Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-05-22
AUGUSTA LOCALS
James Howard Society
Gives Delightful
Novelty Dance

Even more of a success than it
promised to be, dainty, beautiful and
wholly delightful was the first big
dance given Friday evening at City
hall by the James Howard Society,
Children of the American Revolu-
ton. The affair was a decided nov
city with many features that lifted
it out of the line of the usual dance.
Douglas orchestra. furnished the best
music in its history undisturbed by
the fact that the musicians were To-
Gated in the middle of the floor. Per-
haps the miniature forest that
screened them removed all traces of
shyness which they may have felt.
There was plenty of room to dance
all around them and the dancers had
the benefit of all the music.
The hall was prettily decorated
with the stars and stripes and the
State flag and with plants and
greenery. The front of the stage
was banked with green, and potted
shrubs and palms were placed on
the platform where the solo dance
numbers were performed. At one
ranged with sofas and easy chairs.
plants and soft lights, for the regent.
past regent and councillors of
Koussinoc Chapter, d. A. r.. of
which the James Howard Society
is the protege. Colored electric
bulbs were substituted for the reg
ular lights of the hall and, gave a
pretty tinge to the scene. Yhe plants
used were very kindly loaned by
Mrs. Florence Gannett Farnham and
the flags were from the State House.
Dancing was from $50 until II
O'Clock and the specially numbers
were interspersed with the dance or
der. The first novelty was a Colon
ial waltz by Miss Joan Sturtevant
who was very dainty and graceful in
white ruff1ed costume with hoop
skirt and pantalettes. In the next
number ten little girls goWsled in
white, carrying garlands of flowers
presented a coquette dance with
charming effect. These dancers in
cluded Anna Bodwell, Madeline Can
nett. Ruth Bunker, Frances Kins
man, Lucille Genthner. Kathleen Syl-
vester, Evelyn True, Eleanor Priest.
Frances True and Alice Barker.
The most''distinctive dance with which
the audience was favored was the min
uet done with all the sober and stately
grace of a hundred Years ago. The
costumes were brilliant and correct in
every detail with powdered wige. curls,
perukes. panniers, jabots. frills and
Buckles The colonial, DANES were i'm
personated by Misses Virginia Holway.
Cleaner Lewis, Ruth Hardwood and
Marjorie Sterling. and the gentlemen
were Murray Randall, Eden Gray, Don
aid Hewett and Sanford Fogg.
The final specially was a dance, Fee
licia, by Miss Doroth" Gray, who wore
an empire costume of pink and white.
She was very pleasing and was re-
called for encores, as were all the 9TH
ers. The excellence of these dances
was due in great measure to the care
full training of Miss Doris Wilder, who
was the coach.
Until intermission the galleries were
well filled with spectators and interest
ed friends of the c. A. r. society. 1t is
noteworthy that all the accomplished
performers in the entertainment are
members of the society, and every
member did his share toward making
theo occasion a success. Mrs. Harry
Thompson is honorary president of the
society and it's guiding spirit, and her
eff1cient aides on this occasion were AL
den Merrill and Merritt Hewett Miss
Anne Rodwell had the distinction OF
selling the greatest number of tickets
and received the prize which was Of
fered to the best booster.
The James Howard Society. c. A. R.,
is veritable live wire organizatio
although it is an extremely young one.
1t was organized only a few months
ago under the regency of Mrs. c. w.
Jones of Koussinoc Chapter, D. A. r.,
and already has 70 members, making it
the largest of it's kind in the Ctate. The
society on Friday evening firmly es-
tablished it's place among the social
successes of the city: