The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-10-27
THE MARSHALS' BALL.
Brilliant we Brings State Fair
to a ~CIOse-GOld Watch to Col.
MOrtOn-Elegant Souvenirs Pre-
sented by the Chief Marshal.

Capital Club marked the close of the
fair Of 1903 and it was a most brilliant
end for a brilliant week of social gaiety.
The elegant club rooms were most
beautifully adorned with palms and
potted plants, while festoons Of smilax
swung from the ivory pillars in the
matches ball room with its tints of
old rose shading into white in the
upper ceiling.
The beauty and the gallantry Of the
state joined hands amidst this scene
Of rare loneliness and the intricate
mazes of the german were woven to
the strains of sweetest music. The
women. ideal representatives of the
south's fairest daughters, possessing
all the beauty. grace and bewitchlng
charms that cast their spell over de-
voted and enduring lovers, were the
center piece for all the evenings pleas
ures. About sixty couples were on the
floor.
AS the chimes of midnight pea1ed
forth Assistant Chief Marshal w. D.
Merritt of Roxboro, escorted by AS
sistant Richards, of Raleigh and Taylor,
of Durham. marched the length of the
great hall and faced the chief mashal,
Colonel George l.. Morton, Of Whining
o n Mr.. Merritt. addressing the chief.
said:
Mr.. Chief Marshal: The curtain has
now gone dow upon the greatest air
in the history of the state and you, sir,
have played a true and faithful part.
1T has been a custom on the part of
the assistant marShals to present their
chief with some token of their regard
and esteem, and had there been no such
custom, this night would mark the be-
ginning of one. In accordance with
he wishes of my associates, those
whom o ave chosen as your aides,
1 now nave the honor and the pleasure
of presenting to you this beautiful gold
watch.
Accept it, we pray you, not so much
on account of its intrinsic value and
usefulness, but as an evidence of our
affection and admiration for you.
AS you carry it on your person may
it's gentle tickings ever remind you of
those friends whose hearts beat with
love and loyalty to you, and it wreath
face call to your emo the faces OF
he absent ones who can never forget.
May each second it records bring to
~ - 1890 'AANs 60 ON1
fondest hopes and ambitions become
he most pleasing realities.
Accept it with the full assurance
that we will even hold you, our worthy
chief, in grateful remembrance and
cherish h recollections of this occa-
sion as one of the sweetest pages in
the history of our lives"
Colonel Morton briefly responded, de-
olarinU that fhis ne hie ha nniact mn
ment of the many h]appyhours he
lac enjoyed in Raleigh this week. He
spoke of the brilliant success Of this
state fair and fervently thanked his
marshaIs for the assistance they had
given him, declaring that whatsoever
credit there was belonged to them. Colo
mel Morton also banked the Capital
Club for the use of the hall and its cour-
teSieS and closed with a glowing and
eloquent tribute to the beautiful ladies
of supreme joy
The gift of the marshalS to their
worthy and excellent chief was a mag
nificent gold wath, on n side of which
was engraved Colonel Morton's mono
gram and on the other 1903, while On
the inside of the case was George l..
AhOI lOu, SIiltl -htISHdl, Sldlc al ol
his aides"
Shortly following this presentation
the marShals marched forth in the
german with their fair companions and
bestowed their regalias. Chief Marshal
Morton led and handed his regalia to
Miss Hal Newton, a beautiful daughter
of New Bern. President j. A. Long
gave his regalia to Mrs. B. F. Mebane
of Spray. The other presentations were
DR.. Ferebee to Miss Rosa Battle, Mr..
Dockery to Miss Mary Johnson, Mr..
Jenkins to Miss Clark, of Tarboro, Mr..
Richards to Miss Dockery, Mr.. Johnson,
of Burlington to Miss Mary Barbee,
Mr.. Knight, of Lawrence to Miss Lon
don. of Pittsboro, Mr.. Harris to Miss
MacRae, of Chapel Hill, Mr.. Metts, Of
Wilmington to Miss Kenan, of Balti-
more, Mr.. Grady, Of Wilmington, to
Miss Annie Hinsdale, Mr.. Taylor, to
Miss Rem, Mr.. J.. c. Dockery to Miss
West, Mr.. c.. w. Harris to Miss Will
liams. Mr.. Perkins to Miss Tayloe.
The chief marshal then presented to
each of the fair ladies at the ball a
lovely souvenir of the occasion. These
souvenirs We're by far the handsornest
ever given at any ball in this state.
They consisted of ans and hat pins.
The ivory fans were of silk null, hand
painted, with the words: "Marshal's
Ball. State Fair. 1903 The souvenir
pins were two sterling silver hat pins
in regular golf bag with "Marshals' Ball
State Fair, 1903" burnt in the bag.
All these unique and elegant souvenirs
were purchased by the chief marshal
through H. Mahler's sons of this city.
The dancing began at II o'clock and
lasted until 100. The first dance vas
lead by the gallant chief with the beau
tiful Miss Newton, of New Bern. The
german was led by Mr.. w. W.. Richards
with Miss Dockery. assisted by Mr..
Armistead Cowan.-Raleigh Post.