PRETTY GIRLS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 52, 25 October 1912, Page 7

PRETTY GIRLS.

ENGLISH BEAUTY TRIUMPHS. English blonde beauty won the day at Folkestone’s annual beauty show. All the charms of foreign lands, even the graces of a Scottish lassie and an - Irish colleen, could not prevail against the strawberries and cream complexion of England’s champion who non the beauty show. This was the order of the night's winners / ' Votes. 1. Miss Mercia Harber, England 200 2. Miss Haidee do Ranee, Holland 151 3. Miss Jeanie Mill, Scotland ... 65 4. Miss Christabel Hetherington, England’s “second string” ... 60 Throughout the day Folkestone talked of nothing but beauty—beauty in the abstract and beauty as represented hr the divinities of all nations gathered in all their glory for the beauty show. They came not merely from the United Kingdom, but from more than four corners of Europe. One glance at the dazzling array on the stage made it evident that the show was easily the best ever held on the pier. The pavilion was stormed early in the evening by gallants, young and old, and many ladies anxious to admire or criticise. Soon not a seat could be had for love or money, and many were happy to secure even standing room. The curtain rose on a vision of real lovlincss. On a throne on the dais sat Miss Mercia Harber, of Sydenham, who was elected English Queen of Beauty a fortnight before, surrounded by Miss Jeanie Mill, a rare type of Scottish beauty, Miss Nora Shea, a colleen from Cork, and Miss Y. Buckley, of Cardiff, representing Wales. Miss Harber was robed as Britannia, with trident, helmet, and shield. The other competitors also wore their national costumes. Grouped about this quartette were the five other English girls and the foreign beauties. With Britannia taking the lead, each one had to advance to the footlights and bow, while the orchestra played her national refrain. Miss Harber, England’s hope, received a tremendous ovation, and the Seaforth Highlanders from Shorncliffc/ Camp offered a specially warm welcome to the Scottish representative, resplendent in Highland costume. Each beauty wore a number to guide the spectators in voting. There was no number 13, competitors having superstitious objections. Miss Harber gave an “Express” representative her impressions of the “ordeal” of a beauty show competitor,/ ! This young lady of sixteen is an fiineffected, simple English girl, blonde', NVith an oval face and perfect features. She would not admit that there wasanything in the nature of an ordeal. “1 iplt a little nervous at first,” she said, “’but that soon wore off, and there was only the excitement and desire tq 'kno.w 'who' had won. The other' competitors are not a bit jealous of the winner, but quite friendly and niceii | ■ hope to compete at more bequity | shpws, for there are good prizes to bet won, and one never knows what one catdxlo till one tries.”