The age-herald., 1901-12-17
SOCIETY PAYS HOMAGE
 TO MRS. WM. D. JELKS
BY ANNIE kENDRIck WALKER.

Society Is raving over Mrs. William Dorsey Jelks and certainly no woman is more accustomed to adulation and worship than Is the lovely wife of Ala bama's Governor She has always been admired and feted, and while in her dis tinctive position that she now occupies. society pays her the homage that is due a woman in the highest official circles in the State 1t is quite as much the homage that the world has always given to beautiful and gracious woman. It is said that no one who has ever met Mrs Jelks ever forgets her rare loveliness of face, and that it's charm grows upon one as the fragrance of a rose. She has the loveliest eyes like violets. and they are soulful, expressive. and there Is no one with just her smile. There is a wstful- ness about 1t that is most fascinating, and tenderness. a loveliness that is most rare No one should attempt to describe it, but no one ever forgets it's subtle sweetness
 1 Mrs. Jelks is a woman of the most charming tastes. She is always beauti- fully attired, and white suits her per 1 fectly, as it does all fiower-like women. Her favorite gowns are white or cream, and the afternoon of Mrs. Edward H. Cabaniss' recent reception for Mrs. Jelks she was all in creamy white satin, with soft chiffons and faces at her throat. Those who knew her before her marriage declare that as Alice Shorter she was 1 the brilliant tosst of society, and since her marriage her beautiful house in Flu faula has been the very center of much of the brilliant social life of the state. Governor and Mrs. Jelks have very handsome house on lower Broad street | in Eufaula, but a year or more ago they closed it and went to reside with Mrs. Jelks mother at the magnificent Shorter homestead at the summit of Col | lege Hill. It is one of the most superb old houses in the south, and sits far back from the street, the grounds being very large and ornamented with terraces. The 1 great drawing-rooms are beautifully dec- orated and the old hall is one of the handsomest of interiors, through which the light comes from stained glass win | dows. It is here where Alice Shorter was wooed and won by MT. Jelks, now Ala bamas Governor. Their marriage was celebrated in one of the drawing-rooms, now historic in Alabama events
 Governor and Mrs. Jelks have an only daughter, Miss Catherine Jelks who will enter society next winter.
 Miss Jelks will be to Alabama what Miss Alice Roosevelt is to the nation. It has been so many years since the White House has been graced by young daughter of a President that national social interest is now centered about Miss Roosevelt, who 1t is in said will re- vive the memories of Nellie Grant, who once reigned a belle where now Alice Roosevelt has come to be the idol. In Alabama, 1t has been many years since social interest has centered about young daughter of the Governor, and Miss Jelks will naturally enjoy an un- | usual social prestige and a career of un- disputed belleship.
 | Her career would draw about it even | greater historic interest If Alabama | owned an executive mansion. and 1t does seem strange that the state owns no residence where its chief executive and his family might dispense hospitality in keeping with their official position. The fact that Alabama has never pro- vided a residence for the Governors has been repeatedly discussed through sue cessive administrations. It has always been deplored, but unfortunately like many other important questions, 1t Is discussed desultorily. Under the present administration, life at the executive mansion would be characterized with unusual brilliancy, for Governor and Mrs. Jelks are very fond of entertaining, and they are both representative of all that is best in the social life of the republic.