The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-09-16
CROWDS ATTEND
FALL OPENINGS
Style Show Of Brookhaven Firm
Attracts Many Out-of-
Town Visitors.

/ McGrath's fall opening drew larg
numbers Of interested callers all da,
Thursday.
The window displays were mos
artistic, the choicest examples o
hats, furs, shoes, and suits bein,
shown in setting of rich coloret
autumn foliage.
The center counters had been re
moved to make room for the GROVE
and most Of the beautiful new dres,
materials were exhibited in glass cas-
es at the sides of the dry goods de
partment. Spanish laces of exuuis
ite quality and design in evening ant
dark shades made fascinating dis
play. Satin astrakhan in black and
colors, Roshanara crepes and duyet.
yns in the newest shades of fall sug.
gested limitless possibilities for love.
ly costumes, and matelasse, the quill.
ted satin just originated in Paris
drew Its share of attention.
Beautiful ready-made dresses in
Poiret twill, twill cord, tricotine and
duvetyn, trimmed with. embroidery
buttons, ribbons and beads, delight
ed beholders, while coats of Bolivia,
marvella, "Pollyanna", and velveen
made an impressive exhibition.
Sport coats in plaid back coatings
Paris tweeds, camels' hair and chin
chilla in three-Quarter lenghths, ma
ny in high color and striking de-
sign, were one Of the most important
features.
An extensive collection of furs
ranging in size and value from the
tiniest squirrel "choker" to splendid
coats of seal and sable at thirty-tive
hundred dollars captivated all be-
holders.
Examples Of the work of the dress
making department, headed by Miss
Loretta Taylor attracted admiration.
In the millinery department, hum
dreds Of captivating hats, including
many from nationally known MAX
ers, were on display, making a trop-
ical garden of this always beautiful
division of the big store.
A number of gifts from the groc-
cry, shoe and dry goods departments
were centers of interest at four per-
iods during the day. Two beautiful
children, little Bette Drane and
John Becker, niece and son, respect
lively, of Mr.. John Becker, the store
manager, assisted him in the distri-
button.
The Michigan Melody Boys,
from the University Of Michigan,
supplied delightful music through
out the day.
Although the daytime display was
largely attended, the open Air Fall
Fashion Pageant, held at half past
seven in the evening, was the great
climax OF the day. and drew an au-
dience that should be estimated not
by hundreds, but by acres.
The management had thoughtful
ly enclosed with ropes large space
for "standees," directly in front of
the store, and these, with automo-
biles and trucks full of lockers on,
and others on foot, closely packed
an area which may be described
roughly as extending from about as
far as the Inez Hotel to the south
railroad crossing nearest the City
Hall, and from there northward to
the Arcade-the equivalent of almost
four blocks.
Visitors from as far away as Jack
son and McComb motored here for
the event.
The roof of the store converted in
to stage, was an exquisite setting
for the style show, the handsome ar
chitecture of the building lending it.
self admirably to such use. The
arched entrances at either end were
decorated with vines in autumn
tints of red and gold and a golden
leaved tree of Japanese suggestion
was an exquisite feature of the de-
sign.
In the program. popular charac-
ter songs and ..specialties" by Jun
ius Johnson, nephew, and Misses Ma
rie McGrath, Ellen Johnson and
Genevieve Storm, nieces of the head
of the firm, Mr.. ]. w. McGrath, as
sisted by Miss Alice DeSola, alterna-
ted with displays of handsome con-
tunes.
Mr.. Johnson's singing, of profess
ional excellence through much prac-
tice as an amateur, was especially
noteworthy. The Michigan Melo-
dy Boys, whose manager he is, play
ed throughout the presentation of
the pageant.
The young girls on the program
wore picturesque costumes represent
ing number of periods, from rele-
gated hoopskirts and powdered hair,
10 the smartest evening gowns OF
the present,
The lovely models. Mines. Blake,
Oberschmidt, Smith, Misses Brown,
Cassidy, Greer, Guess, Hobbs, Nc
Cormick, Parkman and Sumrall,
demonstrated the fashionable sport
costumes, cloth dresses, coats, tailor
ed suits, afternoon dresses and wraps
in a manner thoroughly satisfying.
The sports costumes which were
mostly gay in color and Of smart de-
sign included two stunning knicker-
booker suits.
Lengthened skirts, uneven hens,
decorative treatment Of sleeves, the
prevalence Of brown, and gay touch
les of color on somber-hued materials
were noted in the display of cloth
and afternoon dresses.
The tailored suits, both In design
and detail presented a more dash
! ing appearance than tailored suits Of
other seasons, and showed real de-
lveIopment in this type of costume.
The handsome coats and wraps
including the up-in-the-thousands
fur coats were highly effective.
All the accessories that 60 to make
up beautiful and appropriate cos
tunes were used, and we're express
sive Of the artistic and discriminate
ling taste Of those responsible for the
presentation.