The age-herald., 1898-02-23
MIR. PORTER KING
 MISS MARTIN QUEEN. Met Their Loyal Subjects at the
 Auditorium IN THE GRAND CARNIVAL BALL Where Beauty and Chiva1ry Regned-Masks Off at Midnight = Duke Evans, Lord High
 Chancellor, Leads March With
 North Carolina Princess.
IN THE GRAND CARNIVAL BALL

Miss Susie Martin was queen and Mr. Bert Porter was king. The unmasking took place promptly at midnight.
 The climax of the Mardd Gras season,
 the grand carnival bah, was a brilliant
 magnificent success. What with fhe git-
 ter of tinsel, the flash of electric lights
 the wealth of Oriental color-ing. and the
 hundreds of maskers there seemed nothing
 left to be desired in a carnival sense.
 The vast auditorium, with its capacity to
 seat 4.5O0 was filled with a great, eager
 throng, which had been gathering for
 hours. On the lower floor in the gallery,
 at every turn there were representative
 citzens fascinated with the gay scene
 which was being enacted on the floor below.
 Alt the end of the great hall the Mardi Gras colors were Iavishly displayed and formed an effective background for the royal party while on the sides of the build ing around the dress circte there were green, yellow and purple draperies. Large Crowd
 The crowd was beginning to grow im- patient when the blast of the bugle at 10:45 announced the arrival of the king and his suite. From the door to the right of the stage the king, queen, maids of honor and
 lords in waiting came, preceded by the court jester.
 The royal party after marching several times around the hall assumed positions
 around the throne, and danced the quad rille after which Rex and his queen ascended their thrones and witnessed the grand march.
 In the line were several hundred mask CTS in every conceivable costume, from the courtier and grand Turk to the dainty milk maid, and bewitching maidens and maitrons in handsome evening gowns, with small masques to hide their boveliness. The Mayor Leads the March The march was led by Hon. Frank V. Evans and Miss Carrie May Wilder, or North Carolina After the march the dancing became general and a gayer brighter scene, could not be imagined than this interIningIing of brilliant color and gorgeous gowns. At the height of the res tiyities there were no less than 800 dancers on the floor, and even New Orleans and Mobile have not excelled Birmingham Tn size, character and success of their carni- val balls.
 Masks Taken Of
 At madrdght the masques were removed and the identity of the king, queen and maids of honor became known. AS had
 been conjectured by many, MT. Burt Por-
 ter was king of the carnival, and one of
 Blrningham's youngest and loveliest befles, Miss Susie Martin. was discovered to be the queen. Her maids of honor were
 Misses Virginia Walker, Anna Morrow and
 Daisy Moody, attendants beautiful enough for any court in amy land.
 The Royal Pair
 The kings costume was elegant and elaborate and was of white satin and crimson velvet. with robe of crimson velvet The queens toilette was of white
 satin, and was fashioned decolfette, with an extensive train of white satin, lined
 with pink satin. and trimmed with ermne Her crown was of jewels, and she wore her honors with regal dignity. The gowns of the maids of ihonor were of white or ean1ie. over white silk, and trimmed with lace. ,.. In the royal party were Mrs. A. C. Heck- Ming the first Mardi Gras queen, in amber satin trimmed dn black velvet and gold. and Miss Momie Terrell the queen of last Mardi Gras. Miss Terrell wore a gown of white mpusseline de soire, over Wnaee satin and she carried bunch of wuate and pink roses. 4.a lrinor and queen, the maids of honor, Misfses 8 Morrow. Moody ard Walker. Miss Momae Terrell Miss Dangaix, Miss McCroSan'
 Mrs. 'Reckling, and Messrs. B. M Ahen'
 win SchiEdnger, E. J. McCrossin and Fred
 BOwron- ,.,,. x,,os
 am important and conspicuous figure m
 last nights success u
 Rirrningham society was out in full force
 .. tho carnival ball, and gave it's sanction
 +o this crowninfy event of the Marm Gfas
 season. while the various cities Of AlaDama
 furnished charming representaulVes uo uiiis
 brilliant and gorgeous function. IL was
 long past midnight when the revelry ceaseu'
 and the carnival ball of lSSS became peau
 tifui and fascinating memory
 t#a The Festivities Yesterday
 The maskers were abroad early. In tact' ,,,nv of them were up the entire night.
 rhose who did go to bed left early calls ard were soon on the streets. The crowd of the previous day was augmented Dy those who had caught the inspiration or the hour and gave way to merry-making unreserved.
 season the sun shone bright and clear, giv- ing an air of festivity to the scene, which was lacking Monday.
 E The sightscers mingled with the maskers and joined in the sport. Pretty girls with an abundance of the royal colors flying In streamers from their hats, or gracefully pinned to their wraps, were to be seen in wonderful numbers going here and there, filling the air with merry peals of laughter:
 There were those who had worshdpped too freely at the shrine of Baccus, but they were good natured and orderly. Some of them required the entire sidewalk to navigate. but they were jostled along in the crowd.
 The trains coming into the city were ladened with visitors, and by 2So'clock the crowd was larger than the day before AL most every street in the business portion was crowded to the car tracks. The re- view stands that had been erected by enter prising speculators. were filled to the last row of seats on the upperrnost tiers.
 Many thought there would be an after noon rarade. In fact it was the general impression. This report reached the ear of President Lesser, of the Carnival Society, and while no parade had been advertised or announced. in order not to disappoint the people MT. Lesser engaged band and