The Wilmington morning star., 1947-09-10

Observer, the crown was "carried
on a satin pillow by the self
possessed Master Lewis Conner
Jr."
Thus, led by Miss Adelaide
Boylston and William Linehan,
Jr., in 1925, and in 1926 by Miss
Alice Brogden (now Mrs. Brant-
ley Aycock) and Brantley Ay-
cock, the debutante ball spon
sored by the Merchants associa-
ton, became a gala event for
North Carohnians throughout the
state.
In 1927, the ball, with Mrs.
Charles E. johnson, as chairman,
struck note of progress. That
year the leader Julia Andrews
(now Mrs. John A. Park, Jr.)
with Hubert A. Royster, Jr., en-
tered the auditorium down wide
white steps with a background
oil green pines, through which
peeked the nose of an airplane,
The Spirit of Raleigh" The 50
debutantes that year, formed a
figure making "1927'-the date
that was to mark the end of the
Fall Festival and Merchants as
sociation sponsorship.
In 1928 the Merchants asso-
citation, feeling that the Debu-
tante Ball was primarily a So
cial function, relinquished their
sponsorship to the newly formed
young mems organization, the
Terpsichorean Cotillion club. The
Terps, whose president was Sher-
wood Jones, presented the debu-
tantes from then on, and the Ball
grew in size and prominence,
and became an important step
in the lives of North Carolina's
young ladies.
The leader for 1928, Miss Emily
Stoor (now Mrs. Ban Chapman)
with Archie Allen, Jr., was as
sisted by Miss Annette Tucker
(now Mrs. Archie Allen, Jr.,
with David Cox. They led out
the debutantes to form a figure
of linked hearts.
FIGURE ORIGINATED
Sometime later Miss Sarah
Busbee of Raleigh (now Mrs.
John Phillips) originated the
beautiful traditional debutante
figure formed with white stream
ers and red roses.
Miss Mary johnson (now Mrs.
Deryl Hart of Durham) was lead
er in 1929, Sarah White (now
Mrs. w. U. Kennon of Richmond)
in 1880, and Miss Dorothy Dill
Ion (now Mrs. Graham Mcleod
of Raleigh) in 1881.
During these years music was
furnished on two occasions by
Glenn Miller and Hal Kemp,
both of whom soon after scared
to national fame.
In 1882 Miss Elizabeth Park
(now Mrs. Mark Lynch of Con-
necticut) led the ball. She was
followed in 1888 by Miss Sadie
Root (now Mrs. Paul Tilleryj !;
in 1884 by Miss Katherine Har-
ris (now Mrs. Alexander Bad
ger) and in 1885 by Miss Shir-
ley Hayward (now Mrs. Tom
Alexander).
In 1886 when Vass Shepherd
was president of the Terpsicho-
rean club, a plan was formed
whereby the debutantes would
actually give the ball themselves,
with the financial assistance and
sponsorship of the club. Since
then each girl has contributed a
pro rata share of the expense
and instead of one escort, invites
a chief marshal and four assist
ants. Now too, instead of just
one ball, the debutantes are hon
ored at a series of entertain
ments, beginning with luncheon
on Friday, a dance Friday night
a morning dance Saturday, a
tea at the Governors mansion
and ending with a dance Satur-
day night.
The 1896 ball was led by Miss
Lucille Aycock (now Mrs. James
Mckee, Jr.). She was followed
by Miss Barbara Thompson (now
Mrs. Carol Church of Houston)
in 1887; Miss Betty Winborne
(now Mrs. William K. Woltz of
Mt. Airy) in 1889; and Miss Bet
tie Hill in 1910. In 1910 the ball
was written up in Life magazine.
In 1941, when the figure was
led by Miss Emily Cheshire (now
Mrs. Walter Townsend) among
the 125 degutantes was Betty
Gordon than New York's "No.
l Glarnor-gi girl"
With the coming of the war,
travel difficulties and the man
shortage, the ball was postponed
for "the duration, and was not
resumed until 1916. Leader last
year was Miss Margaret Worth
(now Mrs. George Penick). With
backlog of five years, there