HAPPY NEW YEAR

1906

From the Texarkana papers typed up by Tresa Underwood.  Some of this was hard to read but I tried to type it as it was.

1/7/1906

SUCCESS OF THE SEASON

Elks Reception most brilliant social function in History of Texarkana.

Perfection of detail in arrangement of the various receiving committees.  Beautiful Club Rooms handsomely decorated with potted plants and palms.  festooned with Bamboo and Holly.

Within the palatial structure lately erected by the well known and popularly respected local society of the Elks at their headquarters in this city, one of the most brilliant social functions in the history of Texarkana took place on New Year's Day.  To the auspicious event over one thousand persons of note in society, professional and industrial circles of Texarkana and nearby communities in Arkansas and Texas were invited and the scene which was presented when this vast assemblage appeared in the new Temple of the Elks was indeed noteworthy.

Upon the very threshold one was impressed with the importance of the affair.  From the edge of the sidewalk to the cloak room, and from the cloak room to the parlors, the guest received every attention from a corps of well trained servants.  At the entrance to the parlor, in which the receiving line stood, was stationed the butler, who, in stentorian tones, announced the arrival of each and every guest.  It was magnificent.  In fact it would have required but a little stretch of the imagination to feel that instead of attending an affair in Texarkana you were about to enjoy on of those grand social functions at the White House, and as you progressed along the line of handsome men and beautiful women, and through the various elegantly decorated and beautifully furnished rooms, in which were stationed tea tables, coffee tables and punch bowls--each presided over by a bevy of handsomely gowned ladies and gentlemen, who vied with each other to make your journey a pleasant one, you could not help but be impressed with the perfect ness of detail which was evidenced on every hand.  Surely, here was the work of a master mind.

The toilettes of the women were of exceeding elaborateness in character, and many costumes shown gave evidence of New York and St. Louis design.

Assisting Mr. E. D. Gillen.  Exalted Ruler of the lodge, was a receiving line of nineteen composed of the following well known members of society.

Miss Christine Dale, Mr. and Mrs. E. K. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. J. Huckins Jr., and Mrs. C. C. Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Mullins, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Offenhauser, Dr. and Mrs. J. B. Reed, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Haydon, Mr. and Mrs. Hary Haydon, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Foreman.

Miss Dale was attired in a magnificent gown of Pompadour silk, trimmed with duchess point lace; her jewels were diamonds.  Mrs. Smith was exquisitely gowned in white crepe de Chine and Valenciennes lace studded with pearls and diamonds.  Mrs. Huckins wore a beautiful costume of white and gold spangled net.  Mrs. Taylor was charmingly gowned in pompadour silk and real lace, necklace of diamonds.  Mrs. Mullins wore a handsome gown of biscuit colored crepe de Chine, with hand embroidery and diamonds.  Mrs. Reed looked charming in white crepe de Cine over white satin with old rose point and diamonds.  Mrs. Offenhauser was attired in a heavy flowered grog rain silk trimmed with hand embroidery.  Mrs. C. E. Haydon wore a creation of tan colored crepe de Chine over silk beautifully embroidered.  Her jewels were diamonds.  Mrs. Harry Haydon's toilette was of cream duchess satin, trimmed with duchess point lace.  Mrs. Foreman was robed in a gown of Nile green silk, real lace and diamonds.

To the committee on arrangements and committee on reception especially, and to all of the various other committees who had charge of this affair, let unstinted praise be given, for to the eyes of the writer no more gracious reception or more successful entertainment was ever accorded a guest.

The committee on arrangements, which had in charge the immediate direction of the affair, was composed of the following gentlemen:  Mr. E. D. Gillen, honorary; Mr. George T. Gray.  Mr. Louis Heilbron, Mr. N. C. Edmonds, Chas. M. Blocker, M. F. Morgan and Floyd Thompson, chairman.

The committee on reception was as follows:  Mr. and Mrs. Adam Offenhauser, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. McCartney, Miss Mary Webber, Miss Rose Conway.

Mrs. Offenhauser was attired in white satin, with garnitures of white gardenias, in addition to which were amethyst.  Mrs. McCartney's beautiful toilette was of white crepe de Chine, trimmed with hand embroidered lace, and diamonds.  Miss Webber looked charming in pink organdy over silk, white lace trimmings, interspersed with diamonds.  Her unique coiffure was particularly noticeable.  Miss Conway was beautifully gowned in white silk, diamond ornaments.

The Tea Room, which was artistically decorated in Japanese effects, was in charge of Mrs. Geo. J. Gray and Mrs. Noah Sanderson, assisted by Misses Jet Mills, Fay Hudgins and Lucy Trigg.  Mr. N. C. Edmonds, aid, Mrs. Gray wore a beautiful gown of silver Grey crepe de Chine over silk trimmed with chiffon roses and black velvet, with diamonds.  Mrs. Sanderson wore a magnificent gown of black spangled net and diamonds.  Miss jet Mills wore a lovely gown of lemon colored silk mulle over silk, trimmed ___ _______ with silk and embroidery.  Miss Hudgins was daintily gowned in pink point d'esprit over silk, diamonds.  Miss Trigg was attired in a beautiful dress of white muslin over silk, with French lace.

The coffee table, which was beautifully festooned with bamboo and holly, stationed in the dining room, was in charge of Mrs. Floyd Thompson and Mrs. J. D. Sanderson, assisted by Miss Juilette Sevier and Miss Corrie Webber, Mr. Louis Heilbron, aid Mrs. Thompson was elegantly gowned in flowered net over silk, her jewels were diamonds.  Mrs. Sanderson wore a beautiful gown of biscuit colored crepe, trimmed with hand made embroidery.  Miss Sevier looked charming in white lace over yellow silk, diamonds.  Miss Webber was beautifully gowned in white mulle over light blue silk.

The punch bowls were presided over by Mrs. J. E. Kirby, Mrs. Dr. W. A. Robinson, Mrs. J. S. Ragland, Mrs. Henry Offenhauser, assisted by Miss Jess Mabry, Miss May Murphy, Miss Linnie Belle Webber and Miss Correlle Ragland.  Mrs. Kirby wore a magnificent gown of white lace over Alice blue silk, diamonds.  Mrs. Dr. Robinson's costume was of white organdy over silk.  Mrs. Ragland was attired in handsome grey crepe, embroidered with violets.  Mrs. Offenhauser was charming in a lavender organdy silk.  Miss Murphy in a handsome white lace over satin.  Miss Mabry was beautiful in a white tulle over silk, her jewels were diamonds.  Miss Webber looked pettite in red silk mulle over silk.  Miss Ragland wore a handsome black net, real lace trimmings.

Numberless diversions of an impromptu nature were features of the evening's entertainment.  The piano selections by Mrs. Cozia Williams and the vocal solos by Mrs. H. H. Sinnige, of St. Louis, being particularly effective.  Mrs. McWilliams was attired in a fluffy creation of white lace, silk mulle and diamonds; Mrs. Sinnige wore a magnificent gown of white chiffon broadcloth, with real lace trimmings.

Owing to the inability of the writer to obtain a full and accurate list of all the costumes worn by the visiting ladies it will be necessary to generalize on the majority by stating that they surpassed in loveliness anything ever seen at an affair of its kind in Texarkana.  A few of those particularly noticeable, however were as follows:  Mrs. Edw. Kuhl was attired in a gown of blue silk mulle over silk, duchess point lace and diamonds.  Mrs. Ed Burke wore a beautiful dress of pompadour net over white taffeta.  Mrs. Dr. J. B. Lightfoot, a costume of rose silk, net trimmings and diamonds.  Mrs. Dr. Webster, a magnificent gown of white brocade satin, with green trimmings.  Mrs. C. A. Kettering in sea green chiffon broadcloth and real lace.  Mrs. P. T. Yarbrough in red taffeta silk and Spanish lace.  Mrs. T. F. Booker in black chiffon broadcloth and French lace.   The Hon. Mrs. J. M. Somervell was attired in a gown of blue taffeta silk and Valencienne lace.  Mrs. Gus Shaw in black crepe de chine, trimmed with hand embroidered lace.  Miss Hal Crouch in lavender with hand painted chiffon.  Miss. Whatley's toilette was  of pink embroidered with white net.  The Hon. Mrs. W. F. Kirby was gowned in white net with pearls.  Mrs. B. H. Kuhl was attired in a handsome gown of light blue silk, Duchesse lace.  Miss Louise Holman wore a beautiful dress of candy colored satin real lace and diamonds.  Mrs. Clarennce Johnson, a costume of champagne colored crepe de chine.  Miss Hester Frost's toilette was of pink creep de chine.  Mrs. F. Doyle was attired in black lace on black silk.  Miss L. Conway wore a beautiful gown of white taffeta.  Mrs. E. A. Frost was gowned in embroidered chiffon, and Mrs. E. W. Frost's costume was a magnificent affair of white crepe de chine with diamonds.  Miss Adma Green wore a gown of white organdy.  Miss Bess Bryant's toilette was of white silk and hand painted chiffon.  Miss M. Lawson was robed in white silk, trimmed with duchesse point lace.  Mrs. Fry wore a gown of pink crepe de chine.  Miss Anna Priest was gowned in pink silk, hand embroidered lace.  Miss E. Hubbard was attired in a white crepe de chine and Miss M. Hubbard in a beautiful crepe de chine.  Miss Stubbins had on a handsome grenedine.  Miss L. Perkins, a blue net, French lace trimmings.   Miss Mattie Thomas a white silk with diamonds and Mrs. Howlett was robed in white lace over all.  Noticeable among the evening wraps was the cream colored silk worn by Mrs. W. C. Gaggs; also that of Miss Birdie Rand, a white broadcloth with gold and silver embellishments.

Well known society people present were:  Rev. and Mrs. James Thomas, Dr. and Mrs. T. A. Sims, Mrs. William S. Sharp, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mann, Mrs. S. M. Goodwin, Mr. and Mrs. Ben F. Smith, Mr. David D. Terry, Mr. Hampton M. Wisdom, Miss Nantle Houston, Dr. W. W. Read, Mr. and Mrs. Earl W. Godbold, Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Lippincott, Richard Ryan Thompson, Dr. and Mrs. P. A. Skeen, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. West, Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Stuart, Miss Mamie Johnston, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Fouke, Mr. W. H. Wood, Mr. Richard M. Mann, Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. John N. Cook, Mrs. Frances C. Kettering, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Ledwidge, Mrs. R. T. Moore, Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Arnold, Mrs. W. T. Hudgins, Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Tilson, Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Wade, Mrs. J. W. Ferguson, Mrs. Stubbins, Mr. J. T. Owsley, Mr. and Mrs. Fred K. Doyle, Mr. Guy Miller Whealdon, Mr. J. Prestridge, Miss Trigg, Mrs. E. A. O'Donnell, Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Robertson, Dr. and Mrs. T. F. Kittrell, Mrs. Warder, Mrs. Whitford Trawick Fry, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Gaines, Dr. and Mrs. F. L. Wisdom, Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Lawson, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Frost, Mrs. Latona Moores Bruce, Mrs. D. C. Harrington, Charles Herman Fry, Jr., Miss Hester Frost, Mrs. R. J. O'Dwyer, Mrs. Horace W. Vaughan, Mr. and Mrs. Stone, Mrs. John A. Lightfoot, Mrs. Mittle Whatley Lockett, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Frost, Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Blood, Mr. J. M. Wiggins, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Fouke, Mr. and Mrs. Jas F. Black, Mr. and Mrs. H. O. Byrd, Mr. Paul Crouch, Miss Adma Green, Mrs. Ernest Lynn Howlett, Mr. Frank J. Fouke, Mr. and Mrs. John B. King, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Heftner, Mr. Oscar Turner, Judge and Mrs. P. A. Turner, Mr. T. L. Temple, Mr. and Mrs. Richard G. Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Pratt P. Bacon, Mr. and Mrs. Jno. C. Fontaine, Mr. F. S. Timmons, Miss Perkins, Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Watlington, Mr.  and Mrs. Jas G. Williams, Mr. N. A. Shaw, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Hiller, Mr. John D. Clifton, Miss Mattie Love Thomas, Mrs. Jamie Lumpkin, Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Grim, Miss Carrie Baker, Miss E. Ida Tucker.

Among others present were the following prominent Elks, with their wives and ladies:  Messrs, T. E. Webber, R. A. Munson, Jno. J. King, E. A. Dryer, C. L. Shepherd, W. H. Booth, E. F. Burke, Hiram Glass, Chas. S. Todd, Thos. A. Brewer, Ben R. Williams, J. A. Stanfield, Frank J. Fouke, W. L. Estes, Henry Moore, Jr., Fowler Baldwin, Thad A. Bryant, W. A. Arthur, Geo. W. Fouke, Bruce Christopher, Mannie Nash, P. E. Baer, W. R. Grim, G. A. Hays, A. J. Kizer, Joe Fuqua, Jno. T. Owsley, Frank A. King, Dr. H. R. Webster, Henry Offenhauser, F. W. McMillan, E. R. Wicks, Otis McCorkle, T. S. Mullins, Oscar Turner, N. P. Sanderson, J. B. Collett, Geo. Park, Jno. C. Kirby, J. D. Sanderson J. G. Bickley, C. C. Brengle, W. B.. Crouch, H. P. Briley, E. M. Henderson, M. D. Tilson, Jas. F. Black, P. J. Benge, Wilbur M. Paup, Rollin Rodgers, W. E. Ralph, C. F. Haydon, Geo. West, A. C. Stuart, Jas. T. Trigg, Thos. H. Smith, Oscar High, Sidney Stewart, W. E. Casey, H. A. Mann, W. H. Arnold, Jas. H. Martin, Guy Wood, O. L. Hargraves, F. W. Cates, H. W. Hubenthal, R. E. Burke, G. B. Hollingsworth, C. P. Ockander, Dr. O. S. Holliday, Chas. Staiti, J. H. Hawkins, N. C. Edmonds, R. L. Trigg, M. F. Morgan, F. W. Hill, D. S. Crawford, J. J. Ledwidge, C. E. Wilson, Joe Bedingfield, Chas. Williams, H. V. Beasley, E. G. Anderson, W. G. McAlister, J. C. Fontaine, Hubert Stone, J. J. Creekmore, W. K. Read, F. L. Wisdom, J. D. Clifton, S. E. Whitesides, V. E. Buron, R. Heilbron, H. E. Cooper, S. R. Lippincott, J. J. Johnson, Geo. R. DePoyster, J. H. Dominick, J. D. Givans, J. R. Cullinane, L. B. Ellison, Z. Sanders, J. A. Cannon, L. A. Lawson, Homer W. Wilson, E. S. Lillenstern, A. C. Arnold, A. M. Cox, R. B. Ayres, J. V. Schreck, R. F. Akridge, R. E. Rain, E. L. Reeves, Berke Ormand, J. B. Cullum, H. R. Whatley, C. M. Conway, Victor A. Ghio, W. H. Burke, H. T. Phillips, J. M. Wiggins, Geo. Webber, Dan F. Smith, S. E. Mitchell, R. J. Patterson, J. Q. Mahaffey, F. E. Blood, F. S. Carroll, Dan V. James, Allen Winham, R. P. Masson, H. M. Boush, J. F. Rochelle, Harry H. Williams, Wm. Steel, R. J. O'Dwyer, J. C. Edwards, Edw. Kuhl, J. A. Wiggins, Richard R. Thompson, W. P. Hudgins, Fred H. Hoffman, S. J. Arnold, Thos. H. Wile, F. E. Pharr, E. C. Durham, C. W. Halliburton, M. S. Armstrong, John H. Eldridge, Floyd S. Timmons. Ben N. Anthony, R. D. Hart, C. J. Dardinac, Geo. S. Valliant, H. H. Brown Geo. Helms, H. C. Angell, Thos. H. Estes, R. M. Mann, C. R. Hoffer, Pratt P. Bacon.