The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-02-16
THE POMPADoURS FLUTTER TO EARTH THIS
YEAR AS DAINTY VALENTINES

The Pompadours, who, as everybody
knows. are a crowd OF mystic fairies
we'll able to come to earth each year
in any guise they choose, suddenly ap-
Feared last night as the shades of
evening were falling right at the San
Carlos hotel. il you please. where the
bali room, receiving the magical touch
OF many fairy fingers, awaited their
coming.
How they came, from whence. and
just when, no mortal could tell. but ON
they came all the same, pretty and
pretty, fussy, little old-tfmey love
messages, everyone Of them, in their
valentine costumes.
The ball room had been fancifully
decorated IN countless red hearts, true
lovers knots, pink roses and smilax,
r:any Of the larger and more expert
enced looking hearts having been ruth
lessly pierced with golden arrows.
The classic white pillars, each lost
In a lovely bower of green, bore also
their burden of hearts, red, all of them,
and pulsating with seeming tender
ness.
The electric effects made the scene
q truly beautiful one, suggestive. in
deed. OF the st. Valentine days of old.
when We all sent fluted pink and blue
things, trimmed with certain promis-
cuous doves.
The stage this year represented a
huge old-fashioned lace-pa.p valen-
tine, with its foFget-me-not trimmings,
Its doves and cupids,, and generally
gorgeous designing.
Electric lights spaFixled among the
trimmings, and on either side were
two large French flower baskets,
fashioned of gilt, filled with flowers
and electric drops Of fresh morning
dew.
The red-shaded chandeliers, the
spirit Of St. Valentine everywhere,
and the pretty opening music played
by the San Carlos Ladies' orchestra,
made the Introductory part of the
Pompadours ball, too, unusually pic
turesque.
The figures in the stage valentine
were soon the subject OF the full at
tention Of everyone, for there was the
Queen of the Pompadours. all in her
queenly beauty; there was her king.
who had Just been chosen quietly from
among the guests, and there was Cupid
himself. the love-imp who is responsi-
bic for 50 many. many things OF the
earth, and among the mystical Pom
padour maids as we'll
The queen, who was charming Miss
Cora Louise Simpson, wore the regu-
iation costume of the evening worn
by all the Pompadours, sky blue
bands of hearts on her skirts and
valentine tinsel everywhere.
The cap was a little red poke ef-
feet, with tinsel, white gloves. black
mask and black silk slippers and
stockings completing the costume.
She carried a large bouquet OF red
carnations.
The king was quickly recognized
as Mr.. Wilmer Hayward. the dainty
little Cupid, with his true little love-
god costume and his arrows, being
pretty little Catherine Turner
The queen then waved a sceptre of
hearts, and at her command, eight
special dancers, all masked and all
Pompadour Maids, whose identity will
always remain q Mardi Gras secret,
came forth to dance before the king,
for his royal entertainment this pref
ty feature OF the evening being round
~ applauded
Contrary TO their annual custom, the
Pompadours chose no maids nor no
dukes this year, the lovely valentine
tablean and the special dancers being
the leading features of the evening.
After. the dances, the remaining
members Of the Pompadours, all. of
course. as valentines, began threading