May Day Fete Proved Very Elaborate Event. . . Hundreds of Persons Attracted to Y Lawn Where Festivities Were Held—Children Did Parts Well. . . Miss Dayvault Crowed Queen. . . Cinderella Challenged Attention in Unusual Way—May Pole Dance One of Most Pleasing Features
May day was celebrated Friday afternoon at he Y.M.C.A. lawn in the most elaborate fete ever seen in the city of Concord and was witnessed by one of the largest crowds that have ever gathered for an event in the history of the city.
After several days of very inclement (weather), a cold rain driven by high winds, the weather man permitted a clear day and with the exception of the fact that it was a little too cool, the day was ideal.
Although the program did not start until 5:30, all reserved seats in the improvised amphitheater were taken shortly after 5. All available standing room in the vicinity was taken and even the roofs of nearby houses were used to view the spectacle. Some few urchins risked tearing trousers and climbed to the top of the wire netting surrounding the tennis court where they parked for a period of nearly two hours, sitting astride the two-by-four railings used as top supports. Constant vigilance was necessary on the par tof officials to keep the crowd from surging on the arena used for the dances.
The identity of the May Queen, which had been kept secret during the weeks of practice preceding the event, leaked out on the last day and there was little surprise when Miss Rebecca Dayvault made her way round the arena and took her seat on the throne erected under the stately oak on the right side of the Y.M.C.A. lawn.
A great amount of work had been expended on the erection of suitable stands for the various groups in the fete. Under the majestic oak on the right of the lawn, was the stand on which was placed the throne of the queen. This stand was large enough to accommodate the eight pages and the entire group of maidens comprising the court. To the right of this were placed seats for the kindergarten and on the left were stands for other groups of dancers.
The queen’s stand was particularly beautiful, being formed of a white lattice work covered with white cloth and draped with green ivy. Over the queen’s chair was a marquee constructed in fan-like shape and decorated with ivy similar to the decoration of the stand.
Announcement of the beginning of the program was made when four heralds made their way to the lawn blowing brass trumpets. Following came eight pages dressed in suits of black trimmed with white ruffles. The court followed.
The line of march which the court and the queen made began at the front steps of the Y, circled the lawn and then ended on the stand at the extreme right. All the maids in the court were costumed in voile dresses in rainbow colors and they stationed themselves in fan-shaped fashion around the queen’s throne. In the court were the following: Jennie Brown, Annie Guffy Dayvault, Bessie Webb, Willie White, Dorothy Black, Mary Orchard Boger, Mary Cannon, Annie Louise Hoober, Anita Umberger, Sarah Simpson, Louise Miller, Helen Dayvault, Nola Barrier, Zula Petrea, Mary Grady Parks, Julia Rowan, Louise Morris and Margaret Barrier.
Little Frances Barringer next entered in white and carrying on a white satin pillow the crown made of silver and orange blossoms. The maid of honor, Margaret Corzine, then entered beautifully costumed in a flowered georgette and carrying a corsage of roses. She took her stand on the right of the queen’s throne, the crown bearer taking her stand on the left.
The queen, Miss Rebecca Dayvault, followed and was exquisitely beautiful in a costume of pure white. She wore a very becoming dress of white satin with a band of white fur around the bottom, and carried a shower bouquet of white roses, white pinks and white peonies. Her train of white satin was born by seven little girls, also in white. Miss Dayvault carried a shepherd’s staff, which was ornamented with a shower bouquet attached at the head.
Numbers of spectators declared that Miss Dayvault was by far the prettiest queen they had ever seen in a May Day fete. Her brunette coloring in contract with the white of her costume gave her a striking appearance.
The court jesters, Nancy Lentz and Frances Howard, afforded much amusement as they entered after the queen had seated herself, aping in grotesque fashion the stately movement of the queen and her court. During the entire program, the jesters continued their antics for the entertainment of the spectators.
As soon as the queen was seated on her throne and the court arranged around here, the program honoring the queen was rendered. First was the dance of youth by the members of the kindergarten girls and boys in which they made a most delightful interpretation of a fairy story. This was followed by a dance of the nymphs, a most attractive group in unusual costume.
Larger girls next rendered a ballet dance, the members of this number being costumed in blue and pink ballet dresses. The minuet dance was also a very well executed dance, the members of this group being costumed in colonial suits and dresses, the men wearing white wigs.
Two very interesting dances were rendered after this, the Cinderela Minuet and the May Pole Dance. The May Pole dance was done by members of the girls club of No. 2 school, all of whom made their own costumes for the occasion.
The Cinderella Play ones one of the best numbers on the program, the part of Cinderella being taken by Ora Lee Jenkins and her two sisters being Claudia Moore and Ida Patterson. Prince Charming was Minnie Hill Davis, and the coachman was Stuart Henry. The entire story was enacted. Of chief interest in the play was the coach for Cinderella, which was made by Rev. W.A. Jenkins and decorated by Mrs. Ada Rogers Gorman. It was an exact replica of the coaches usually pictured in fairy stories, done in gold and red with a curved top and white pompoms at the corners. It was drawn by two ponies.
At the conclusion of the program, Miss Dayvault made a brief speech as May Queen, which was as follows:
Yet once more, O my people, yet once more
We meet with happy minds and joyous hearts
To celebrate the glad approach of May.
The trees are green, the flowers burst into bloom,
Across the azure skies the white clouds pass
Fanned by languid winds that softly blow
Stern Winter’s rule is overthrown by Spring
And Life is now victorious over Death.
This wreath of flowers placed upon my brow
Crowns me the queen of all this happy land,
Before my throne my loyal subject bow
On either side of my noble couriers stand
Sweet Cinderella, wondrously bedight
Has passed before us in her coach of state
The music, dances—all have pleasure brought
To this our glorious summer fete.
In gay attire, bright-hued as flowers of Spring
Around the May Pole have you danced in glee;
Accept our royal thanks for everything
That each has added to the revelry.
The merry making now is ended
And to one and all we cry:
We’re glad you came to see us
Good-bye! Good-bye! Good-bye!
The music for the occasion was rendered by the Gordon Conservatory of Music of Charlotte. Music for the dances was rendered by Mrs. I.I. Davis, Miss Gregory, Mrs. Paris Kidd and Miss Berta Hallam. Directors who trained groups of dancers were as follows: Y Kindergarten, Miss Hallam; Nymphs, Miss Gregory; ballet, Miss Alma Goode; minuet, Miss Margaret Virginia Ervin and Miss Belle Means; Cinderella minuet, Mrs. Kidd; Summer dance, Miss Hallam; Pages, Mrs. Cameron MacRae; and train bearers, Mrs. L.C. Barringer.
Women assisting in the costumes were Mrs. Jones Pharr, Mrs. Zeb Moore, Mrs. E.W. Melchor, Mrs. Victor A. means, Mrs. Joe Hill, Miss May White, Mrs. Abe Pudolsky, Mrs. H.W. Blanks and others.
From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, May 2, 1925
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