Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-04
DANCE HALF CENTURY OLD
White Locks of Eighty Flow When
Historic Scene is Reproduced.
GOWNS OF LONG AGO WORN
First Inaugural Ball Given Again
In the Costumes that Were
Fashions Dictum sixty
Years Ago.

! A half century was brushed aslue like
Z a fog last night when the Territorial Pho
( neers OF Nebraska met in ancient costume
at the Douglas county court house and
reproduced the first inaugural ball OF the
territory Of Nebraska. The ball following
the Inauguration OF Territorial Governor
lizard. appointed by President James
Buchanan. was reproduced faithfully IN
the costume of the day, and by persons
who danced the dainty dances OF the
time at that ball in 1855, in what was then
tho capitol building at Ninth and Farnam
streets.
Such an array Of gowns has never be-
fore been seen in Omaha, perhaps, since
that night over half century ago when
the elite OF the wild territory centered in
the capitol building
Circling and gracefully bowling in the
lively quadrille we're men and women over
whose heads time has toiled off the al
lotted four score years and better. There
were flowing white locks that played
upon bent shoulders. There were gowns
that cost much money long before Abra-
ham Lincoln was known outside Of his
rail-spltting community
Axe Makes No Difference.
Mrs Mary Cormack wore the very gown
her mother wore at the territorial ball.
Mrs. Mary L. Fisette wore a gown OF
yellow satin, trimmed in embroidered
lace. the gown her grandmother had
made sixty years ago for a function In
st. Louis Mrs. j. F. Hopper wore a
narrow wasted and wlde-skirted gown Of
IL 81.
territorial Inauguration ball.
Rome Miller represented Governor IL
ard. MIR. Miller and Mrs. Minnie p p
Knots Of Lincoln led the grand march.
A thousand spectators crowded the first
floor and tho balcony in the court house
and cheered repeatedly as the pioneers
continued the dance.
Lively QuadriIIe.
When the call came for a uuadrilie Il
was at once responded to by twelve
couples, making three sets They we're as
follows Mrs. Minnie Knots. Mrs. Mary
Cormack. Mrs Jennie L. Maginn, Mrs.
Kitty Lafferty, Mrs. IEabelle Bennett,
Mrs. r. NJ. Taylor, Mrs. Gibson Knight,
Mrs. Mary l.. Fisette. Mrs. J. f. Hopper,
Mrs, r. H. Walker, Mrs. Anna X Boman,
Mrs. Augustus Lockner. The men were
Rome Miller. A. N. Yost william Kier-
lis, Ralph II. Hail. w. H. Larkin. T. +.
Stroud. Augustus Lockner. Matthew
Youngers and Alvin Metzler.
There was no lack OF action In the
quAdrille. The fiddlers. old settlers
also. w. II. Dunn John r. Blxby. G. r.
Rathbun. struck up the liveliest thing
they could command, such as Devil
Dream" and Arkansas Traveller" Aged
joints that had not been swift for a
quarter OF century began 90 unlimber.
Round and round, ever and ever merrier.
went the quAdrille. until before the close,
men and women past the eightieth winter
we're cutting the corners with a saucy
clatter OF cowhide heels.
Dances JiR at Eighty.
Even as clog dance by the cleverest
man or woman on the floor was always
customary at the early dances. so was a
clog called for on this occasion. Mrs. C
f. Hopper responded. The crowd cleared
the circle and she battered off a clever
and graceful Sig that drew rounds Of APP
plause And she did It with tho weight
of eighty years upon her snowy hair
She was followed by C. II. Hopper, who
did a clever clog and circled nimbly abou,
the floor. stepped sidewise and back. and
sailed this way and that.
In awarding prizes, no committee OF
Judges was appointed Prizes were
awarded 10 the first ones whose names
happened TO be called by anyone In the
audience. There were plenty of prizes
however. TO so most OF the way around