The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-13
To Bar Miss Edna Whitney, of
ChilIicothe, Mo.
AS A MAID OF HONOR
In Attendance ON the Queen of
the Kansas City Festival.
None But "SOciety Girls" Ad-
mitted to the Charmed Circle.

/ most highly appreciated events of Carni-
| val week. 1t was cheered all along the
| line of march, cheered by many thou
| sands 1t did not confine its march 10 a
| meandering through parks, boulevards
| paseos. but moved right through the bust
! ness streets. a rainbow of color a gilt
| tering array of handsomely decorated We
| hicles filled with beautiful women, made
more beautiful by the brilliant colorings
OF the flowers of autumn which they
wore. In the thousands who saw and
cheered there were a few people who
worked-actually worked-nor did they
seem to think that the pageant was not
for them, nor did they show any lack of
appreciation.
The Queen of Flowers was one of the
most beautiful young women ever raised
in Kansas City-a talented young actress
"a woman with business occupation"
There is to be another Flower parade
this year, and it would seem that there
is not only to be a Flower parade, but
also a review of the 400-as Haverly used
to have it on the bills; 4OO-Count Them
400
The committee started out by selecting
as the Queen of the Carnival a most
beautiful and accomplished young woman,
the daughter of widow. Upon all sides
the selection of Miss Cravens was ap-
proved. 1t was then decided that each of
the towns around Kansas City should be
asked to select one maid of honor to the
Queen an invitation was sent to a num-
Der of newspapers in different towns ask
ing them to start voting contest, which
should decide who the fortunate young
woman should be-those chosen were to
be royalty entertained during Carnival
week and all their expenses paid.
The idea proved popular. One of the
first towns to start the contest was Chilli
Gothic. Here young woman-like the
Queen of the Carnival, the daughter of a
widow-seemed likely to prove the popu-
lar favorite, when a telegram was re-
ceived signed walter s. HalliweI chair
man. reading
THE business occupation of the lady is
considered a barrier
In other words, this young lady was
earning her own living and therefore
could not be maid of honor to the
Queen.
The Flower parade it is announced is
society Junction." and none but so
ciety girls must take part
You see all the girls from other towns
will be society girls and the girls from
here will be, and it would not be pleasant
to have any mixing said a member of
the executive board, whose sister is one
of the finest young women, and one of the
best saleswomen in Kansas City.
The young woman who has been insult
ed in the name of the Festival of Flowers,
is beautiful, educated and refined-how-
ever she is not rich; and it seems that
she does not come in that very particular
class known as society girls
The young woman is Miss Edna Whit
ney. A telegram from Chillicothe says:
Miss Whitney stands high in the
estimation of the people of Chillicothe
as any young lady in the city. She is
beautiful accommodated of or oil
presence and charming of personality.
Her mother is widow, and her family
has seen better days. After her father
died the young lady bravely went to
work to make her own living, and as
sist her mother in educating young
er sister. She is employed as a shader
in tobacco factory, a position which
requires great skill, good taste keen
judgment, and perfect eyesight''
Very few people are fitted for this deli
cate work. and this fact has enabled the
young woman to earn more than she
could as a stenographer, or in almost any
occupation in which women are usually
engaged. But Walter s. HalIiwell, Ward
McAllister Halliwell, acting, he says, I'M
der the direction of the committee of $50
ciety ladies' has seen fit to send tele-
gram. This telegram was written upon
vulgar yellow paper, and the envelope
did not even have bit of wax with the
imprint of a coat-of-arms upon it-but it
said
1.-The business occupation of the young
lady is considered a barrier
All sorts of excuses are now forthcom-
ing, but none has yet explained that rele-
gram.
The voting contest at Chillicothe had
just commenced. There were other young
women in the contest-young women who
had known Miss Whitney all their lives.
young women, who. it seems, would pass
the searching investigation of the COM
mittee of society ladies' and come out
society girls" girls to whom not even
Ward McAllister could object-and it
does not appear that they are at all OBJ
jected to the brave little daughter of the
widow, who, more beautiful than all of
them, could yet use her bright eyes. good
taste and nimble fingers to support her
mother and educate her sister. A tele-
gram from Chillicothe proves that there
are society girls in that city who are not
a bit caddiSh. 1t says
More than one young lady has vol
unfairly withdrawn from the contest
on account of the treatment of Miss
Whitney, and the parents of others
have peremptorily withdrawn the
names of their daughters on that ac-
count"
There is naturally great indignation in
Chillicothe over the matter, but the in
dignation in Chillicothe is not greater
than that in Kansas City. When Kansas
City gives a merry-makng it wants no
Cinderella left at home-no foot fit to
wear the crystal slipper, in the ashes. On
every hand are heard complaints against
the action of the committee.
Here is the way those responsible ex-
| plain the matter A man who has been
| foremost himself. who, in fact, Is close to