The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-11-03
MRS. BELLS RECEPTION.

| beauty, flashing smiles, cordial greet
ings, music and laughter, pretty cos
tunes intermingled with the bravery
/ of gold braid and shoulder straps APP
peared the component parts of a bril-
liant scene at the State House on
| Wednesday evening The Governors
| wife assisted by wives of Lieutenant
| and ex- Governors received in honor of
the visiting ladies, and other strangers
within the gates of the Capital. The
receiving party included: Mrs. Bell,
| Mrs. Q. H. Stearns Mrs. Roswell P.
Farnham, Mrs. Levi K Fuller, Mrs.
u. A. Woodbury., Mrs. Josiah Circuit,
MRS. u. NJ. Mansur, Mrs. Zed S.
Stanton, Mrs. O. S. Page, Mrs. M.
+. Allen - all familiar names - to
whom the crowds of attending people
were presented by Col. F.. S. Billings,
Gen w E Putnam, Capt. W. W. Rus
sell, Colonels Scarf, Wells, J. Gray,
Estey, Capt O. f. Burnham, Coils W.
| A. Dale, 7. Walter, members of the
Governors staff and officers uf the
first regiment. If these gentlemen
found this duty at all unpleasant,
they concealed the fact admirably,
and for nearly two hours the ladies
smiled again and again their well
come.
Tie executive chamber was effec
lively decorated. A huge bouquet of
chrysanthemums graced the mantle
piece while festoons of asparagus fern
hung in graceful lines above and
across the room. A white dove, poised
as if for fight, at a central point held
in its beak dainty ribbon streamers
which floated carelessly backward and
gave pleasing touch to the scheme.
Soon after O'Clock the throng began
it's slow movement toward the recep
ton room. Crushed laces. sensitive
toes, or pressure almost to suffocation
were incidents unworthy of notice. and
the waiting ones beguiled the tedium
of slow movement with jokes and
cheerful conversation, one gentle
man, when a lady passing him said
that she was not on her way to the
reception room, she merely wanted
ito get OUT, humbly ventured the re-
mark ''That is what we all want to
do. " He was promptly quenched in
burst of music from the orchestra
and a few moments later appeared
content, having reached his objective
point.
Many very beautiful costumes were
noted of which it would be impossi.
BILE to give any adequate description
: would space permit. The gowns of
the ladies of the receiving party were
principally black and white, giving
an impression of quiet elegance that
lost none of its effect from lack of
much color. Mrs. Bell wore cream
Q white crepe de chine; Mrs. Stearns.
; white lace; Mrs. Fsrnham, black
= silk Mrs. Fuller. black chiffon Mrs.
, Woodbury., black silk and rose point
r lace; Mrs. Page, blsck with corsage
bouquet of violets; Mrs. Mansur,
black silk with trimmings of jet Mrs.
Stanton, black with white applique
Mrs. Grout, black grenadine, and
Mrs. Allen green silk.
r Governor Bell moved among the
guests.a genial presence, and a general
n air of cordiality and enjoyment per
/, vaded the entire assemblage. The
d statesmen beamed contentedly upoI
: the scene, apparently forgetful of the
s graver duties that the morrow would
= bring. AS the years roll by, bringing
!. recurring functions, each is apt tc
. seem more enjoyable than its prede
f oessor. but certainly none has beer
d more successful than this under the
C able management of General Gilmore
"a fitting climax in the week of fes
tivities.
6 Mrs W. Seward Webb and daughter
i Miss Frederika, and Mr.. and Mrs
g Clarence Morgan of Shelburne, were
>. among the guests who came espe
e cially to attend the reception. Many
J. others were noted, distinguished il
official circles and prominent in so
ciety. politics, or business, in thu
State as we'll as among the oity's resi-
dents.
Il LADIES' WEEK BALL
"a IL had been expected that because o
= the unpromising weather the attend
ance at the reception might be lessene'
,s and that dancing at the armory woult
% begin at an early hour, but it wa
;. nearly II O'Clock before the distin
guished party, including the Governo
= and staff, with the ladies. appeared
many earlier corners, however. on
jJyed the concert. The grand marc
was led by Governor and Mrs. Bel
4. followed by General and Mrs. Gil
s. more, Lieut.. Governor and Mr.
Q. Stearns. Col. j. Cray Estey marche
h. with Miss Adine Bell and Col. + s.
10 Billings with Miss Jennie Bell, daugt
e. ters of the Governor