Evening star., 1948-03-11

It was not the languorous easyg
old plantations that was represented
the all-important industry of IS CO
"get on that cotton -pickin' ball, :
raise food and clothes from spring
till fall" and give this ole world
an overhaul" Those are words from
the party theme song written for
the occasion by Mrs. Edward j.
Mccormack, chairman of the ball.
Star of the evening was the Maid
Of Cotton" lovely looking Miss
Matilda Nail of Fort Worth, who
will fly to Paris tomorrow with her
luxurious cotton wardrobe. Her
escort was Mr.. Jack Tunstill OF Fort
Worth, King of Cotton" Rivaling
them both for the attention of the
hundreds of guests were Miss Mar
garet Truman, the Chief Justice and
Mrs. Fred M. Vinson, and several
of the cabinet members and their
wives.
Each of the important and spe-
cial guests was announced over the
microphone upon entering the ball
room. The fanfare by Dave Nc
Williams orchestra, the announce
ment by Mr.. Malcolm Mccormack
and the ushering to the proper,
roped-of seats provided continuous
drama until the King and Queen"
and their court were finally seated
upon the stage.
Standing In the receiving line
were the presidents of the Tennessee
and Texas State Societies and their
wives, Representative and Mrs. Joe
l.. Evins and Representative and
Mrs. Tom Pickett, and the president
Of the Mississippi State Society,
Mrs. Virginia Simmerman. The
three societies were joint hosts at
the gala affair.
BY $50 o'clock the thousand
chairs lining the runway were occu-
pied and necks were craned to
see the prominent new arrivals.
The Secretary of the Treasury and
Mrs. John Snyder were there, and
the Attorney General and Mrs.
Tom C. Clark. the Secretary of Ag-
riculture and Mrs. Clinton Ander-
son, Senator and Mrs. Tom Con-
nally, and other well known figures
from Capitol Hill.
Miss Truman chose the pretty cot
ton evening dress given to her by
the National Cotton Council to wear
to the ball. 1t had black bodice
with short sleeves and full skirt
- Yr~iot q hl0pk
background and looked definitely
in the mode though Miss Truman
said it was presented to her two
years ago. She was escorted by Mr..
Marvin Braverman.
Representative Clifford Davis,
whose wife was assisting at the
party, was master of ceremonies and
announced the arrival of "the court"
at 9 o'clock. AS each Of the Maid
OF Cotton's attendants and escorts
appeared and approached the stage
the orchestra struck up an appro-
pirate tune. For Miss Tennessee, 1t
was Chattanooga Chu-Chu"; for
Miss Arizona, "Ragtime Cowboy
joe" Miss Kentucky, "Sleep Ken
lucky Babe" and so forth. Miss
Kentucky, who was Miss Marion
Hale Gregory, was escorted, by the
way, by Mr. James Vinson, son OF
the Chief Justice and Mrs. Vinson.
The most exciting moment of the
evening came right after Attorney
General Clark made a speech of
welcome on behalf of the Govern
ment to the visiting royal pair.
In stepped Miss Nail in lovely
southern belle" ecru cotton net
gown designed by Eta. The King"
IN red cotton velvet robe over
his evening clothes. and cape
of cotton "ermine" stood beside her.
When they reached the stage Mr..
Tunstill responded to Mr. Clark's
remarks and then the fashion show
began. American designed cotton
clothes for around the clock were
shown by professional models with
the exception of Miss Louise Reese
of Tennessee who modelled the latest
costume for the aviatrix.
When the fashion show was over
the orchestra struck up Dixie" just
so, said Mrs. Mccormack, the SOUTH
erners could get rid of the rebel
yells stored up inside. Then there
was dancing until the last you all'
resounded from the Cotton Ball
around l o'clock.
Miss Marguerite Boyer, debutante
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. James w.
Boyer, entertained at cocktails be-
fore the ball. Included among her
guests we're Miss Frances Dear,
daughter of Brig. Gen. and Mrs. w.
Richard Dear, who made her debut
during the Christmas holidays Miss
Julie Halloran, daughter of Col. and
Mrs. Edward Roosevelt Hanoran;
Miss Thelma Umstead, a claSsmate
of Miss Boyers at George Washing
ton University, Mr. Paul Denny. Mr..
Overton Murdock. Mr.. Rowland
Hyde and Mr.. Thomas Dawson