Forum Title: LIZZIE BORDEN SOCIETY
Topic Area: Lizzie Andrew Borden
Topic Name: Lizzie Goes To A Military Ball

1. "Lizzie Goes To A Military Ball"
Posted by Kat on Sep-9th-02 at 3:43 AM

Newspaper Clippings

 
 
Date: January 15, 1890
Source: Fall River Daily Herald
 
 



Transcription provided by Bruce Laurie, Department of History, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.



Military Ball

A Notable Gathering of Society People

Costumes of the Ladies --- Persons in Attendance





Much that has been said about the success of the social events under the auspices of Company M must be said over again. Tuesday night the annual military ball was held in Music hall and it was a very gay affair. The committee of arrangements had done everything to make the occasion of the high standard attained by previous events of a like kind, and it succeeded very well. The committee consisted of Capt. S.L. Braley, Lieut. J.D. Munroe, Lieut. David Fuller, Sgt. W.F. Borden, Corp. Durfee, Privs. Abbott, Davol, Harrison, McCoy and Sanford. The platform was decorated with palms and other tropicals, and festoons of similar hung over the windows.

At 8 o'clock the guests began to gather, and soon after that hour the members of Dyer & Hathaway's orchestra tuned up their instruments and rendered a concert programme of five selections, with a solo number for the clarionet played very acceptably by J.W. McKenney. The orchestra did unusually good work both in the concert and for the dance music which followed. All the time the music was going on, the guests were assembling and were received at the door by Lieut. Fuller, Sgt. Kelley, Sgt. Robbins, Corp. Hollins, Corp. Durfee, Priv. Hathaway, Priestly, Thurston, Buckley, Booth and McAdams. Among the military gentlemen present not members of the company were Col. A.M. Jackson of Gov. Brackett's staff, Quartermaster C.B. Woodman, ex-Lieut. Merrill of Co. E. Ninth regiment.

At 8:30 a squad of 26 then formed on the floor and Capt. Braley put them through the evolutions of an exhibition drill. The young men bore themselves as if each one of them was aware that the eyes of his best girl was centered upon his own sweet self, and if he made a mistake, the drill would be a failure. When the command was dismissed, the soldier boys began to look up their partners for the dancing. The members of the company who took part in the drill were as follows: Capt. Braley, Lieuts. Munroe and Fuller; Sgts. Borden, Robbins, Winter, Kelley; Corps. Durfee, Hollins, Potter, Harrison; Priv. Airle, Abbott, Booth, Bussette, Buckely, Dillon, Burt, Holt, A.W. Hathway, Haskell, J.H. Horan. Lee, McGraw, McAdams, Mitchell, Olding, Priestly, Pitt, Sanford, J.H. Sanford, Smethurst, Healy, Hall, Smith and Wood.

At 9:30 the orchestra began to play a march designated on the programme as the "March of the 92nd regt." Lieut. Munroe and Miss Mary E. Bowers took the place at the head of the marchers. Col. A.M. Jackson and Mrs. Jackson followed. Then came Capt. and Mrs. S.L. Braley, Lieut. Woodman and Miss Annie Spencer, Lieut. and Mrs. David Fuller ad the other military gentlemen and the company's guests in a long line. There were 54 couples in the march, and the brightly glittering gold braid of the officers and the spick and span uniforms of the soldiers contrasted very beautifully with the lighter stuffs worn by the ladies, and made a spectacle from the gallery very pleasing. Not one half of the dancers present took part in the march, as there were probably 125 couples on the floor at one time or another during the evening. the programme, a very recently printed folder from the press of J.D. Munroe, contained 16 numbers in all as follows: march, waltz, quadrille, polka, quadrille, military schottische, Saratoga lanciers, medley quadrille, gilde polka, waltz, quadrille, lanciers, waltz quadrille, polka, waltz and medley quadrille. Besides these, there were several encores and extras which kept up the dancing until considerably after midnight.

The members of the committee who looks after the forming of sets and had an eye open for partners for the unfortunate who were not supplied were Lieut. Munroe, Sgts. Winters and Borden, Corps. Harrison and Potter, Privs. Abbott, Doran, Airlie, Pitt, Olding, Hathaway, Thomas, Negus, and Brissett. They certainly did their work well, for the time taken in getting the square dances a-going was unusually short, and the musicians had scarcely time to get their breath between numbers in the first half. The dancers enjoyed it so much the more. At intermission Sokoll was on hand with a collation, which was served in the banquet hall two flights up.

All the ladies present were tastefully dressed, but there were not a dozen who were in full evening dress. Possibly the most noticable costume was one of baby blue tulle worn by Miss Hattie Jackson of Boston who, with Miss Kittie Abbott of Boston, was under the chaperonage of Mrs. Dr. J.H. Abbott. Miss Jackson's dress was cut dancing length, with sleeveless corsage, decollette, with a garniture of pink roses. She wore a sash of pink surah; pearl necklace and aigret of pink roses.

Miss Kittie Abbott wore a becoming black lace gown.

Mrs. J. Bruck, black satin, sleeveless and decollette corsage, surah and sash and corsage bouquet of red roses.

Mrs. David Fuller, black satin, black lace overdress, sleeveless corsage cut with square neck.

Mrs. Hughes, pink cashmere trimmed with swan's down.

Miss Annie Giblin, garnet plush, square neck corsage.

Miss Lillie Carter, pink silk, black lace overdress.

Miss Ella Wood, light blue plush corsage, figured challie skirt.

Miss Booth, black tulle, satin ribbons.

Miss Lena Kelley, black tulle overdress, low cut neck, steel silk skirt.

Among the people present not previously mentioned were Dr. C.C. Terry and wife, A.B. Bruneau, Nathan Davol, Miss Annie Luther, Miss McKenney, C.S. Merrill, John Ainsworth, Miss M. Freeborn, Charles Campbell, Miss Ida Palmer, Mr. and Mrs. William Simmons, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Whitehead, William Crossley, Miss Crossley, Miss Hattie Harrision, Miss Ella Smith, James McKeop, James McDermott, Miss Annie Horsfield, James Bruck, John Hughes, the Misses McLeod, Walter Burgess, John Booth, Laura McQuitty, Miss L. Stevenson, Thomas Pitt, Miss Mamie Nicholson, Will Nicholson, Miss Bella Connell, Miss Nellie Collins, John F. Allen, Miss M. O'Mears, Mrs. N.O. Adams, Charles Anderson, Mrs. J. Colemen, Mrs. S. Munroe, John Gormely and wife, R.E. McGuire, Miss M. O'Gara, James Smith, Miss Lizzie Borden, and W.H. Hargrave.




2. "Re: Lizzie Goes To A Military Ball"
Posted by Susan on Sep-9th-02 at 11:32 AM
In response to Message #1.

Oh wow!  What a cool find, Kat!  One more myth to dispel, that Lizzie did not get out much, no man wanted to escort her, blah, blah, blah. 


3. "Re: Lizzie Goes To A Military Ball"
Posted by kimberly on Sep-9th-02 at 1:24 PM
In response to Message #1.

That is a really sweet find! I'm trying to picture her there, I wonder if that was around the time she had that picture taken where she looks so dreamy & pretty (the one from 'about 1889?')?


(Message last edited Sep-9th-02  4:14 PM.)


4. "Re: Lizzie Goes To A Military Ball"
Posted by rays on Sep-9th-02 at 2:10 PM
In response to Message #1.

Edward Radin's book (which reopened this case - see what followed) quotes a contemporary that Lizzie was no recluse. She also liked to fish, which would be liked by some men even today.

Does anyone know if Radin's book will be published by a University Press (like Edmund Pearson's "5 murders"?). Few eye-witnesses left by the 1970s.


5. "Re: Lizzie Goes To A Military Ball"
Posted by Kat on Sep-9th-02 at 3:57 PM
In response to Message #2.

That document was found in this computer.  I was looking, bleary-eyed, for the newspaper drawing of Abby in the guest room.
I AM heroic, in that I perservered, even tho I CRASHED twice!
(Don't know why..but it was LATE)

Anyway, this is really from Stef and any cohort who may have helped her in research, from a few years ago.

Accompanying this article is the "Mrs. Andrew J. Borden as In Charge of Membership of the Women's Auxillary of the YMCA" news story, dated May 20, 1891--which Diana dug up and transcribed and posted:

http://www.arborwood.com/awforums/show-topic-1.php?start=1&fid=27&taid=1&topid=758


6. "Re: Lizzie Goes To A Military Ball"
Posted by Susan on Sep-9th-02 at 11:33 PM
In response to Message #5.

Thanks for sharing and caring, Kat! 


7. "Re: Lizzie Goes To A Military Ball"
Posted by Kat on Sep-10th-02 at 2:25 PM
In response to Message #5.

Link to all the ANDREWS:
("Use of the Guest Room" topic--post #31)

http://www.arborwood.com/awforums/show-topic-1.php?start=31&fid=27&taid=1&topid=758


8. "Re: Lizzie Goes To A Military Ball"
Posted by Edisto on Sep-11th-02 at 6:46 PM
In response to Message #1.

That is a sweet find.  The dances sound like the sort we perform at our Civil-War-era balls and the Victorian Society parties.


9. "Re: Lizzie Goes To A Military Ball"
Posted by harry on Sep-11th-02 at 6:50 PM
In response to Message #1.

I think I remember reading somewhere (that's becoming too common with me lately) that Lizzie never danced. Whether she didn't know how or no one asked her I don't think it said.


10. "Re: Lizzie Goes To A Military Ball"
Posted by Kat on Sep-11th-02 at 7:09 PM
In response to Message #9.

If  YOU say you "remember reading somewhere", then it was probably Rebello.
I believe one of Lizzie's church friends gave info as to her earlier years and that she never danced.  I got the impression it was because of her religion(?)
That article said the wallflowers were included and they had certain single men available JUST for the maidens who had no partner.
Imagine Lizzie, dressed up (in blue), and disavowing dancing in public?  That's sad.


11. "Re: Lizzie Goes To A Military Ball"
Posted by Kat on Sep-11th-02 at 11:11 PM
In response to Message #10.

I have picked out a dress for 30 year-old Lizzie to wear to the Military Ball.  It is dark BLUE velvet.  Please excuse the date of the gown.  It might be 1896+, rather than 1890.



12. "Re: Lizzie Goes To A Military Ball"
Posted by harry on Sep-11th-02 at 11:33 PM
In response to Message #11.

Nice dress Kat. Hope she doesn't get any paint on it. 


13. "Re: Lizzie Goes To A Military Ball"
Posted by Kat on Sep-12th-02 at 12:38 AM
In response to Message #12.

Thanks.
I so enjoy shopping for Lizzie.  (Note the "Tilden-Thurber" building for her 110th Birthday)

I would like Edisto to pronounce this dress the right one for the occaision, or Not.  That'd be interesting.

When you mentioned paint, i thought of make-up.  I wonder if Lizzie ever wore make-up or at what date in history respectable women were allowed some in the evenings?


14. "Re: Lizzie Goes To A Military Ball"
Posted by Edisto on Sep-12th-02 at 1:55 PM
In response to Message #13.

Ummm...believe it or not, this might have been a daytime outfit in its original era.  I think it would be about the right time period, though, because the sleeves hadn't yet become "belled" at the top. --And the clipping does say that many of the female guests weren't wearing formal attire.  I can't envision Lizzie showing a lot of cleavage.  Andrew probably wouldn't have let her leave the house.  This outfit seems like a definite possibility...  Speaking of make-up, some of the newspaper accounts said the charming Mlle. Chagnon was wearing rouge when she testified in 1893.  Her appearance certainly wowed the male population.



 

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