Book review shared at club meeting

Janice Woods Windle's book, "True Women," came to life at the recent meeting of the Oran Milo Roberts Chapter of Daughters of the Republic of Texas, as Gladys Dickison briefly reviewed the book along with her participation in filming of the book for television.

The book fictionalizes the Runaway Scrape following the fall of the Alamo.

Women and children showed grit, determination and courage as they fled from the grip of Santa Ana and his army moving across Texas. Several DRT members had relatives who actually participated in the Runaway Scrape.

Mrs. Dickison also described the long, hard hours the cast spent during filming. Their days began very early and ran late. From getting into costume, reporting to the set, walking miles and miles, then getting out of costume again and traveling some 30 minutes into Austin where they were housed.

The Lampasan played the part of one of the wives -- or widows -- with children and led a prayer meeting. Though many of her scenes ended up on the cuttingroom floor, she said she takes pleasure in the fact that she was chosen to experience such an interesting activity.

To enhance her presentation, Mrs. Dickison was dressed in clothing her character would have worn, and she showed pictures and memorabilia on a poster board.

President Judy Smith presided over the meeting. She thanked those who manned the booth at Bloomin' Fest, and meeting cohostesses Carol Davis and Linda Floerke.

Mrs. Smith also reported on the status of the floor work in the absence of Carol Wright, chairman of the Hostess House Committee. A couple of new bids were received, and the cost could be about $6,000 to do the upstairs floors, and almost $3,600 to do the downstairs. The condition of the posts also was discussed.

The state convention is set in Tyler in May, and the district meeting will be in Waco in August.

Diane Davis reported on the monthly meeting she and a handful of other members attended in San Saba. A speaker discussed the Hoo Doo Wars of Mason County, which also involved San Saba.

Next meeting is Monday at the Hostess House. Hostesses will be Susan Browder, Charlene Nash, Alice Rush and Diane Davis.

Fourth- and seventh-graders who entered the essay writing contest, and their parents, will be guests. Subject for fourth-graders was "The Austins of Texas," while seventh graders wrote about "Texas Rangers."