The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-06
NOTABLES IN SOCIETY
WERE ALL THERE
Fashionable Women of the Smart Set
Made Scene Beautiful in Their
Pretty Costumes.

The opening night of the festival was
characterized by the appearance of all the
notables In society. The fashionable array
of equipages whirled along the avenues and
drew up before the curbing of the auditor
ium.
Not since the Mardi Gras ball, over year
ago, when all the fashionables fiocked to
zee the queen unmask, has such a represen-
tative gathering walked through the brill
liantly lighted foyers. There were not
many late corners either. and society
demonstrated for once that 1t really cared
about the overture. The few late comers
were not allowed to be shown their chairs
during the rendition of any numbers, so
that the early arrivals heard Gournod's
Hymn to st. Cecilia" without being dis
turbed with the frou-frou of silken skirts
or the necessity of adjusting ones lorgnette
to bow to any late comers.
Distinctly Brilliant Scene
The auditorium presented a distinctly
brilliant scene and the opening night of the
festival was easily the notable event of any
season. The arrangement of the chorus
was superb. The seats rose tier after tier,
and the women wore the prettiest of sum-
mer gowns and the men were in the con-
ventional evening dress, so that they gave
the appearance of some brilliant stage
scene.
The parquet and the second and third
balcony were quite filed and first night
ers" were fully repaid, for the beauty and
brillancy of the scene has not ever. been
equaled by any public function In Bir-
mngham
Beautiful Women of Smart Set
There were a number of beautiful women
present who lent smartnesS to the occa-
sion by their elegant -toilettes.
Among the young women present was
Miss Nora Leary, of Atlanta, who is the
guest of the Shelleys. She was with Miss
Shelley's and Mr.. Carpenters party. and
wore pink and black gown. Miss Shelley
was gowned In white. Mrs. e. A. de
Funiac attracted great deal of notice, as
1t was her first appearance at public
function since her return to Birmingham
as q bride. She was looking particularly
well in a toilette of a deep shade of purple.
Miss Alta Mcmillan, of Admission, was
among the well-known young women. and
was with q charming party which includ-
ed Miss Mamie Pearson, John Pugh and
william Mabry. Mrs. Holland, Of Dam
vlle Va, was one of the notable hand
some women. She wore Frenchy toilette
of black and white.
Mr.. and Mrs Robert Jemison and Mr.,
and Mrs Rufus Rhodes were among the
early arrivals. Mrs. Jemison was very
handsome in black and white gown, and
Mrs. Rhodes wore the most beautiful of
the evening. 1t was Of pale shade of
green, with touches of black on the cor
sage.
Judge and Mrs. John c. Carmichael in
cluded in their party Miss Louise Left
wich of Florence She was notably pretty
in yellow.
Mrs. Pete B. Clarke, Miss Virginia Walk
er and Porter Walker formed party. Mrs.
Clarke was especially handsome in black
tulle gown over silk, with a pompadour
touue of yiolets. Miss Walker was girl
ishly pretty in a toilette of blue. with hat
of violets.
Miss Bertha woodward. Morton Kirke
Moore, Miss Elise Jones and DR.. Frank Ma
bers we're among the late comers. Miss
Woodward wore white and pink toilette,
and Miss Jones was in black and cerisse,
with toque of violets.
Miss Lura Brown, Miss Annie Leary
Miss Emma Leedy. Henry Fowlkes, Charles
Perry and Daniel Rogan composed another
charming party.
There were several musical coteries Of