Hunt Co., TX - Letter Wins New Mexico Gifts For Celeste Girl ************************************************************ This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by: Sarah Swindell USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************ LETTER WINS NEW MEXICO GIFTS FOR CELESTE GIRL There’s going to be a "Cinderella" finish to the wish of thirteen-year old Frances Taylor of Celeste, the most excited girl in Hunt County. It’s all because Frances read a story in the daily’s column recently about a fashion fiesta to be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, beginning on September 7, 1954. The story: "New Mexicans Omit Siesta and Plan Gala Fashion Fiesta" appealed to the eighth grade Celeste student so she wrote a letter to the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and enclosed a clipping from The Greenville Banner. "What a thrill it would be if I could be there and see that wonderful sight . . .all those pretty clothes," Frances wrote. Asked For Price List She expressed a wish to be the "first girl in my town to own one of those pretty outfits of the Navajos," asked for a price list of a full outfit and wondered if they could "please give me a good price." The letter Frances wrote was as appealing to officials of the New Mexico Fashion and Craft Market, Inc. as the newspaper story was to her. So, she will get her outfit, doubled, at a price she didn’t anticipate. For nothing, in fact. Won Officials’ Hearts The letter Frances wrote won the hearts of the officials of the fiesta. Coming up for Frances are two fiesta dresses, both original designs; a turquoise squash necklace, and a bracelet, two pairs of moccasins, a pair of "devil chasers"—a belt and shoe combination, --special silk screen scarves and handkerchiefs, a Chayo blanket handbag, a set of Western blouses, and a pair of Eagle Dance moccasins. An Associated Press story on Saturday, August 28, 1954, said that Mrs. Irene Eichel executed everything to be just right for the eighth-grader. She wanted Frances o call her in Albuquerque as soon as possible with details of her height, weight, and "the rest that goes into making up the dress sizes." The Greenville Banner got in touch with Frances immediately through the cooperation of the Celeste telephone operator, and passed the information on to her. Frances is the daughter of Mrs. Dora Taylor, a widow. Her father was Bill Taylor, well known in the Celeste area, who died in May of 1953. He operated a feed and coal business in Celeste for a number of years. (September 3, 1954)