The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-17
Inaugural Ball Lovely,
Assembling Thousands

assembling 1 HOuSdHuS
Most of us who have gone to mo-
ton picture shows and seen kingly
bsNs staged with their thousands of
spectators have never forgotten the
impression of masses of moving fig
ures. smiles multiplied by the hun
dreds and flashing eye-glances, flip
of gowns, and swerve of darling
feet.
If you could have taken peep at
the giant inaugural dance Monday
night in Montgomery you would have
realized how the motion picture
screen is deficient in these points.
1t cannot record colors ana sound
and the perfume of hundreds of lacy
gowns and the battering and verve
and dash of music which now is gay,
now sad, now glorious with martial
notes that put life into the heart.
The inaugural ball was one of the
most agnificent-like the parade
which has ever been danced in Mont
gomery. Instead of being at the Ex-
change hotel, as was announced, the
vast city auditorium was it's setting.
This is an enormously large build
ing, with galleries semi circling its
amphitheatre. and seats ranged
around the dancing hall where spec
tators may sit and watch the glory of
the spangled scenes within.
The ball was in honor of Governor
and Mrs. w. w. Brandon and Lieu
tenant Governor and Mrs. Charles
Mcdowell. Everybody in the city was
invited and came. The crush was so
great shortly after 10 o'clock that
expressions of fear were heard that
the house might not be able to stand
the strain if more We're permitted up
stairs. And SO it was necessary to
station police to stop the great in
flux of the throngs until departing
guests could retire.
The impression one gathered was
of vast, dignfied elegance-and col
ors of red, violet blue and white,
lights cast behind them shed softest
pastel effects over the whole scene.
Festoons of these colors formed a
canopy in the midst OF the vast
house. while around the edges of the
galleries bunting and streamers of
red gave softest glow.
The gowns were magnificent and
they were worn by women from all
parts of Alabama, as we'll as by
women from out of state. Distin-
guished men, in full evening dress
senators. Observation-Disclosures of
highest offices in the state, were con-
spicuous in the throngs and In the
early evening it was declared that at
| least half the dancing people on the
| floor were from Birmingham.
| Among those from Birmingham
thus merrymaking were: Mr.. and
Mrs. Robert Jemison, Mr.. and Mrs.
Hill Ferguson. Victor H. Hanson, DR..
and Mrs. 2. p. Claxton. President and
Mrs. D. e. McLendon. Leon Friedman,
Thomas Heflin, Mr.. and Mrs. Nathan
l.. Miller. Mrs. ]. Z. Frazer. Mrs.
| Mary Echols, Mrs. c. T. Mayfield, Mrs.
| Hubert Scruggs, MIR. and Mrs. A. NJ.
| CARRIER and many others.
The grand march was led by Cover
fnor and Mrs. Brandon, followed by
| Lieutenant Governor and Mrs. Nc
| Dowell. In line were Mr.. and Mrs.
| A. L. Tyson, Mayor William r. Gun
| ter, Jr., and Mrs. Gunter, Mr.. and
Mrs. James Fits Aston. Mr.. and Mrs.
| McLendon of Birmingham. Bringing
up the trail were Alabama folk which
| represented prominent families from
all sections OF Bill Brandon's stamp
| ing ground.
| torium decorations was two huge re-
| plicas of the Stars and Stripes. In
| the center appeared William w.
Brandon, 1923-27. Education, Enter
prise. Economy" Other shields around
| the gallery bore the names of each
of Alabarna's governors.
| Mrs. Brandon's gown was fash
| toned with a court train. 1t was of
i black chiffon velvet, draped ever
with silver cloth. 1t had a girdle of
pearls and bertha OF rose-point lace
embroidered in pearls. Silver cloth
lined the train. A black aigrette was
| in her hair and she carried an arm
| full of Mrs. Brandon roses. Her
necklace was of pearls.
| Mrs. Charles Mcdowell was In blue
cut-velyet and carried pink roses.
The festival kept up until long
past midnight.
These are some CT the pretty
gowns noted:
Mrs. James r. Aston of Tusca-
loosa wore a dress of silver sequins
| over silver cloth trimmed with
rhinestoEes and made with train Cf
American beauty chiffon. She wore
a diamond necklace, carried an arm
cluster of American beauty roses and
| wore rhinestones in her hair.
Mrs. Archie Tyson's handsome
gown was of orchid velvet draped
over silver cloth, with rhinestone
glrdle. She were a rhinestone ban
deau in her hair. Her flowers were
pink radiance roses.
Mrs. Henry Mourning wore a cos
tune of gold lace and carried pea
cock blne feather fan.
Mrs. Frank Peabody's dress was
| black net embH ddered in copper
tones, and she cartied black feather
fan.
Mrs. Halls Janney wore a blue
spangled velvet and her Jewels were
diamonds.
Mrs. Charles Aliens gown was OF
black sequins.
Mrs. P. P. Claxtcn wore a dress OF
gold lace over pink satin.
Mrs. Sarah Toney Oates was at
tired in black velvet with terra Gotta
georgette. Jet trimmed. She wore a
diamond necklace and carrier an os-
trich fan.
Mrs. Edwin GARRISON. Of Tusca-