Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-01-01

To the Sweetly plaintive strains OF
that old yet ever young melody, Be
lieve Me of All Those Endearing
Young Charms" with Jud Robbins, the
Bard of Bolton Hill" leading on his
beloved fiddle, hundreds of couples
glided through the graceful swinging
figures and turns of the waltz, at one
Of the most delightful, enjoyable and
largely attended Charity Balls which
has ever been held as the annual bene-
fit for the Augusta General Hospital
at City hall Thursday evening.
While Jud caressed his violin and
with sweeping strokes of his bow on
the rosined strings sent forth the
quickening notes of Soldiers JOY"
money Musk and Girl I Left Be
hind Me-" eight couples of the Capital
City's best younger dancers demon
strated the real grace and beauty and,
incidentally, the romping enjoyment of
some of the old-fashioned so-called
square dances. which seemingly are
coming back into popularity in wave
which has it's crest in the public pre-
sensations of Nellie Durham of Nor
way, Maine, who overnight sprang into
nationwide popularity ard front page
headlines. following his trip to Dear
born. Mich, to make his contribution
to the collection of old-time music be-
ing assembled by Henry Ford.
Last nights affair was lacking none
of the brlliance of legislative social
season, and in enjoyment the introduce
ton of the several special entertain
ment features, including hilarious
welcome to the young year 1925, was
unsurpassed in the annals of these an
nual events. Every committee had
functioned for an effect during the past
several weeks, and last nights memoir
able party in City hall auditorium was
the happy and successful elimination
of their efforts. Mrs. George T.. Nc
comber was general chairman and
much of the credit for the realization
of carefully laid plans was due largely
to her splendid executive direction and
sympathetic vision.
Brilliant Assemblage
Names chief executive and the
first lady of the State, Governor and
Mrs. Ralph o., Brewster honored the
affair by their attendance, and were
in the receiving line, as were Mayor
and Mrs. Ernest l.. Mclean. Mrs
Blaine Owen, president of the Hospi-
tai Aid, and Colonel Owen; Miss
Gertrude B. Nelson, Superintendent
of Nurses at the Augusta Genera.
Hospital, and George L. Macomber
president of the hospital Board OF
Trustees.
The doors to the auditorium and
balcony were opened early and many
hundreds of people occupied seats
above the dance surface, where they
interestcdly observed the festivities
E'rnm
to . o'clock the Douglas Melody men
with a ten-piece combination pre-
scented a splendid concert program
and this organization of musicians
furnished the music for the regular
program of dancing following the eH-
hibftion numbers by the specially
selected group of young dancers.
Present Old Time Dances
The Boston Fancy, a plain quad
rifle and La Nasavienna were the old
time dance figures which the elghi
couples executed to music by Jui
Robbins and Carrie Spauldlng, with
q real white haired and beWhlskered
prompter calling EN- off The hve-
~. and at the same time gracelui
interpretat ton of the dances, together
with the spirited jig tunes emanating
from Jud Robbins fiddle aroused the
onlookers to high enthusiasm. ana
salvos of appreciative applause fol-
lowed each number.
Well known members Of the young
or social set participated IN TINS
special entertainment feature. Inc
dancers were not costumed, 1t belne
the effort of those sponsoring the
presentation to demonstrate that the
old time dances could be as enjoy
able and attractive in the ball gowns
of the 1926 girls as in the days of the
wide skirts. Those who appeared In
the exhibition numbers were: The
Misses Frances Kinsman, Eleanor
Wilcox, Rachel Maher. Ashley Patten
Alice Barker, Joan SturteVant, Polly
Sturtevant and Katherine Brown, and
the Messers Merritt Hewett. Frank
4. Harrington. Donald Hewett, Rich
mond Purinton, Sanford Fogg, Walter
Chernowsky, Paul Giddings and Don
aid Dewar.
The Reception
At $50 O'Clock the line was formed
for the grand march and reception
and most of those on the auditorium
floor took occasion to greet Governor
and Mrs. Brewster. Mayor and Mrs
Mclean, Colonel and Mrs. Owen
Miss Nelson ana Mr.. Macomber.
Mrs. Brewster wore a draped gown
of metal cloth in blue and silver
with shoulder strap CT rhinestones, q
rhinestone ornament holding the
drapery at the waistline. She had
silver slippers and hose. and an even.
ing wrap of blue pan velvet with
chinchilla collar and cuffs.
Mrs. Mclean was attractive in a
Jenny gown of cream colored brocade
velvet with shoulder and side gar
nishes of rhinestones. She carried
violets and a very large, black os-
trich far.
Mrs. Blaine Owens gown was a