appeared for the first time as Margaret Elmore in "Love's Sacrifice " and achieved an instantaneous success. She remained with the company during that season, and her great dramatic talent secured for her a widespread popularity and won recognition from prominent professionals. She received numerous flattering offers from managers of leading metropolitan theaters, but refused them all, having conscientious scruples against going on the stage. Mrs. Thomas Barry, then leading lady of the Boston Theater, became greatly interested in her and advised that she appear upon the lyceum platform as a reader, prophesying that she would soon become celebrated. Through Mrs. Barry's exertions an engagement was effected with the Redpath Lyceum Bureau, and Mrs. Pond at once assumed a position and gained a popularity which successive seasons have only served to intensify. In 1880 she became the wife of Ozias W. Pond, of Boston, the well-known manager of musical and literary celebrities. Her husband died in February, 1892. Her home is
in Boston, Mass.
POOLE, Mrs. Hester Martha, author, artist and critic, was born in western Vermont, about 1843. Her maiden name was Hester M. Hunt.
She inherited poetical and literary tastes, which were developed; by study and travel. At an early age she wrote poems and stories, which were often published.
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HESTER MARTHA POOLE.
After she became the wife of C. O. Poole, and while taking an extended tour through Europe, she furnished a series of letters to daily papers in New York City, in which was begun her first regular contributions to the press. Interrupted for some time by domestic duties, her contributions were resumed in the "Continent" and "Manhattan" magazines. Those consisted chiefly of illustrated articles upon the arts of decoration, and have been followed in various publications by a large number of critical and descriptive essays upon those and similar topics. Her series of articles applied to the house has appeared in the "Home Maker." another in "Good Housekeeping," and a large number of her illustrated articles appeared from time to time in the " Decorator and Furnisher" of New York. In them have been furnished original schemes for house decoration, which have been widely copied. Another series, "From Attic to Cellar," was furnished to the " Home Magazine," and a still longer series. "The Philosophy of Living," was contributed by Mrs. Poole to "Good Housekeeping." In spite of her fondness for art, all her tastes incline her rather to studies of a nature purely literary, ethical or reformatory. Upon one or another of those topics she has frequently given conversations or lectures in drawing-rooms In those fields also her papers have found
acceptance with the "Chautauquan," the "Arena." the "Union Signal," the "Ladies' Home Journal" and many others. During several years she edited with success a column upon "Woman and the Household" in a weekly newspaper of a high character, and also wrote leading editorials for journals on ethics and reform. Her last book, entitled "Fruits and How to Use Them" (New York, 1891), is unique and has attained a large circulation. Mrs. Poole is known as an enthusiastic worker and advocate for the advancement of women, with their higher education. She has been almost from the beginning an officer of Sorosis. is a member of the New York Woman's Press Club, and believes that the progress of humanity depends upon the unfolding of a noble womanhood. Some of Mrs. Poole's
