The Pickwick Club
“It will warm my heart to witness the happiness of those friends who are dearest to me, beneath my own roof.” So scripted Charles Dickens in his satirical and humorous novel, his first one, titled “The Pickwick Papers.” It followed the adventures of Samuel Pickwick and his companions as they travel England after founding the Pickwick Club. The work was first published in monthly installments from March 1836 to November 1837 and was completed for publication as a book in 1837.
In 1951, the Pickwick Club of New Orleans presented debutantes of the season for the first time, leading to a tradition “beneath its (sic) own roof.” Recently, members’ daughters once again were showcased at the annual Debutante Presentation. The evening’s festivities commenced with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres with the presentation an hour later. Mothers of the debutantes had special assigned seating. Post presentation, dancing to the music of the Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra occurred, as did the treats of a sumptuous breakfast buffet.
Processing were Misses Emily Bashline Blessey, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Blessey; Taylor Lee Elliott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Sporl Elliott; Kelsey Grace French, daughter of Mr. William Darwin French and Ms. Kara Van de Carr and stepdaughter of Mr. Daryl Glynn Byrd; Catherine Carlisle Martin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Loftin Martin; Meridth Lauren Mason, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Griffin Mason; Lucile McGlinchey Monsted, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Niels Monsted IV; Mason Elisabeth Poole, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Carter Poole; and Kathleen Brewer Ready, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Milton David Ready.
And, Misses Brooke Coleman Reiss, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Joseph Reiss III; Elizabeth Kathleen Robert, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Kearny Quinn Robert III; Elizabeth McLundie Bolton Schmidt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Justin Burton Schmidt; and Helen Claire Thompson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles David Thompson Jr. Applause was effusive for the lovely dozen.
Club officers included Messrs. Millard B. Morrison Sr., John C. Hazard Jr., and David G. Bailey, respective president, vice president and secretary-treasurer, and past president David F. Waguespack. Messrs. Benjamin A. Dupuy and R. Duncan Brown served as chairman and vice chairman of the reception committee that also counted Messrs. W. Ryan Acomb, George C. Drennan, Conor T. Lutkewitte, Joseph S. Mann, James J. Reiss III, St. Denis J. Villere III, Charles T. Walsten and John S. Woodard.
The joy of Pickwickian hospitality was certainly to the fore. To the floor were numerous pairings, who danced the night away to the Maxwell music.
Mid-Winter Cotillion
The New Orleans Country Club was the location for debutante loveliness and legacy when the Mid-Winter Cotillion held its annual presentation. Prior to their entrance in the club’s ballroom, the debs and their parents enjoyed a reception in the Founder’s Room, where the former were toasted by Mid-Winter Board of Governors President Alexander McCall. Richard Bienvenu provided the pianism, and Villere’s Florist, the corsages and boutonnieres for the presentees and Mid-Winter members.
Notable among them were president Alex McCall, vice president Walker Montgomery, and board members Michael Baumer, David Beahm, Jack Beahm, Dickson Chamberlain, Lynton Cook, Jack Currence, Shelby Friedrichs, Beau Gibbons, Will Gottsegen, Coalter McCall, Penn McCay, James Nieset, James Rogers, Jack Schwing, Michael Talbot and Saint Villere.
After the ladies in the audience were seated — the men stood — James J. Reiss III, a former Mid-Winter president, opened the formalities as master of ceremonies. Miss Cecile Amanda Abbott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herschel Lee Abbott III, was the first debutante to appear. The honorees were escorted by Mid-Winter members to the steps of the stage. Then president McCall and vice president Montgomery escorted the debutantes to their placement on the stage, which was backed by a lush black drapery. Two dozen white poinsettias, along with a few red ones, bedecked the dais.
The following debs entered alternately from two doors of the Founder’s Room into the ballroom. They were Misses Marche Marie Beals, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willlard Chester Beals; Adelaide Elizabeth Benzman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Jay Benzman; Lyden Henriette Bland, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clay Vallon Bland; Alice Lane Read Calhoun, daughter of Dr. Andrew Calhoun and Mrs. Charles J. Moll III, and stepdaughter of Mr. Moll and Mrs. Calhoun; Hazel Kathryn Drury, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Leonard Drury; Taylor Lee Elliott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Sporl Elliott; Mary Roberts Favor, daughter of Mr. George Michael Favor and Ms. Joy Roberts Favor; and Piper Katherine Franks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Zeljko Stephen Franks.
Also, Misses Julianne Quaid Good, daughter of Mr. William Allen Good and Mrs. Lyle Anthony Moreau, and stepdaughter of Mr. Moreau and Mrs. Good; Elizabeth Adlynn Johnston, daughter of Mr. Robert Reed Johnston and Ms. Michelle Kirtley Johnston; Vivian Bryce Jones, daughter of Mr. James Rufus Jones III and Mrs. Samuel Wagner V, and stepdaughter of Mr. Jones; Samantha Jordan Knister, daughter of Mr. Terrence Kent Knister and Ms. Anne Pettigrew Birdsong; Madeleine Paige Morrison, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. deLesseps Story Morrison III; Alexandra Kay Murphy, daughter of Mr. Curt Andrew Murphy and Mrs. Nicolas Guillermo Bazan III, and stepdaughter of Mr. Bazan; Sloane Alexandra Paysse, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. René Sylvain Paysse Jr.; Mason Elisabeth Poole, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Carter Poole; and Taylor Alexis Stokes, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Larry Steven Stokes. “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” “Isn’t She Lovely” and “It Had to Be You” were three of the accompanying, and appropriate, songs played by the BRW Band during the presentation.
When all 18 debutantes were on the stage, emcee James Reiss called for a round of applause for them, and issued a nod to the forthcoming Carnival season. He then announced, “It is my honor to present to you (the audience) the 2025 Mid-Winter Cotillion.” After curtsies, the debutantes descended the stage to dance with their fathers or stepfathers to “Thank Heaven for Little Girls.”
The floor was then cleared of the chairs, which were placed at tables in the flanking rooms where everyone sat for the bounty of breakfast. Among the featured menu items were grillades and grits, scrambled eggs, chocolate chip cookies, and brownies with peppermint icing. Bee’s Flower Shop did the entrance flowers and those centering the tables.
Meanwhile, the BRW Band was revving up and ignited the area with “Fire.” A next number was “All Night Long,” which augured well for the forthcoming dance-floor fun.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
