INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS XIII 



To pick out a belle among a bevy at once stately, lovely, 

 dainty, quaint, sweet and graceful is a task that might be flinched 

 from, but must be braved. Two — one elder and one younger — 

 seemed to bear the palms, viz.: Miss Elizabeth Burt and Miss 

 Margaret Van Duzer. 



Miss Burt was resplendent in blue silk, in lustrous, full folds and 

 perfect fit, with delicate lace garnishings, and jewels at neck, belt 

 and wrist. The dress was a gift from her mother on her eight- 

 eenth birthday, and was of a quality unobtainable now. Her 

 coiffure was finished off with a large blue and white ribbon bow, 

 and she carried a fan. 



Miss Margaret Van Duzer wore a light summer dress of lawn, 

 parti-colored, quaintly made with many-ruffled skirt. A 

 ravishing coiffure of large puff extending across the top of the 

 head, with puffs at the ears and heavy curl dependent by each 

 cheek became well her petite style. But, capping this effect, and 

 earning her the title of "junior belle" to most minds, was her 

 genial, quick and amiable response to the summons for a girl 

 dancer to entertain the crowd after several good-humored 

 masculine exhibitions, with an old-fashioned solo country dance. 

 With scarf thrown lightly over her arms, feet pattering in perfect 

 time, with odd bobs at intervals, she was the veritable hit of that 

 portion of the program. 



The elegant equipage of W. Sanford Durland, of Chester, was 

 one of the sensations of the day. It was a genuine Brewster- 

 built Victoria from New York, with wonderful features of con- 

 struction in massive leather bands instead of springs, shining 

 lamps, high front, and deep-seated back. Hanging from one of 

 the cross-bars in the rear, in derision of the time it represented, 

 was an auto sign, reading: " 1830 N.Y. " A trio of flower-garden 

 ladies, in silks, large,open-fronted and blossom-garnished bonnets, 

 gold ornaments and other furbelows, were, by name: Mrs. Mary 

 Sanford Durland, her sister, Mrs. Emma Sanford Reynolds, and 

 Mrs. Charles Dixon. The accompanying gentlemen were W. 

 Sanford Durland, E. Moreau Reynolds, and Charles Dixon. 

 The notables represented were Major and Mrs. James Board by 

 W. S. Durland and mother; Gen. and Mrs. John Hathorn by 

 Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds; and Gen. and Mrs. Knox by Mr. and 

 Mrs. Dixon. 



As a contrast, and who that saw them shall say it extended to 

 the bright faces of its occupants, was the Albert Durland ox-cart 

 from Edenville. On chairs, in real old style, rode Mrs. Edward 

 Stidworthy and son Earl, Mrs. Seeley Everett, the Misses Mary 

 and Helen Houston, Catherine Nanny and Mildred Hedges. 



The box-wagon rig manned by Mr. John Pelton, and filled also 

 with a bevy of merry maids riding in chairs, was a display which 

 drew all eyes. He, himself, in ancient army hat, contributed not 

 a little to the success of the outfit. 



