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The Veiled Prophet Parade and Ball was a yearly civic celebration in
St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the Greater St. Louis, ...
, over which a mythical figure called the ''Veiled Prophet'' presided. The first events were in 1878.


Overview

The parade and ball were organized and funded by the Veiled Prophet Organization, an all-male, secret society founded in 1878 by prominent St. Louisans. The organization chooses one member to be a ''Veiled Prophet'' who conducts meetings and oversees activities but not necessarily for one year, spokesman Allyn Glaub said in 1991. They were a highly select group culled from the area's business, civic and governmental leaders, "the people who run St. Louis and St. Louis County." At that time the organization was racially mixed. Historian Thomas Spencer believes that the event generally revealed rather than soothed class conflicts.Spencer, pp. 45–46 Spencer wrote that the VP parade was created in part to displace the parades regularly held by the
trade unions A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and Employee ben ...
. Spencer believed it cast workingmen in a passive rather than active role, not merely in the celebration, but in the
mythology Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrat ...
asserted for the history and economic life of the city. Occasionally the unions would stage events intended to mock the pretensions of the VP Ball. The leading
socialist Socialism is a left-wing economic philosophy and movement encompassing a range of economic systems characterized by the dominance of social ownership of the means of production as opposed to private ownership. As a term, it describes the e ...
and
working-class The working class (or labouring class) comprises those engaged in manual-labour occupations or industrial work, who are remunerated via waged or salaried contracts. Working-class occupations (see also " Designation of workers by collar colou ...
newspaper, ''
St. Louis Labor ST, St, or St. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Stanza, in poetry * Suicidal Tendencies, an American heavy metal/hardcore punk band * Star Trek, a science-fiction media franchise * Summa Theologica, a compendium of Catholic philosophy an ...
'', "wrote negatively" about the VP event and its organizers between the early
1900s The 1900s may refer to: * 1900s (decade), the decade from 1900 to 1909 * The century from 1900 to 1999, almost synonymous with the 20th century The 20th (twentieth) century began on January 1, 1901 ( MCMI), and ended on December 31, 2000 ( MM ...
and
1930 Events January * January 15 – The Moon moves into its nearest point to Earth, called perigee, at the same time as its fullest phase of the Lunar Cycle. This is the closest moon distance at in recent history, and the next one will be ...
. The ball, which most recently took place on the Friday before Christmas each year, was attended by thousands, but was protested by
Black Lives Matter Black Lives Matter (abbreviated BLM) is a decentralized political and social movement that seeks to highlight racism, discrimination, and racial inequality experienced by black people. Its primary concerns are incidents of police bruta ...
supporters, as well as the St. Louis-based group Missourians Organized for Reform and Empowerment, which linked St. Louis's wealthiest one percent to the VP organization. In 1995, the name of the riverfront celebration was changed to ''
Fair Saint Louis Fair St. Louis is an annual festival held during the United States Independence Day holiday in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, at the Gateway Arch National Park. It is funded by the Veiled Prophet Organization. History The event originally named ...
'', though the street procession was still called ''Veiled Prophet Parade''. The date was fixed for
Independence Day An independence day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or more rarely after the end of a military occupation. Man ...
. It continued to be funded by the Veiled Prophet Organization. In 2003, the organization created a Community Service Initiative, through which members participate in a wide variety of projects in and around the city of St. Louis. In 2016, it secured a
trademark A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a type of intellectual property consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression that identifies products or services from a particular source and distinguishes them from others ...
for the name America's Birthday Parade.Valerie Schremp Hahn, "VP Parade Known as 'America's Birthday Parade' in More Homes Nationwide," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' June 29, 2017
/ref> In 2021, The "Veiled Prophet Parade" was replaced by the "American Birthday Parade" as to assuage concerns that the pageant was "a symbol of wealth, power, and to some racism."


Integration timeline


1930s-1940s

Before World War II, the African-American community in St. Louis crowned its own "Veiled Prophet Queen," who included Ernestine Steele in 1939 and Blanche Vashon (later Sinkler), Georgia Williams, and Evelyn Hilliard. A 1940 newspaper column said that for years the official VP Parade had drawn
many persons, white and colored, to the city . . . nd thatYears ago there was a dance for the colored citizenry on that night, but that affair was long discontinued. Five years ago, Mrs. Zenobia Shoulders Johnson, one of the city's most active church and civic workers, conceived the idea of a style show which would culminate in the crowning of the "Veiled Prophet's Queen," someone representative of real St. Louis culture and society, much in the same manner of the original event. The idea caught fire, and from the first night, overflow crowds have witnessed the event at St. James A.M.E._.html" ;"title="frican_Methodist_Episcopal_Church.html" ;"title="
A.M.E._">frican_Methodist_Episcopal_Church.html"_;"title="African_Methodist_Episcopal_Church">A.M.E._Church._And,_in_addition,_the_idea_became_so_popular_that_this_year_there_are_fully_half_a_dozen_similar_projects_as_conceived_by_Mrs._Johnson_being_held_this_week_by_various_other_racial_groups."Covering_St._Louis,"_''The_Pittsburgh_Courier,''_October_12,_1940,_image_23
/ref>


__Postwar_opposition_

Walter_W._Witte,_ A.M.E._">frican_Methodist_Episcopal_Church.html"_;"title="African_Methodist_Episcopal_Church">A.M.E._Church._And,_in_addition,_the_idea_became_so_popular_that_this_year_there_are_fully_half_a_dozen_similar_projects_as_conceived_by_Mrs._Johnson_being_held_this_week_by_various_other_racial_groups."Covering_St._Louis,"_''The_Pittsburgh_Courier,''_October_12,_1940,_image_23
/ref>


__Postwar_opposition_

Walter_W._Witte,_Rector_(ecclesiastical)">rector_ Rector_(Latin_for_the_member_of_a_vessel's_crew_who_steers)_may_refer_to:_ _Style_or_title *Rector_(ecclesiastical),_a_cleric_who_functions_as_an_administrative_leader_in_some_Christian_denominations *Rector_(academia),_a_senior_official_in_an_edu_...
_of_St._Stephen's_Episcopal_Church_(St._Louis).html" ;"title="Rector_(ecclesiastical).html" "title="African Methodist Episcopal Church">A.M.E. ">frican_Methodist_Episcopal_Church.html" ;"title="African Methodist Episcopal Church">A.M.E. Church. And, in addition, the idea became so popular that this year there are fully half a dozen similar projects as conceived by Mrs. Johnson being held this week by various other racial groups."Covering St. Louis," ''The Pittsburgh Courier,'' October 12, 1940, image 23
/ref>


Postwar opposition

Walter W. Witte, Rector (ecclesiastical)">rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...
 of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (St. Louis)">St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, set forth the first widely circulated postwar opposition to the VP ball in a letter printed in the ''Post-Dispatch'' on September 30, 1966. He wrote:
. . . I recall my fascination some 10 years ago when I was told that St. Louis had a Veiled Prophet Parade. I was new to the city then and I presumed that this gala event must be some climactic community celebration, perhaps historical in nature. Then to discover that this was the yearly feast of the rich, culminating in a "coming out" ball at the municipal auditorium . . . was indeed a disappointment. Since then disappointment has given place to disgust. The spectacle of the wealthy daring to parade through the neighborhoods or near neighborhoods of the poor is outrageous. And the ritual. Is it merely "cute," or are we witnessing the honest to God cult of the affluent with its prophets, queens, attending angels, heavenly courts taken seriously and paid for dearly by the educated business and professional men of the community? . . . . Could it be turned into a genuine community event? I have an idea. If the powers would contact me, I have several outstandingly beautiful candidates in my parish for the Queen of Love and Beauty. Mind you, these candidates are not Mary Institute graduates nor are they currently attending Wellesley College, Wellesley, Smith College, Smith, or Vassar College, Vassar, nor are they likely to be. But they would, indeed, add beauty. Then again they would probably be disqualified. They suffer from one serious limitation. They are black.


Protests mount

Protests against the VP Parade began in 1966 after police shot a black robbery suspect and
Percy Green Percy Green II, born in the Compton Hill neighborhood of St. Louis, is a social worker and Black activist in St. Louis, Missouri. He was active in the St. Louis chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and was a founding member of ACTI ...
, head of the Action Council to Improve Opportunities for Negroes (ACTION) passed out leaflets urging that the annual VP parade be "stopped" in response to the killing, calling it "the personification of St. Louis
racism Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another. It may also mean prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism ...
and
white supremacy White supremacy or white supremacism is the belief that white people are superior to those of other races and thus should dominate them. The belief favors the maintenance and defense of any power and privilege held by white people. White su ...
." The next year, ACTION scheduled a "City Dwellers Week" to coincide with Veiled Prophet activities. It was
code name A code name, call sign or cryptonym is a code word or name used, sometimes clandestinely, to refer to another name, word, project, or person. Code names are often used for military purposes, or in espionage. They may also be used in industrial c ...
d ''Target 84,'' a reference to the Prophet's 84th visit. The aim was to force an end to the VP, which William L. Matheus said was "a symbol of racial and economic oppression." On September 30, 1967, ACTION sponsored a "Black Veiled Prophet Ball" in
parody A parody, also known as a spoof, a satire, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its subj ...
of the VP Ball, the latter which was said to be fostering "
racial discrimination Racial discrimination is any discrimination against any individual on the basis of their skin color, race or ethnic origin.Individuals can discriminate by refusing to do business with, socialize with, or share resources with people of a certain g ...
and
segregation Segregation may refer to: Separation of people * Geographical segregation, rates of two or more populations which are not homogenous throughout a defined space * School segregation * Housing segregation * Racial segregation, separation of humans ...
.""Black Veiled Prophet Crowns Queen at Ball," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' October 2, 1967, image 3
/ref> The group planned the selection of a Queen of Human Justice, who would be chosen according to the number of tickets sold on her behalf. On October 1, 1967, a "small group of marchers," led by Patrick Dougherty, a St. Louis University professor, contended in the suburb of
Clayton, Missouri Clayton is a city in and the seat of St. Louis County, Missouri. It borders the independent city of St. Louis. The population was 17,355 at the 2020 census. Organized in 1877, the city was named after Ralph Clayton, who donated the land for the ...
, that the VP Ball and Parade were "offensive to the Negro community" and should be transformed into a children's event. The next weekend, some fifty demonstrators were in a
sidewalk A sidewalk (North American English), pavement (British English), footpath in Australia, India, New Zealand and Ireland, or footway, is a path along the side of a street, street, highway, terminals. Usually constructed of concrete, pavers, brick ...
protest across the street from the VP Ball in Kiel Auditorium. Leaders, who had no tickets, demanded entry to the hall, and on October 6 three of them were arrested on charges of
disturbing the peace Breach of the peace, or disturbing the peace, is a legal term used in constitutional law in English-speaking countries and in a public order sense in the several jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. It is a form of disorderly conduct. Public ord ...
and failure to obey the commands of a police officer; they were released on bond. They were Precious Barnes, in regalia as the "Black Veiled Prophet," Esther Davis, who was the Queen of Human Justice, and Witte.Timothy Bleck, "Clergymen in Difference With Bishop Cadigan Are Committed to Struggle of Urban Poor," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' October 15, 1967, image 3
/ref> Journalists said the newspeople were shoved and jostled by police and that some officers held hats and hands in front of cameras to prevent photos. Ron Gould, an 18-year-old
seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy, ...
student, said he took a photo of a policeman beating a black woman, and another officer smashed his camera with a
baton Baton may refer to: Stick-like objects *Baton, a type of club *Baton (law enforcement) *Baston (weapon), a type of baton used in Arnis and Filipino Martial Arts *Baton charge, a coordinated tactic for dispersing crowds of people *Baton (conductin ...
, then stepped on the exposed film. He later filed a complaint against the police department, which ruled he had no case. (Charges against Barnes, Davis, and Witte were dropped on January 23, 1968, because of insufficient evidence.) The next day, Barbara Torrence, Ruth Poland, and Mary Ann Kerstetter were arrested for lying in the street in front of the Veiled Prophet Parade in protest of alleged
racial discrimination Racial discrimination is any discrimination against any individual on the basis of their skin color, race or ethnic origin.Individuals can discriminate by refusing to do business with, socialize with, or share resources with people of a certain g ...
. They were sentenced to thirty days in jail for resisting arrest but were placed on
probation Probation in criminal law is a period of supervision over an offender, ordered by the court often in lieu of incarceration. In some jurisdictions, the term ''probation'' applies only to community sentences (alternatives to incarceration), such ...
for a year. In October 1967 Bishop
George L. Cadigan George Leslie Cadigan (April 12, 1910 – December 14, 2005) was seventh bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri from 1959 to 1975. He was an alumnus of Amherst College. Early life and education Cadigan was born on April 12, 1910, in Mount Ve ...
asked Witte and William Matheus, St. Stephens Church
curator A curator (from la, cura, meaning "to take care") is a manager or overseer. When working with cultural organizations, a curator is typically a "collections curator" or an "exhibitions curator", and has multifaceted tasks dependent on the parti ...
, to resign their positions because of "misunderstandings about procedural matters and the seeming inability of Mr. Witte to relate to the program of the
diocese In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, pro ...
." The activities of the two in demonstrations, particularly against the Veiled Prophet Ball, had "incurred the wrath of many Episcopal
laymen In religious organizations, the laity () consists of all members who are not part of the clergy, usually including any non-ordained members of religious orders, e.g. a nun or a lay brother. In both religious and wider secular usage, a layperson ...
," a newspaper report said. Witte said he and Matheus regarded the annual VP ceremonies as symbols of social bigotry and economic discrimination. Cadigan responded that he "holds no brief for the Veiled Prophet Ball and Parade, and it may well be a serious affront to the nonaffluent members of the St. Louis community," but, he said, the two clergymen "vastly overrated" the VP's significance, devoting "great energy, but little skill, in attacking it."


Count Basie cancellation

In 1968, ACTION threatened to stage protests against musician
Count Basie William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...
unless he canceled an agreement to play in the VP Parade, whose theme that year was "Music for Everyone." Basie agreed on September 25 to withdraw, "for personal reasons."


Changing parade route

In 1968,
United Press International United Press International (UPI) is an American international news agency whose newswires, photo, news film, and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations for most of the 20th ...
reported that "ACTION has staged demonstrations at the ball and parade in recent years to protest that the ball was for whites only and that the parade flaunted white wealth down a route that skirted Negro neighborhoods. The route of this year's parade has been shifted to avoid some of the poorer neighborhoods."


More arrests

Percy Green Percy Green II, born in the Compton Hill neighborhood of St. Louis, is a social worker and Black activist in St. Louis, Missouri. He was active in the St. Louis chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and was a founding member of ACTI ...
, William Brown, and William Mitchell were arrested on September 27, 1968, when they were denied entry to the ball. They ignored orders to stop marching directly in front of Kiel Auditorium. Sarah Jones and Barbara Jean Saper were arrested and fined after they chained themselves to one of the floats. In 1969 Carl Jackson (that year's Black Veiled Prophet), Madame Carol (the Black VP queen), Lois Greer (Queen of Human Justice) and George Johnson were arrested after Jackson and Carol presented a slip of blue paper at the Kiel Auditorium door which they said was an invitation and refused to leave. Judge G. Johnson, Sharon Hall, and Rita Scott were arrested in 1970 when they tried to enter the VP Ball by presenting a written statement in lieu of tickets.
Percy Green Percy Green II, born in the Compton Hill neighborhood of St. Louis, is a social worker and Black activist in St. Louis, Missouri. He was active in the St. Louis chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and was a founding member of ACTI ...
, Melvin Carr, Florence Jarrett, Ralph Brown, and Gina Scott were arrested on December 22, 1971, on a charge of general peace disturbance when they attempted to enter Kiel Auditorium with no tickets.


Episcopal resolution

A convention of the
Episcopal Diocese of Missouri The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri is the diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America with jurisdiction over 54 counties in eastern Missouri. It has 42 congregations and is in Province 5 of the Episcopal Church in the United Sta ...
in October 1969 adopted a resolution stating that "Actions of the Veiled Prophet Society are such to be a source of constant irritation to the black communities" in the diocese.


Unmasking the Prophet

On December 23, 1972, six women with tickets provided by
debutantes A debutante, also spelled débutante, ( ; from french: débutante , "female beginner") or deb is a young woman of aristocratic or upper-class family background who has reached maturity and, as a new adult, is presented to society at a formal " ...
and two of them, white women Gena Scott and Jane Sauer, walked together into Kiel Auditorium, with no problem. Then Charles Reed, that year's Black Veiled Prophet went to the entrance with Beverly Crosby and Florence Jarrett, presented the gatekeeper with three tickets and a statement demanding entrance. They were denied entry because they were not "dressed properly." Refusing to leave, they were arrested and taken to a police station.Gary Ronberg, "How They Unveiled the Prophet," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' December 31, 1972, image 54
/ref> Sauer and Scott took balcony seats on opposite sides of the house. During the program, Sauer began dropping leaflets into the audience, then "threw the rest of the leaflets over the railing" as two men converged on her and began to pull her away. Meanwhile, Scott was rappelling on a rope from a balcony when she tumbled hard to the floor, climbed to her feet, rushed to the stage, grabbed the crown and veil and yanked it from that year's VP. The ''Post-Dispatch'' reported that "the Veiled Prophet, whom everybody could see was bald, and very angry, struggled gallantly to restore the veil and its 95-year-old tradition f anonymityto its proper place." The VP was later to be revealed as
Monsanto The Monsanto Company () was an American agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation founded in 1901 and headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Monsanto's best known product is Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide, developed in th ...
executive Tom K. Smith Jr."The Wednesday Inquirer," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' September 25, 1991, image 114
/ref> Scott said: "The chairman of the VP committee, Alexander Cornwell Jr., had wanted to press charges, but when he was informed that the Veiled Prophet would have to appear in open court to do so, the whole matter was dropped." Scott's ribs were diagnosed as bruised and possibly broken.


Aftermath and changes

In early 1973, Gena Scott was awakened when her car was bombed outside of her apartment. Her apartment was vandalized numerous times.Spencer (2000), pp. 134–36 In 1975, ACTION member Patrick Dougherty unfurled a banner on stage reading "ACTION Protests Racist VP," and in 1976, two ACTION members sprayed what Green called "commercial tear gas"Spencer (2000), pp. 138–39 at VP audience members along the stage. In November 1973, a
class-action suit A class action, also known as a class-action lawsuit, class suit, or representative action, is a type of lawsuit where one of the parties is a group of people who are represented collectively by a member or members of that group. The class action ...
was filed on behalf of all black St. Louisans by Percy Green, George (Judge) Johnson and Melvin Carr, claiming the VP organization's rental agreement for Kiel was illegal and that blacks viewed the VP Committee as an "antiblack, semisecret organization made up of members of the economic, political and social white power structure" of St. Louis. The parade was first telecast over station KSD in 1977. In 1979 the Veiled Prophet Organization admitted its first black members, three physicians. In 1987, fair officials and St. Louis Metro Police Department were confronted with accusations of racism when they closed the
Eads Bridge The Eads Bridge is a combined road and railway bridge over the Mississippi River connecting the cities of St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois. It is located on the St. Louis riverfront between Laclede's Landing, to the north, and t ...
to pedestrian access, which reduced the ability of attendees from
East St. Louis East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the f ...
to reach the VP fair, where predominantly black residents were blamed for the crime that had been occurring there. Judge
John F. Nangle John Francis Nangle (June 8, 1922 – August 24, 2008) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Education and career Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Nangle received an Associate ...
ordered the bridge to reopen, saying that there was no proof that the crime was caused by East St. Louisans.Spencer, 2000, p. 148. Some thirty people protesting police shootings in Ferguson, Missouri, and elsewhere in 2014 marched and chanted outside the Hyatt Hotel, St. Louis, where the ball was taking place.


Founding of the Veiled Prophets

The VP organization was founded by prominent St. Louisans who had been invited to a meeting in a letter signed by John B. Maude, John A. Scudder, George Bain, John G. Priest, and D.P. Rowland."The Exposition Opening: Plans Under Consideration for an Imposing Pageant," ''St. Louis Times,'' March 22, 1878, cited in Spencer, page 173 The organization had its roots in the St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Fair, an annual harvest festival since 1856. Featuring agricultural crops, crafts, and demonstrations, it attracted people from throughout the region. Spencer wrote that city boosters devised the Veiled Prophet Fair in an attempt to reclaim from the rapidly growing city of
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...
the fading pre-eminence for St. Louis as a manufacturing center and agricultural shipping point. On March 20, 1878, Charles Slayback, a grain broker who had spent several
Reconstruction Reconstruction may refer to: Politics, history, and sociology *Reconstruction (law), the transfer of a company's (or several companies') business to a new company *'' Perestroika'' (Russian for "reconstruction"), a late 20th century Soviet Unio ...
years in
New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster. ; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...
after the
Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
and become acquainted with its
Mardi Gras Mardi Gras (, ) refers to events of the Carnival celebration, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is known as Shrove Tuesday. is French for "Fat ...
traditions, called a meeting of local business leaders at the Lindell Hotel. He and his brother
Alonzo Alonzo is both a given name and a Spanish surname. Notable people with the name include: Mononym *Alonzo (rapper), French singer and hip hop artist, formerly Segnor Alonzo of Psy 4 de la Rime Given name *Alonzo de Barcena, 16th-century Spani ...
, a former colonel with a Missouri Cavalry Regiment which fought for the Confederates, created a mythology for a secret elite society, whose public demonstrations would coincide with the annual St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Fair. Alonzo wrote ''The First Panorama of Progress of the Veiled Prophets.''Thomas Spencer, ''The St. Louis Veiled Prophet Celebration: Power on Parade,'' , page 9 The brothers borrowed the name "the Veiled Prophet of Khorassan" from Irish poet
Thomas Moore Thomas Moore (28 May 1779 – 25 February 1852) was an Irish writer, poet, and lyricist celebrated for his ''Irish Melodies''. Their setting of English-language verse to old Irish tunes marked the transition in popular Irish culture from Irish ...
's ''
Lalla Rookh ''Lalla Rookh'' is an Oriental romance by Irish poet Thomas Moore, published in 1817. The title is taken from the name of the heroine of the frame tale, the (fictional) daughter of the 17th-century Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The work consis ...
''; they also incorporated features from the
Comus In Greek mythology, Comus (; grc, Κῶμος, ''Kōmos'') is the god of festivity, revels and nocturnal dalliances. He is a son and a cup-bearer of the god Dionysus. He was represented as a winged youth or a child-like satyr and represents ana ...
of New Orleans. In Moore's poem, the Veiled Prophet was a horribly disfigured man who considered himself a prophet. The first visit of the Prophet was thus in 1878, after the Great Panic of 1875, when business needed reviving and St. Louis needed development. In a 1956 promotional book by Vincent H. Sanders and Theodore D. Drury Jr., the Prophet was a world traveler who chose to bless St. Louis; reporter Walter E. Orthwein of the ''Globe-Democrat'' wrote in 1958 that the VP was conceived as "a kind of Santa Claus for grownups.""Initial Event Designed to Give St. Louis Fair a Big Shot in the Arm," ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat,'' October 7, 1958, image 35
/ref>


Secrecy

The VP organization has traditionally attempted to keep its membership rolls secret. In his ''Centennial History of Missouri,'' Walter B. Stevens wrote: "Mystery as to preparations greatly enhances public interest" and means "that the membership must be moved by altruistic motives in giving their fellow Missourians this annual pageant; that no public limelight could be focused on the doers." The VP was sometimes referred to as the Grand Oracle, as in 1880. The identity of a given year's leader has ostensibly been a secret, but the earliest members of the Veiled Prophet organization (in 1878) were reported in 1964 to have included
Alonzo W. Slayback Alonzo William Slayback (1838–1882), a lawyer, was an officer in the Confederate Army and a founder of the Veiled Prophet Parade and Ball in St. Louis, Missouri. He was shot and killed in self-defense by the managing editor of the ''St. Louis Po ...
,
Frank Gaiennie Frank or Franks may refer to: People * Frank (given name) * Frank (surname) * Franks (surname) * Franks, a medieval Germanic people * Frank, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusades - see Farang Curre ...
, John A. Scudder, Henry C. Haarstick, George Bain, Robert P. Tansey, George H. Morgan, Wallace Delafield, John B. Maude, D. P. Rowland, Leigh I. Knapp, David B. Gould, Henry Paschell, H. I. Kent, E. Pretorious, William H. Thompson, and William A. Hargadine, H.B. Loudermann, and George D. Capen.Karin Hayward, "Veiled Prophet Tradition Began at Fair in 1878," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' February 16, 1964, image 306
/ref> As for the leadership, public records showed in 2021 that "the executive officers remain some of the region's most powerful businessmen and dynastic
patricians The patricians (from la, Wikt:patricius, patricius, Greek language, Greek: πατρίκιος) were originally a group of ruling class families in ancient Rome. The distinction was highly significant in the Roman Kingdom, and the early Roman Rep ...
with
surnames In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name, ...
such as
Schnucks Schnucks is a supermarket chain. Based in the St. Louis area, the company was founded in 1939 with the opening of a store in north St. Louis and currently operates over 100 stores in four states throughout the Midwest (Missouri, Illinois, India ...
(grocery stores), Desloge (lead mining), Maritz (employee incentives and corporate travel) and Kemper (banking)."Austin Huguelet, "Society," ''St. Louis Post Dispatch,'' June 13, 2201, page A5
/ref> The prophet crowned "a queen every year; their last names include Kemper, Busch, Danforth, Schnuck, Schlafly, Chouteau, Cabanne, Niedringhaus, Desloge and other historic St. Louis families.The identity of Maids of Honor, one of whom was tapped as Queen, was also kept secret until they were introduced at the Ball." The only person ever identified in connection with the VP administration was Jane Lindemann, who in 1999 was the first woman to hold the post of "exec director."


First parade and ball

The first parade and ball were held on Tuesday, October 8, 1878. The Prophet was selected secretly from among the members, who were made up of St. Louis's business and civic elite. The first Prophet was John G. Priest, a member of the city's Board of Police Commissioners."John G. Priest Dead," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' July 4, 1900, image 12
/ref>


1878 parade

The Veiled Prophet was represented on the final float of the 1878 parade as:"Golden Glory: The Veiled Prophet," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' October 9, 1878, page 5, column 2
/ref>
a huge figure about twenty-five feet high, and looking like an overgrown cigar store sign, with a mosquito bar (
mosquito netting Mosquitoes (or mosquitos) are members of a group of almost 3,600 species of small flies within the family Culicidae (from the Latin ''culex'' meaning "gnat"). The word "mosquito" (formed by ''mosca'' and diminutive ''-ito'') is Spanish for "litt ...
) over its face. He was costumed in green and red, and was surrounded by members of his court. His scribe stood by with huge quill and a reservoir of ink at hand, ready to issue his mandates. Two high priests were behind his throne, and near by a villainous-looking executioner and a blood-curdling butcher's block. Fierce and warlike guards, with breastplates of brass and steel and helmets of the same metals, kept watchful eyes upon the sacred precincts of the Prophet.
In 1882 the ''Globe-Democrat'' described the same giant dummy as a "huge masked figure staring sphinx-like at the crowd." It had been used in previous parades until it was retired and replaced that year by a
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"being with face masked and a long, white beard." On Sunday, October 6, the ''Missouri Republican'' had captioned a
woodcut Woodcut is a relief printing technique in printmaking. An artist carves an image into the surface of a block of wood—typically with gouges—leaving the printing parts level with the surface while removing the non-printing parts. Areas that ...
of a masked, armed, and hooded man posing in Ku Klux Klan garb ( previously used in the newspaper on August 23, 1875) as "the original Veiled Prophet himself," adding that "It will be readily observed from the accoutrements of the Prophet _pistol,_a_shotgun.html"_;"title="pistol.html"_;"title="_pistol">_pistol,_a_shotgun">pistol.html"_;"title="_pistol">_pistol,_a_shotgun,_and_a_billy_club.html" ;"title="pistol">_pistol,_a_shotgun.html" ;"title="pistol.html" ;"title=" pistol"> pistol, a shotgun">pistol.html" ;"title=" pistol"> pistol, a shotgun, and a billy club">pistol">_pistol,_a_shotgun.html" ;"title="pistol.html" ;"title=" pistol"> pistol, a shotgun">pistol.html" ;"title=" pistol"> pistol, a shotgun, and a billy club] that the procession is not likely to be stopped by street cars or anything else." Historian Thomas M. Spencer interpreted the ''Republicans reference to "street cars" as related to the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. "Newspaper feature stories since the 1950s have described the 'first Veiled Prophet parade' as a way of healing the wounds of a bitter labor-management fight," the
1877 St. Louis general strike The 1877 St. Louis general strike was one of the first general strikes in the United States. It grew out of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. The strike was largely organized by the Knights of Labor and the Marxism, Marxist-leaning Workingmen ...
, he wrote. He added, however, that the first Veiled Prophet parade was "more a show of power than a gesture of healing."'' (See note.)''


1878 ball

The initial ball in 1878 was held in the festively decorated Grand Hall of the Merchants Exchange, beginning in the late evening after the completion of the Parade. Its official start was a
quadrille The quadrille is a dance that was fashionable in late 18th- and 19th-century Europe and its colonies. The quadrille consists of a chain of four to six '' contredanses''. Latterly the quadrille was frequently danced to a medley of opera melodie ...
of costumed men from the floats of the parade and the women who awaited them. After two dances, the first being J.S. Bach's ''Royal Quadrille,'' the men retired to replace their disguises with formal wear for the rest of the evening."Decorations of the Grand Hall," ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat,'' October 9, 1878, image 6
/ref> Suzanne (Susie) Slayback was chosen by the first Veiled Prophet, John G. Priest, to be the "belle" of the ball.


Prophet's arrival

Normally the Prophet was introduced to the public either as a real person or as a giant replication when his parade exited the "gloomy-visaged" Den, where the organization had its headquarters. But he also arrived via a different method, as follows:


Boat

For the first time, the Prophet came to St. Louis by boat on October 1, 1892, on the upriver steamer ''War Eagle.'' ''(See note.) A group of civic leaders sailed to
Jefferson Barracks The Jefferson Barracks Military Post is located on the Mississippi River at Lemay, Missouri, south of St. Louis. It was an important and active U.S. Army installation from 1826 through 1946. It is the oldest operating U.S. military installation w ...
via the ''Republic'' and the ''
Paul Tulane Paul Tulane (May 10, 1801 – March 27, 1887) was an American philanthropist and donor. Born in Sherry Valley, near Princeton, New Jersey to a prominent French merchant family, Tulane made his fortune from a retail and dry goods company. Late ...
'' to greet him. The First Regiment marched from St. Louis, and then everybody went back to St. Louis in fifty carriages or marched there in a special afternoon parade through crowded streets; a reception was held at the Exposition Building."St. Louis Carnival," ''The Burlington (Kansas) Nonpareil'', September 30, 1892, page 1
/ref>"St. Louis Carnival," ''Cedar Vale (Kansas) Commercial,'' October 1, 1892, image 4
/ref>"The Veiled Prophet," ''The Thayer (Kansas) News,'' October 7, 1892, page 3
/ref> "A wagonette drawn by four horses went down to the
staging Staging may refer to: Computing * Staging (cloud computing), a process used to assemble, test, and review a new solution before it is moved into production and the existing solution is decommissioned * Staging (data), intermediately storing data ...
," the ''Post-Dispatch'' reported, "and the Prophet took his seat on a raised cushion so that he might be seen by the curious and admiring multitude which he was to pass." At the St. Louis wharf, Samuel Kennard, an organizer of the
Saint Louis Exposition The Saint Louis Exposition or St. Louis Expo was a series of annual agricultural and technical fairs held in St. Louis' Fairgrounds Park, from the 1850s to 1902. In 1904, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, a major World's Fair, was held in St. L ...
, presented the Prophet with the
keys to the city The Freedom of the City (or Borough in some parts of the UK) is an honour bestowed by a municipality upon a valued member of the community, or upon a visiting celebrity or dignitary. Arising from the medieval practice of granting respected ...
, and a band played "
Hail to the Chief "Hail to the Chief" is the personal anthem of the president of the United States, adapted by James Sanderson from an original Scottish Gaelic melody. The song's playing accompanies the appearance of the president of the United States at many ...
.""His Majesty Here," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' October 2, 1892, image 16
/ref> The VP arrived again via upriver boat ''Spread Eagle'' on October 1, 1900, at the foot of Vine Street, to be escorted to the
Coliseum The Colosseum ( ; it, Colosseo ) is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, and is still the largest standing amphitheatre in the world t ...
, where thousands had gathered.


Airplane

The Prophet arrived by
airplane An airplane or aeroplane (informally plane) is a fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, propeller, or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and wing configurations. The broad spe ...
four times, from 1924 through 1927, followed by an informal parade to the Den.


Notable VP Ball incidents and activities


The Belles and the Queens of Love and Beauty

The custom of singling out a young woman for special attention began with the first Veiled Prophet Ball in 1878, when Suzanne (Susie) Slayback was chosen by the first Veiled Prophet, John G. Priest, to be the " belle" of the ball at the age of 16. According to a 1958 article in the ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat'', in those earlier times it was "the custom of the Prophet to select a girl for his partner in the first dance at the ball."Walter E. Orthwein, "Idea for VP Festival Came Out of Meeting in Old Lindell Hotel," ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat,'' October 7, 1958, image 34
/ref>"Belle of First Ball Tells How She Felt," ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat,''October 7, 1958, image 39
/ref> In 1884 the title of this honoree was changed to ''Queen of Love and Beauty''. She was to "act as
regent A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state '' pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy ...
" between the Prophet's yearly visits and to "be in charge of the social life of the city.""Veiled Prophet Sends Edicts Announcing His Coming Oct. 7," ''The Republic,'' September 21, 1902, image 24
/ref> In 2021 and 2022, two
celebrities Celebrity is a condition of fame and broad public recognition of a person or group as a result of the attention given to them by mass media. An individual may attain a celebrity status from having great wealth, their participation in sports ...
were denounced in
social media Social media are interactive media technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks. While challenges to the definition of ''social medi ...
for having been Veiled Prophet Queens when young. * Some
Twitter Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
users called actress
Ellie Kemper Elizabeth Claire Kemper (born May 2, 1980) is an American actress and comedian. She has been nominated for a Critics' Choice Movie Award, two Critics' Choice Television Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, three Satellite Awards, and seven Scre ...
a "KKK princess" because in December 1999, she had been Queen of Love and Beauty at the VP Ball.Michael Ordoña, "Why Twitter Is Up in Arms About Ellie Kemper's 'racist' debutante crown from 1999," ''Los Angeles Times,'' June 1, 2021
/ref> She responded in a five-slide
Instagram Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...
apology, beginning:Chloe Melas, "Ellie Kemper Apologizes for Participating in Controversial Pageant as a Teen," ''CNN Entertainment'', June 8, 2021
/ref>
Hi guys – when I was 19 years old, I decided to participate in a debutante ball in my hometown. The century-old organization that hosted the debutante ball had an unquestionably racist, sexist and elitist past. I was not aware of this history at the time, but ignorance is no excuse. I was old enough to have educated myself before getting involved.
*
Trudy Busch Valentine The 2022 United States Senate election in Missouri was held on November 8, 2022, concurrently with 2022 United States Senate elections, elections for all other Classes of United States senators, Class 3 United States Senate, U.S. senators and 20 ...
, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, apologized in early 2022 for having been the VP Queen in December 1977. She wrote: "I should have known better, and I deeply regret that my actions hurt others."


Maids and Ladies of Honor

The Veiled Prophet selected the Queen from among the young women who had been invited as candidates. Beginning in 1894, those not selected were retained as Maids of Honor. A number of married women were known as Ladies of Honor, to act as chaperones."Veiled Prophet's Parade: Chosen by the Prophet," ''St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat,'' September 23, 1900, image 47, columns 5 and 6
z In that year, residents of the wealthy West End, St. Louis, were treated to the appearance of"Ladies of His Court," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' August 12, 1894, image 5
/ref>
an unusually elegant
carriage A carriage is a private four-wheeled vehicle for people and is most commonly horse-drawn. Second-hand private carriages were common public transport, the equivalent of modern cars used as taxis. Carriage suspensions are by leather strapping an ...
, with
coachmen A coachman is an employee who drives a coach or carriage, a horse-drawn vehicle designed for the conveyance of passengers. A coachman has also been called a coachee, coachy, whip, or hackman. The coachman's first concern is to remain in full c ...
and
footmen A footman is a male domestic worker employed mainly to wait at table or attend a coach or carriage. Etymology Originally in the 14th century a footman denoted a soldier or any pedestrian, later it indicated a foot servant. A running footman deli ...
in handsome
livery A livery is an identifying design, such as a uniform, ornament, symbol or insignia that designates ownership or affiliation, often found on an individual or vehicle. Livery will often have elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or ...
, . . . driving through the prominent thoroughfares and delivering on a silver
salver A salver is a flat heavy tray of silver, other metal or glass used for carrying or serving glasses, cups, and dishes at a table, or for the presenting of a letter or card by a servant. In a royal or noble household the fear of poisoning led to ...
a highly illuminated and gorgeous invitation signed by the Grand Oracle of the Veiled Prophet, . . . appointments of the ladies as Maids of Honor. . . . These invitations have been delivered only to members of the inner circle of the St. Louis One Hundred and are regarded as the most unique and beautiful specimens of
engraving Engraving is the practice of incising a design onto a hard, usually flat surface by cutting grooves into it with a Burin (engraving), burin. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or Glass engraving, glass ...
and embossing ever seen in the city.
The custom by 1940 was that:
Escorted by members of the Prophet's secret order, the maids promenade the length of the Salle de Bal, pausing to
curtsy A curtsy (also spelled curtsey or incorrectly as courtsey) is a traditional gendered gesture of greeting, in which a girl or woman bends her knees while bowing her head. In Western culture it is the feminine equivalent of bowing by males. Miss Ma ...
before the box of the former queens as their names are announced, and then proceed to the royal
dais A dais or daïs ( or , American English also but sometimes considered nonstandard)dais
in the Random House Dictionary< ...
, where, for the duration of the ceremony, they occupy gold and white seats on either side of the Prophet's throne. After the coronation they make their
obeisance A salute is usually a formal hand gesture or other action used to display respect in military situations. Salutes are primarily associated with the military and law enforcement, but many civilian organizations, such as Girl Guides, Boy Sco ...
to their new queen and later join in the general dancing . . . .


Invitations

By 1883, the ball had become known as ''"the'' social event of the year," with funding "poured out like water," the result in bringing visitors to St. Louis "more than" justifying the cost, the ''Post-Dispatch'' commented. People wanting to attend had to apply for tickets. The recipients were then chosen by a secret committee."The Veiled Prophets: Further News From Prophet-Land Concerning the Nocturnal Pageant, ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' September 7, 1881, image 7
/ref> In 1881, nearly four thousand invitations to the Veiled Prophet Ball were issued, and in 1885 there were more than seven thousand, of which some six thousand were used."An Arabian Night," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' October 7, 1885, image 2, column 5
/ref> The ''Post-Dispatch'' wrote in September 1887 that the "Grand Oracle of the Veiled Prophets began the distribution of his favors yesterday, and to-day the mails are burdened with big yellow packages. By 6 o'clock to-morrow evening several thousand people who have been waiting in anxious expectation . . . will have their suspense relieved while otherswill suffer a grievous disappointment at seeing the postman trot by their door without stopping." The "handsome and artistic" invitations, matching a different theme for each year, looked like this: 1880. Theme: The Four Seasons. On one side of the engraved bid was a picnic scene, surrounded by representations of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. On the other side were the initials ''V.P.'' and four additional scenes — summer in Germany, spring in England, autumn in France, and winter in Russia. To insure that the "strictly personal" invitations would not be transferred at the ball:
Four masked detectives will be present, . . . furnished with a list of all the invitations issued. At the door the admit cards will not be taken up, but a corner will be torn off, and at any time during the ball, if the detectives see any one that they suspicion does not belong there, the party will be required to give his or her name, and show their admit card.
As there was a "mash" vercrowdinglast year, only half the number of invitations will be issued to the coming ball. Of course, everybody wants an invitation, and the number of disappointed ones will be large. The committee, however affable and kind-hearted, cannot include everybody, and those who have had a finger in such matters will readily understand that the position is by no means an easy or enviable one.Hal, "St. Louis: Veiled Prophets," ''Marksville (Louisiana) Bulletin,'' October 2, 1880, image 3
/ref>
1881. Theme: A Day-Dream in the Woodland or Insect Life"Float No. 1," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' October 6, 1889, page 21
/ref> Fifteen hundred tickets were printed in
Paris, France Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...
, with "friends of the order" each able to reserve ten of them, and "a lady counts for as much as a gentleman in the list of names.""The Veiled Prophets: Preparations for the Grand Annual Nocturnal Pageant," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' September 1, 1881, image 8
/ref> The tickets were inside a coarse, outside enclosure, an imitation-leather second envelope and, finally, a peagreen envelope, the edge bordered in gold and the center bearing the face of the Veiled Prophet and the initials "V.P." Within it was yet another envelope, with a highly polished gold or silver
paten A paten or diskos is a small plate, used during the Mass. It is generally used during the liturgy itself, while the reserved sacrament are stored in the tabernacle in a ciborium. Western usage In many Western liturgical denominations, the p ...
, containing a pink or pale blue card, the former "for ladies" and the latter "for gentlemen." With them were dance cards for the women, "a huge butterfly which is placed in harp-shaped envelopes of transparent linen covered with figures of gold." 1885. Theme: An Arabian Night The invitations for 1885 were in "what seems to be a strong metal box," which, when opened, revealed a satin bag bound with silk, which contained "the coveted bidding." Five scenes from the Arabian Nights were "successfully disclosed by the turning aside of a leaf hinged on a pivot, or the opening of a leaf book fashion. . . . Accompanying . . . were beautifully engraved admission cards to the ball, and the dancing programme." 1888. Theme: Child Lore The six thousand invitations, again printed in Paris, included "a spectacular view of
Mother Goose The figure of Mother Goose is the imaginary author of a collection of French fairy tales and later of English nursery rhymes. As a character, she appeared in a song, the first stanza of which often functions now as a nursery rhyme. This, howeve ...
, on a blue ray-lit sky . . . . The goose is very white and the old woman on its back is very red. She carries a broom in her left hand and in right holds the reins of her feathered steed. There is a friendly grin on the old lady's face . . . .""The Prophet's Pageant," ''The Post-Dispatch,'' September 9, 1888, image 9
/ref> Each invitation was inside a separate envelope, "even more gorgeous than its inclosure. Its . . . principal pictorial feature is a regulation
fairy queen In folklore and literature, the Fairy Queen or Queen of the Fairies is a female ruler of the fairies, sometimes but not always paired with a king. Depending on the work, she may be named or unnamed; Titania and Mab are two frequently used name ...
of the modern stage in a decollete bodice, transparent skirts and ravishing pink
tights Tights are a kind of cloth garment, most often sheathing the body from the waist to the toe tips with a tight fit, hence the name. They come in absolute opaque, opaque, sheer and fishnet styles — or a combination, such as the original concept ...
. A
diadem A diadem is a type of crown, specifically an ornamental headband worn by monarchs and others as a badge of royalty. Overview The word derives from the Greek διάδημα ''diádēma'', "band" or "fillet", from διαδέω ''diadéō'', "I ...
adorns her flowing yellow hair and two rows of pearls shine upon her splendid throat. . . . She is seated on the backs of a pair of flame-tongued, red-tailed
dragons A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as ...
, and the sky in the immediate vicinity is blazing with glory." An enclosed ticket for the dance consisted, according to the same story, "of a "rabbit's foot growing out of a rabbit's head" '' ee accompanying image'' 1902. From the Discovery of the Mississippi to the World's Fair The invitation included "a map of the
Louisiana Purchase The Louisiana Purchase (french: Vente de la Louisiane, translation=Sale of Louisiana) was the acquisition of the territory of Louisiana by the United States from the French First Republic in 1803. In return for fifteen million dollars, or app ...
, supported by the
palm branch The palm branch is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace, and eternal life originating in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world. The palm ''(Phoenix)'' was sacred in Mesopotamian religions, and in ancient Egypt represented immortality. In ...
, with intertwined shields of the United States and the
Republic of France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area e ...
, '' ee note' with the Veiled Prophet's
seal Seal may refer to any of the following: Common uses * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, or "true seal" ** Fur seal * Seal (emblem), a device to impr ...
," along with, "in colors," scenes and incidents in the Louisiana Purchase. 1904. Theme: Art and Architecture Recipients had to open three boxes, one inside another, to reach the souvenir,
a tray of the new kaiserzin pewter_.html"_;"title="pewter.html"_;"title="pewter">pewter_">pewter.html"_;"title="pewter">pewter_ware,_so_popular_of_late_as_a_material_in_which_._._._may_be_wrought_all_the_artistic_effects_possible_in_silver._._._._It_is_useful_and_beautiful_either_upon_my_lady's_
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_table_or_upon_a_gentleman's_office_desk,_for_the_holding_of_trinkets_or_trifles._It_is_in_the_shape_of_a_large_
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_table_or_upon_a_gentleman's_office_desk,_for_the_holding_of_trinkets_or_trifles._It_is_in_the_shape_of_a_large_seashell">sea_shell_ A_seashell_or_sea_shell,_also_known_simply_as_a_shell,_is_a_hard,_protective_outer_layer_usually_created_by_an_animal_or_organism_that_lives_in_the_sea._The_shell_is_part_of_the_body_of_the_animal._Empty_seashells_are_often_found_washe_...
,_and_it_rests_upon_the_table_on_four_spherical_knobs.
1920._There_were_two_thousand_fewer_invitations_sent_out_that_year,_to_avoid_"the_crowding_that_had_so_often_in_the_past_made_balls_uncomfortable,"_the_''Globe-Democrat''_reported,_but_that_fact_"did_not_make_it_any_less_democratic,_for_the_invitations_included_all_sorts_and_conditions_of_worthy_St._Louisans."


__Dress_requirements_and_customs_


__19th_century_

The_first_year_of_the_ball,_1879,_"A_great_many_ladies_were_in_full_evening_dress,_while_others_were_attired_in_calling_or_reception_toilets,_and_a_few,_seated,_wearing_their_street_suits_and_bonnets." The_rules_required_"full_evening_dress"_for_attendees,_which_for_women_meant_that_"low_neck_and_short_sleeves"_would_not_be_"insisted_upon,_but_the_wearing_of_hats_or_bonnets_will_not_be_countenanced..._it_is_expected_that_ladies_will_appear_in_an_elaborate_Hairstyle.html" "title="seashell.html" "title="cosmetics.html" "title="pewter">pewter_.html" ;"title="pewter.html" ;"title="pewter">pewter ">pewter.html" ;"title="pewter">pewter ware, so popular of late as a material in which . . . may be wrought all the artistic effects possible in silver. . . . It is useful and beautiful either upon my lady's cosmetics">toilet A toilet is a piece of sanitary hardware that collects human urine and feces, and sometimes toilet paper, usually for disposal. Flush toilets use water, while dry or non-flush toilets do not. They can be designed for a sitting position popu ...
 table or upon a gentleman's office desk, for the holding of trinkets or trifles. It is in the shape of a large seashell">sea shell A seashell or sea shell, also known simply as a shell, is a hard, protective outer layer usually created by an animal or organism that lives in the sea. The shell is part of the body of the animal. Empty seashells are often found washe ...
, and it rests upon the table on four spherical knobs. 1920. There were two thousand fewer invitations sent out that year, to avoid "the crowding that had so often in the past made balls uncomfortable," the ''Globe-Democrat'' reported, but that fact "did not make it any less democratic, for the invitations included all sorts and conditions of worthy St. Louisans."


Dress requirements and customs


19th century

The first year of the ball, 1879, "A great many ladies were in full evening dress, while others were attired in calling or reception toilets, and a few, seated, wearing their street suits and bonnets." The rules required "full evening dress" for attendees, which for women meant that "low neck and short sleeves" would not be "insisted upon, but the wearing of hats or bonnets will not be countenanced... it is expected that ladies will appear in an elaborate Hairstyle">coiffure A hairstyle, hairdo, haircut or coiffure refers to the styling of hair, usually on the human scalp. Sometimes, this could also mean an editing of facial or body hair. The fashioning of hair can be considered an aspect of personal groomin ...
." The "orders" that year were that women in hats or bonnets "will be required to go into the gallery [and] . . . will not be permitted to dance.""Doings in the Den," ''St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat,'' October 3, 1880, image 3
/ref> For men, the rule was swallow-tailed, black broadcloth, or Prince Albert coats, but not "light-colored, bob-tailed or business suits." Military uniforms were okay. "A peculiar thing" about the ball in 1881, a ''Kansas City Times'' reporter averred, is that "the committee lays down a law that no lady in bonnet or gentleman not in
full dress Western dress codes are a set of dress codes detailing what clothes are worn for what occasion. Conversely, since most cultures have intuitively applied some level equivalent to the more formal Western dress code traditions, these dress codes a ...
shall be admitted." Full dress for men was defined as "Black swallow-tail coat, black low-cut vest, black pants, white
cravat Cravat, cravate or cravats may refer to: * Cravat (early), forerunner neckband of the modern necktie * Cravat, British name for what in American English is called an ascot tie * Cravat bandage, a triangular bandage * Cravat (horse) (1935–1954), an ...
and light gloves." Nevertheless, the reporter wrote, "Despite this... ladies were seen on the floor with bonnets. Gentlemen were there in light coats, the tails of which were pinned back, thus making an improvised swallow tail.""The Secret Seers," ''The Kansas City Sunday Times,'' October 9, 1881, image 2
/ref> St. Louis Mayor Henry Ziegenhein refused to wear a dress suit when he was invited to attend the Veiled Prophet Ball and "welcome" the Veiled Prophet to his city in 1898. He said he had never worn one and never would, preferring a Prince Albert coat (
frock coat A frock coat is a formal men's coat characterised by a knee-length skirt cut all around the base just above the knee, popular during the Victorian and Edwardian periods (1830s–1910s). It is a fitted, long-sleeved coat with a centre vent at th ...
), which he wore on all state occasions. In the 1870s and 1880s, a carpet of linen was laid upon the floor for dancing, "to protect ladies' dresses."No headline, ''St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat,'' October 9, 1879, image 7, column 1
/ref>


20th century


= 1901–1919

= File:Fashion sketch by Marguerite Martyn of women attending the St. Louis Veiled Prophet Ball in 1911.jpg Marguerite Martyn Sketches Herself Backstage at the Veiled Prophet Ball, 1916.jpg


= 1920–1934

= A ''Globe-Democrat'' reporter noted in 1920 that "short gowns and no gloves were the order of the day" for women at the VP Ball that year. "It was like a big reception at which all were friends, and they went about visiting with one another and nodding gayly.""Short Gowns and No Gloves Order of the Day," ''St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat,'' October 6, 1920, image 3
/ref> In 1921, ten of the seventy-five Maids of Honor wore their hair in a bobbed fashion. Strict dress rules were still in effect in 1930."V.P. Queen Will Wear Diadem Set With Rare Gems," ''The St. Louis Star,'' October 6, 1930, image 3
/ref>


= 1935 and after

= By 1935, men and women in the "floor seating and standing spaces, the boxes and
balcony A balcony (from it, balcone, "scaffold") is a platform projecting from the wall of a building, supported by columns or console brackets, and enclosed with a balustrade, usually above the ground floor. Types The traditional Maltese balcony is ...
," were to be in "full evening dress," but
gallery Gallery or The Gallery may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Art gallery ** Contemporary art gallery Music * Gallery (band), an American soft rock band of the 1970s Albums * ''Gallery'' (Elaiza album), 2014 album * ''Gallery'' (Gr ...
viewers were expected only to be "neatly dressed." In summer 1986, Jennifer Knight, that year's Queen of Love and Beauty, headed a group of her court members in a
fund-raising Fundraising or fund-raising is the process of seeking and gathering voluntary financial contributions by engaging individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies. Although fundraising typically refers to efforts to gathe ...
fashion show A fashion show ( French ''défilé de mode'') is an event put on by a fashion designer to showcase their upcoming line of clothing and/or accessories during a fashion week. Fashion shows debut every season, particularly the Spring/Summer and Fa ...
at Buder Park. The
dress code A dress code is a set of rules, often written, with regard to what clothing groups of people must wear. Dress codes are created out of social perceptions and norms, and vary based on purpose, circumstances, and occasions. Different societies an ...
was "sporty Sunday clothes, fun skirts — certainly not
blue jeans Jeans are a type of pants or trousers made from denim or dungaree cloth. Often the term "jeans" refers to a particular style of trousers, called "blue jeans", with copper-riveted pockets which were invented by Jacob W. Davis in 1871 and paten ...
," spokeswoman Ginny Orthwein said. A ''Post-Dispatch'' fashion writer advised in 1992 that for the Veiled Prophet, Fleur de Lis and St. Louis Charitable Foundation balls "white tie" for women can mean "a genuine ball gown, more opulent than most
ther Ther may refer to: *''Thér.'', taxonomic author abbreviation of Irénée Thériot (1859–1947), French bryologist * Agroha Mound, archaeological site in Agroha, Hisar district, India *Therapy *Therapeutic drugs See also *''Ther Thiruvizha ''T ...
formal attire worn" in St. Louis.


Tableaux

In 1883 the organization began a series of
tableaux The International Conference on Automated Reasoning with Analytic Tableaux and Related Methods (TABLEAUX) is an annual international academic conference that deals with all aspects of automated reasoning with analytic tableaux. Periodically, it joi ...
, which was "not to be an exclusive affair, nor to be confined to the members of the Veiled Prophets. . . . Any person, of respectable character" could send for tickets, which were limited so that they should "not fall into the hands of improper or disreputable characters." Seats at the Olympic Theater were five dollars each, and there would be "no discrimination." In addition to the tableaux, musical attractions were on the bill. There would be no requirement for "full dress.""The Prophet's Tableaux," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' July 13, 1889, image 7
/ref> In conjunction with the 1889 removal of the VP Ball from the Merchants Exchange to a new site at the
Music Hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...
, the program was changed that year from a ''March and Veiled Prophet's Quadrille'' to "a series of magnificent tableaux" with "elegantly costumed" participants. The tableaux, with scenery and costumes echoing the theme of the parade floats, continued at least until 1890."Veiled Prophet: His Thirteenth Pageant a Superb Success," ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat,'' October 8, 1890, image 9
/ref>


Mexican visitors

In 1898, St. Louis was one stop for a large group of visitors on tour from Mexico, and Mrs. Otto F. Forster of St. Louis arranged for the women of that group to be "given an insight into the high social life" of the city, but she could not find "enough society women who can speak Spanish to form a
reception Reception is a noun form of ''receiving'', or ''to receive'' something, such as art, experience, information, people, products, or vehicles. It may refer to: Astrology * Reception (astrology), when a planet is located in a sign ruled by another p ...
committee." From the local Latin-American Club she received a list of women who could speak the language, but, as the ''Post-Dispatch'' reported, "it didn't suit. The ladies were all
stenographers Shorthand is an abbreviated symbolic writing method that increases speed and brevity of writing as compared to longhand, a more common method of writing a language. The process of writing in shorthand is called stenography, from the Greek ''ste ...
and probably not one of them figured as a maid of honor at a Veiled Prophet's Ball or acted as a lady
patroness Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...
at a swell function. They were all nice and good, no doubt, Mrs. Forster argued, but they didn't represent what is conceded to be
society A society is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. Socie ...
in St. Louis."


After coronation

Before 1915, the newly crowned Queen was taken by family and friends to a fashionable hotel for a "light
cotillion The cotillion (also cotillon or French country dance) is a social dance, popular in 18th-century Europe and North America. Originally for four couples in square formation, it was a courtly version of an English country dance, the forerunner o ...
," or light refreshments, and then escorted home. In that year, the supper was supplanted by an elaborate party, first at the
St. Louis Country Club St. Louis Country Club (SLCC) is a country club located in Ladue, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. It is recognized by the United States Golf Association (USGA) as one of the first 100 Clubs in America. Club history Founded in 1892 as a polo cl ...
, then over time at the Chase Hotel and next the Jefferson Hotel (for 27 years). Gus O. Nations, chief prohibition agent in St. Louis, announced in 1922 that his agents would patrol hotels "where guests at the Veiled Prophet Ball will congregate" after their departure from the dance. If liquor comes "within the gaze of a prohibition enforcement agent," the bearer could be arrested under the
Volstead Act The National Prohibition Act, known informally as the Volstead Act, was an act of the 66th United States Congress, designed to carry out the intent of the 18th Amendment (ratified January 1919), which established the prohibition of alcoholic d ...
, he warned."Dry Agents to Be On Watch for Liquor at Hotels Tonight," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' October 3, 1922, page 1
/ref> In 1926, as in "past years" and after "a ceremony of allegiance to the new Queen," the custom for her and some others was to leave the venue "and spend the rest of the evening in hotel ballrooms or dining rooms." In 1940, twenty-two young men were invited to attend such a supper dance at the Hotel Jefferson (St. Louis, Missouri); with a blue carnation in their lapels, they would "have the privilege of dancing with any of the ladies present whether or not they have been formally introduced."


The married Queen

In 1928, Mary Ambrose Smith, who was selected as Queen, was found to have secretly married Dr. Thomas Birdsall days earlier, violating the rule that the Queen of Love and Beauty must be a "maiden." The ''Post-Dispatch'' quoted a man "high in the councils of the Veiled Prophet organization," who said: "We have no precedent to guide us. The disclosure is most extraordinary, astounding, to be exact." In a 1979 interview with the '' St. Louis Times'', Smith recalled how the Veiled Prophet:
gave her traveling money and told her to "begone, don't register at any large hotels, and don't use your real name."... Smith was "made to feel she disgraced her family. None of her friends stuck by her (she was told she could not visit their houses), she was never invited to another VP ball, her picture was removed from the collection of queens' portraits at the
Missouri Historical Society The Missouri Historical Society was founded in St. Louis on August 11, 1866. Founding members created the historical society "for the purpose of saving from oblivion the early history of the city and state". Organization The Missouri Historica ...
, and her name was deleted from the
Social Register The ''Social Register'' is a semi-annual publication in the United States that indexes the members of American high society. First published in the 1880s by newspaper columnist Louis Keller, it was later acquired by Malcolm Forbes. Since 2014, it ...
.


Bengal Lancers

In 1880, "armed attendants" accompanied the presentation of the Veiled Prophet in a ceremonial procession before the Ball. An
honor guard A guard of honour ( GB), also honor guard ( US), also ceremonial guard, is a group of people, usually military in nature, appointed to receive or guard a head of state or other dignitaries, the fallen in war, or to attend at state ceremonials, ...
for the VP continued around 1922 with uniforms modeled after those of a British first life guard; then, over time, a West Point cadet and, next, a
cavalier The term Cavalier () was first used by Roundheads as a term of abuse for the wealthier royalist supporters of King Charles I and his son Charles II of England during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration (1642 – ). It ...
. In 1935 the men were fitted with a new look: that of a Bengal lancer of India, with a
royal blue Royal blue is a deep and vivid shade of blue. It is said to have been created by clothiers in Rode, Somerset, a consortium of whom won a competition to make a dress for Queen Charlotte, consort of King George III. Brightness The ''Oxford En ...
turban, a scarlet tunic, white
breeches Breeches ( ) are an article of clothing covering the body from the waist down, with separate coverings for each human leg, leg, usually stopping just below the knee, though in some cases reaching to the ankles. Formerly a standard item of Weste ...
, white gauntlets and black
jackboots A jackboot is a military boot such as the cavalry jackboot or the hobnailed jackboot. The hobnailed jackboot has a different design and function from the first type. It is a combat boot that is designed for marching. It rises to mid-calf or highe ...
with silver
spur A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse or other animal to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids (commands) and to back ...
s. The ''Globe Democrat'' reported that year:"Uniform of Bengal Lancers to Be Worn by Guard of V.P.," ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat,'' September 30, 1935, image21
/ref>
The turban is striped with yellows and reds with a green center stripe; each color representing a religion of these fighting men. The green signifies Mohammedanism, while the other colors stand for the various other Eastern faiths.
In 1930, the team had been costumed "in uniforms of the period of the
Restoration Restoration is the act of restoring something to its original state and may refer to: * Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage ** Audio restoration ** Film restoration ** Image restoration ** Textile restoration * Restoration ecology ...
in England," with "quaint arms in keeping with the costumes." Each year, the guard performed an
exhibition drill Exhibition drill is a variant of drill that involves complex marching sequences which usually deviate from drill used in the course of ordinary parades. Teams performing exhibition drill are often affiliated with military units, but the scope of ...
before the introduction of the Prophet to the assemblage. As time passed, their movements drew laughter:
(1937) The Prophet's Guard, still garbed as Bengal lancers, began squads-righting and forming perfect fronts. The laughter which greeted them . . . must have been caused either by their
ake Ake (or Aké in Spanish orthography) is an archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It's located in the municipality of Tixkokob, in the Mexican state of Yucatán; 40 km (25 mi) east of Mérida, Yucatán. The name ...
black beards or their bamboo lances, which, when held defensively before them, caused some of the spectators to ask whether the fishing was good.
(1949) Another highlight was offered by the pompously correct Bengal Lancers, who won applause and some deliberately provoked titter when their military maneuvers . . . went awkwardly awry. They seemed to enjoy the few bobbers perhaps more than their 10,000 spectators.
In 1960, the Lancers rode horseback during the Parade, just ahead of the Prophet's
float Float may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music Albums * ''Float'' (Aesop Rock album), 2000 * ''Float'' (Flogging Molly album), 2008 * ''Float'' (Styles P album), 2013 Songs * "Float" (Tim and the Glory Boys song), 2022 * "Float", by Bush ...
. By 1986, laughter was expected, with Patricia Rice of the ''Post-Dispatch'' observing that the Lancers'
antics begin and end every Veiled Prophet Ball, setting its tone, and last night . . . the bearded, turbaned lancers once again kept the 1,500 guests laughing. Such fun is just one of the ways in which the guests are reminded that the ball is primarily a party, and that nothing must be taken too seriously.


Grand march and quadrille

The first ball, in 1878, began with a quadrille of costumed men from the parade and the women who awaited them. After two dances, the first being J.S. Bach's ''Royal Quadrille,'' the men retired to replace their disguises with formal wear for the rest of the evening. The next year, 1879, the Veiled Prophet and retinue entered the room and proceeded to execute a
grand march A triumphal march is a musical form generally reflecting a triumph, victory or great joy. Many composers have written a triumphal march, with maybe the best known one being by Italian opera composer, Giuseppe Verdi for his 1871 grand opera, ''Aid ...
, followed by a
quadrille The quadrille is a dance that was fashionable in late 18th- and 19th-century Europe and its colonies. The quadrille consists of a chain of four to six '' contredanses''. Latterly the quadrille was frequently danced to a medley of opera melodie ...
with "fair ones of the earth as partners." In 1890 the music was the ''Coronation March'' by
Giacomo Meyerbeer Giacomo Meyerbeer (born Jakob Liebmann Beer; 5 September 1791 – 2 May 1864) was a German opera composer, "the most frequently performed opera composer during the nineteenth century, linking Mozart and Wagner". With his 1831 opera ''Robert le di ...
. The Royal Quadrille was on the program as late as 1921.


Ball location and duration

The first VP Ball in 1878 was in the "beautiful precincts of the
Chamber of Commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to ad ...
," also known as the Merchants Exchange, the largest hall in the city, with some 1,400 seats. But much of the space was taken up by a
rostrum Rostrum may refer to: * Any kind of a platform for a speaker: **dais **pulpit * Rostrum (anatomy), a beak, or anatomical structure resembling a beak, as in the mouthparts of many sucking insects * Rostrum (ship), a form of bow on naval ships * Ros ...
, a fountain, telegraph desks and tiers of seats around the sides."The Prophets' Ball: Probability That It Will Be Held in Music Hall This Year," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' September 16, 1885, image 8
/ref> The ball began after the parade was over and the participants had returned to the dance venue. "The festivities lasted to the early dawn." In 1889 and 1890 the venue was switched to the Grand Exposition Music Hall,"Better Than Ever," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,''August 9, 1891, image 23
/ref> with a gallery of 1,100 seats and a
dress circle An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances. For movie theatres, the number of auditoria (or auditoriums) is expressed as the number of screens. Auditoria can be found in entertainment venues, community ...
of 1,400. There, "the Prophets will be able to give a tableau on the stage before the ball, as is done in New Orleans." In the first part of the 20th century, the ball was held at the
St. Louis Coliseum The St. Louis Coliseum was a venue in St. Louis, Missouri. The closing of the 1904 World’s Fair left the city without a convention center for three years. A group of businessmen led by attorney Guy Golterman assembled $450,000 in private fun ...
. Beginning in 1936 it took place at the Municipal Auditorium (which had been renamed the
Kiel Auditorium Kiel Auditorium was an indoor arena located in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the home of the St. Louis University basketball team and hosted the NBA's St. Louis Hawks, from 1955 to 1968. The site was home to Charles H. Turpin's Booker T. Wash ...
) until a lawsuit was brought against the Veiled Prophet organization for shutting down the public auditorium for weeks at a time, arguing that the common taxpayers did not have access to the event.Lucy Ferriss, ''Unveiling the Prophet'' In the 1950s, the Chase Park Plaza Hotel constructed the opulent Khorassan Ballroom specifically to host the annual debutante ball, and the event was formally moved there in December 1975.


Memorabilia

The Matrons of Honor in 1920 received as gifts black moiré bags lined with white, with clasps and trimmings of gold. The Maids of Honor received gold bar pins embellished with designs in filagree. The Queen in 1930 was given a
diadem A diadem is a type of crown, specifically an ornamental headband worn by monarchs and others as a badge of royalty. Overview The word derives from the Greek διάδημα ''diádēma'', "band" or "fillet", from διαδέω ''diadéō'', "I ...
set with 71
diamonds Diamond is a solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic. Another solid form of carbon known as graphite is the chemically stable form of carbon at room temperature and pressure, b ...
, two
pearls A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle (mollusc), mantle) of a living animal shell, shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pea ...
and two
sapphires Sapphire is a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide () with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, chromium, vanadium, or magnesium. The name sapphire is derived via the Latin "sapphir ...
, with the crown designed so it might be removed from the platinum
bandeau A bandeau (pl. bandeaux, diminutive of french: bande meaning "strip") is a garment comprising, in appearance, a strip of cloth. Today, the term frequently refers to a garment that wraps around a woman's breasts. It is usually part of a bikini in s ...
and worn as a
brooch A brooch (, also ) is a decorative jewelry item designed to be attached to garments, often to fasten them together. It is usually made of metal, often silver or gold or some other material. Brooches are frequently decorated with vitreous enamel, ...
or
pendant A pendant is a loose-hanging piece of jewellery, generally attached by a small loop to a necklace, which may be known as a "pendant necklace". A pendant earring is an earring with a piece hanging down. Its name stems from the Latin word ...
. An 8-inch plume was of spun silver. The Maids got
coronets A coronet is a small crown consisting of ornaments fixed on a metal ring. A coronet differs from other kinds of crowns in that a coronet never has arches, and from a tiara in that a coronet completely encircles the head, while a tiara does ...
, "small-scale duplicates" of the one worn by the Queen, with only 51 diamonds."Costly Diadem to Be Worn by Queen at Veiled Prophet's Ball," ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat,'' October 6, 1930, page 1
/ref>"Costly Tiara Will Be Worn by V.P. Queen," ''St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat,'' October 6, 1930, image 8
/ref> In 2018, two "jewel-encrusted" gold and silver Veiled Prophet tiaras, worn by a Special Maid in 1894 and the Queen of Love and Beauty in 1896, were stolen from the
Missouri History Museum The Missouri History Museum in Forest Park (St. Louis), Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri, showcases History of Missouri, Missouri history. It is operated by the Missouri Historical Society, which was founded in 1866. Museum admission is free t ...
. They were never recovered.


Children's and teens' events

"Miniature" Veiled Prophet balls were scheduled with children, an early one in May 1936 at the Independent Evangelical Church and another at Greeley Presbyterian Church in October 1938, with the crowning of a "Queen." A Prophet and Queen were crowned at Lowell School in 1940. The first after World War 2 was at the Zion Methodist Church in June 1946. Villa Duchesne High School held Miniature VP events both before and after the war.


Notable VP Parade incidents and activities


Lawsuit

In 1879, George Soulie, who had been living in New Orleans engaged in work on the annual Mardi Gras celebration, sought to do similar work for the second Veiled Prophet Parade in St. Louis. He was placed in touch with businessman John G. Priest, known as a kind of "boss" Prophet. The two signed a contract for Soulie "to paint, decorate, and fix up generally in first-class style twenty-one chariots, or floats" for $630. He worked for three weeks, then was discharged by Superintendent Daniel E. Carroll. Because the Prophets were supposed to be nameless, "every effort" was made to keep the matter quiet, but Soulie filed suit against Priest, president; Frank Galennie, secretary; Daniel Carrol, superintendent; Charles E. Slayback and Preston T. Slayback."The Veiled Prophets: Awful Revelations About to Be Made Touching Their Membership," ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat,'' August 30, 1879, page 4
/ref> The ''Daily Globe Democrat'' reported that after "the indignant artist threatened to reveal all he knew concerning the Prophets and their identity," a "consultation of the high-muck-a-mucks of the V.P.'s was held," they offered $200, Soulie withdrew the suit, "the bounced artist promised to remain true to his plighted word not to squeal, and the awful mystery which surrounds the Prophets remains as impenetrable as before."


Courthouse Square

1879. In the second year of the pageant, the ''Post-Dispatch'' reported that the "dazzling display" would cost some seventy thousand dollars, that "seats are being erected at every available corner, and
hat A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...
fabulous prices are being paid for rooms along the proposed route. . . . At the Court-house the grand procession will come to a halt and there will be a splendid display of
fire works Fireworks are a class of low explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. They are most commonly used in fireworks displays (also called a fireworks show or pyrotechnics), combining a large number of devices in ...
.""The Veiled Prophets: Final Arrangements for the Grand Pageant," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' October 6, 1879, image 2
/ref> The paper reported that "The corner grass plots in the Court-house square have been boarded over and will, it is said, accommodate 3,500 people just at the very turning point in the procession. . . . Fire-works will be displayed at frequent intervals, and the fiery shower from the dome of the Court-house . . . will be one of the grandest sights ever seen by any public.""The Prophets' Veil; The Court-House Square," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' October 7, 1879, page 2
/ref> But, according to the ''Post-Dispatch,'' that venture "created a great deal of dissatisfaction and discussion as to the right of the city to allow the public square to be used for a private enterprise." Leslie Moffett, a member of the Board of Police Commissioners, "understanding that some trouble might ensue to the police, owing to the general popular opinion that the people had a right to the Court-house square and might try to force their way into the enclosing" tried to find out who was behind the idea. Contractor E.C. Simmons responded that the seats were "for the benefit of the Veiled Prophets" and that they were "not a private enterprise or speculation in any sense whatever." The tickets were on sale for a dollar each in a stand at a local department store. The ''Post-Dispatch'' added:
The police authorities decline to say what they will do about protecting the seats, so that there is a good deal of doubt about what will occur should the mob rush in and take possession. . . . In this connection it may be stated that the hackmen who stand around the Court-house square, having been requested to vacate the place tonight in order not to obscure the view of the occupants of seats in the court yard, refuse to do so, saying the city gives them permission to stand around the square, and they will not forego it for the accommodation of those who purchase tickets to the inclosures.
Further dissension arose when it was reported that Mayor Henry Overstolz and city officials would view the pageant from a room in the courthouse,"The Prophets' Pageant: A Flood of Glory," ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat,'' October 7, 1879, image 5
/ref> thus "controlling the Court-house" on the evening of the parade. Overstolz countered that he had simply "asked Judge mos MaddenThayer for a window in his court-room, and he gave me his private room. I merely suggested that the invitations be extended by the heads of the apartments epartments?so that the right parties will assemble there, as there are a number of valuable papers in the building. All sorts of rumors are flying about." On the evening of this second parade, a "stream of lights, red and blue, burst forth upon the cornice of the Court-house . . . . A flight of pigeons . . . sprang out of their suddenly illuminated nests, and fled from their time honored homes in dismay. . . . A cataract of flame
ireworks ''Ire Works'' is the third studio album by American band the Dillinger Escape Plan. The album was released in the UK on November 5, 2007, in the US on November 13 through Relapse Records, and in Japan on November 28. The album was their last albu ...
flowed down the ashen-colored roof of the dome . . . ooking likea flood of molten lava." 1894. The courthouse steps "looked like a giant
anthill An ant colony is a population of a single ant species capable to maintain its complete lifecycle. Ant colonies are eusocial, communal, and efficiently organized and are very much like those found in other social Hymenoptera, though the vario ...
" they were so jammed with people.


Rain delays

The second parade and ball were postponed for one day in 1879, until Wednesday, October 7, because of a "miserable, penetrating and thoroughly unpleasant rain." The ''St. Joseph (Missouri) Gazette'' said: "The interest in this affair is simply amazing. Excursion trains on all the railroads leading into the city have been crammed to excess all day and not less than forty thousand people came into the city."


Crowding

*1878. Onlookers filled every available viewing niche. From the windows of the Shorb & Boland
stationers Stationery refers to commercially manufactured writing materials, including cut paper, envelopes, writing implements, continuous form paper, and other office supplies. Stationery includes materials to be written on by hand (e.g., letter paper) ...
on Washington Avenue, for example, they "stretched their bodies far out, at the risk of falling to the
sidewalk A sidewalk (North American English), pavement (British English), footpath in Australia, India, New Zealand and Ireland, or footway, is a path along the side of a street, street, highway, terminals. Usually constructed of concrete, pavers, brick ...
.""The Veiled Prophets," ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat,'' October 9, 1878, image 6
/ref> *1879. The streets "were thronged to such a degree that at times the procession was obliged to halt until the mounted police force and company of cavalry . . . could make an opening in the dense crowd. Every window and doorstep was filled to its utmost capacity. . . ." Theaters halted their performances as the parade passed through the streets fronting them, like a production of ''
H.M.S. Pinafore ''H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Opera Comique in London, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, which ...
'' at the
Mercantile Library Hall Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market. An early form of trade, barter, saw the direct excha ...
. *1882. Many thousands arrived via Mississippi River steamer in 1882, the ''Post-Dispatch'' said. Under the headline "THE GREAT JAM," it reported that:October 3, 1882, page 4
/ref>
The largest number of people who ever congregated within the limits of the city has arrived within the past few days. The hotels are crowded to their utmost capacity, from three to ten persons being crowded into every bed-room, while the halls and parlors are filled with cots closely packed together. . . . The Union depot was a perfect jam all day. Such a crowd never was seen . . . before at any time . . . . All the railroads were running special trains, many of them coming in by sections, being too long to be drawn by one or two engines.
*1890. The ''Post-Dispatch'' reported that:
Every express wagon, furniture van and grocery wagon was out for the evening and on the improvised seats were motley crowds. The colored frican-Americandriver had his family and friends there and made a profit by making room for a few eager sight-seers . . . . What a motley crowd it was, to be sure, but a very orderly one.
*1908. A new system of "pay as you enter" streetcar service was put to the test in handling VP commuters. Women clad in ballroom gowns had to wait on rear platforms while their escorts looked for the small change in their full-dress suits and then they all had to push their way through narrow swinging entrance doors. Women who had taken their children to see the parade were forced to stand on street corners while others, "more active and less encumbered, pushed and fought their way into the
treet Treet (Armour Star Treet) is a canned meat product similar to Spam first introduced in 1939 by Armour and Company in the United States. Sold as "spiced luncheon loaf", it is made with chicken and pork and has a more finely ground texture than S ...
ars."


The Den and the floats

The Den has been a building or complex of buildings where the floats and costumes have been prepared for the VP and America's Birthday Parade activities. On parade night in 1879, the Den was described by a reporter as a "great black building running along the side of Twelfth Street, from Market to Chestnut. It stood dim and grim against the evening sky, with not a luminous line or brilliant knot-hole to be seen against its gloomy walls until 7 o'clock, when the yard gate to the east of the building suddenly opened and displayed to view an array of torch-bearers ready to march forward at a moment's notice.""Golden Glory," ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat,'' October 9, 1879, image 6
/ref> In 1880, design of the floats was done by artist
Carl Gutherz Carl Gutherz (January 28, 1844 in Switzerland – February 7, 1907 in Washington, D.C.) was a painter, part of the Symbolist movement in the United States during the 19th century. Biography He came to the United States with his parents in 185 ...
, and his drawings were sent to
Paris, France Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...
, where the costumes were made. The next year, 1881, St. Louis artists Thomas C. Noxon and Richard Halley did the work."Glorious and Grand," ''The Daily Capital,'' Topeka, Kansas, October 8, 1881, image 6
/ref> The Den was at 12th and Chestnut in 1883. The Den land on the northeast corner of 12th and Market was sold in June 1884 by Charles L. Hunt to Thomas T. Turner, bundled with other property. In 1890 through 1924, the floats were prepared in a "large building" between 21st and 22nd at Walnut street. In 1893, it was written that:
The squatty brick building was the den of the Veiled Prophet. . . . 2120 Walnut Street is the number. . . . It contains no window nearer the ground than 15 feet. . . . In each door, about 20 feet from the bottom,, are two windows, heavily grated and covered on the inside with curtains, . . . a wealth of skylight perforates the roof. Around this building as early as 6 o'clock people began to gather n VP night Little lads in the mischievous years were as plentiful there as the proverbial leaves in Vallambrosa. They got down flat on their stomachs at the bottom of the
corrugated The term corrugated, describing a series of parallel ridges and furrows, may refer to the following: Materials *Corrugated fiberboard, also called corrugated cardboard *Corrugated galvanised iron, a building material composed of sheets of cold-r ...
iron doors and tried to get a look at his mysterious Majesty's splendors.
The Stroh Brothers purchased the Walnut Street property in 1924, to replace the Den with a large garage for "
trucks A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, but the vast majority feature body-on-frame construction ...
and
passenger car A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people instead of goods. The year 1886 is regarded as ...
s." Burglars entered the Den at 102 Rankin Avenue on January 26, 1931, hammered the combination off the safe and escaped with $2,700 worth of jewelry, $250 in cash and a .32-caliber automatic pistol. In 1932, the Den was on "dingy Rankin Avenue," the ''Post-Dispatch'' reported, number 102 South at LaClede, where it remained until at least 1958, when a fire damaged five floats being prepared for the VP Parade. Five firemen were overcome by dense, acrid smoke. The victims received bouquets and notes from the Veiled Prophet which said, "With deep appreciation and gratitude." In the year of the fire, the ''St. Louis Post-Democrat'' claimed that the Den "becomes an ordinary warehouse as soon as the parade is over. Having no visible abiding place, the order is not subject to influence in other social and business clubs, and this again constitutes an important fact in its longevity." The South Rankin building was demolished in April 1960 for redevelopment of
Mill Creek Valley Mill Creek Valley was a historic neighborhood located in the central corridor between 20th Street and Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. European settlement began in the 18th century with mills established along ''La Petite Rivière'' ...
, and the Den was resurrected in a
warehouse A warehouse is a building for storing goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial parks on the outskirts of cities ...
on Prospect Avenue. The ''Post-Dispatch'' in 1981 described the Den as "a complex of former
Falstaff brewery The Falstaff Brewing Corporation was a major American brewery located in St. Louis, Missouri. With roots in the 1838 Lemp Brewery of St. Louis, the company was renamed after the Shakespearean character Sir John Falstaff in 1903. Production peake ...
warehouses at 301 Prospect Avenue that serve as a combination workshop, storage facility and
archives An archive is an accumulation of historical records or materials – in any medium – or the physical facility in which they are located. Archives contain primary source documents that have accumulated over the course of an individual or ...
for VP parades and balls." In February 1991 the Den was a large
cinderblock A concrete masonry unit (CMU) is a standard-size rectangular block used in building construction. CMUs are some of the most versatile building products available because of the wide variety of appearances that can be achieved using them. Tho ...
building near Spring Avenue and Forest Park Boulevard. Brook Marion was the leading float painter of a six-man crew in the Den in 1999.


Reaction of onlookers

1881: A "gang of roughs" pelted the floats with mud and stones. On the other hand, during the same parade "Several young ladies in the windows of 1630 Pine" who attracted the attention of men on one of the floats "received quite a pelting at their hands with nuts and other missiles.""The Prophet's Dream," ''St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat,'' October 5, 1881, image 12
/ref>
In every window of all the residences and stores . . . were groups of men, women and children, crooking their necks and straining their eyes. . . . Seated on boxes, barrels, benches, chair; perched on the rails of fences and the roofs of houses; grouped on balconies, gathered on door-steps and sitting astride the branches of trees . . . were the spectators of every class, age and condition.
1883: The ''Post-Dispatch'' reported that "The large and overwhelming majority" of the crowd were . . . visitors to the city who were enjoying their first holiday since last Christmas." This over,
they repaired to the beer saloons, the restaurants, the theaters and hotels and proceeded to 'round off' the occasion in such manner as their tastes dictated. A few indulged too freely in their ardent devotions to
Bacchus In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, myth, Dionysus (; grc, wikt:Διόνυσος, Διόνυσος ) is the god of the grape-harvest, winemaking, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstas ...
and were nearly corralled in the police wagons . . . very little rowdyism was indulged in, such as there was . . . being . . . for the most part, the boisterous good humor of the 'smart Aleck' era of a rising generation. A few boys, lined up in 'hand to shoulder' fashion, occasionally forced their way through the crowds of women and children, but this rudeness was received good-naturedly.
1884: At Broadway and Fourth Streets "there was a mob . . . of the most unruly character. A dozen policemen fought them back, but they crowded up to the very wheels of the floats." 1911: According to
Marguerite Martyn Marguerite Martyn (September 26, 1878 – April 17, 1948) was an American journalist and political cartoonist with the ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' in the early 20th century. She was noted as much for her published sketches as for her articles. ...
in the ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'':
The
slapstick Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such a ...
, so long indispensable to low comedy, found a new use among the crowds . . . they used the slapstick to the extreme embarrassment of many women. The
carnival spirit ''Carnival Spirit'' is a operated by Carnival Cruise Line, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc. Built in Helsinki by Kværner Masa-Yards, she was the first ''Spirit''-class cruise ship to join Carnival's fleet after she was delivered i ...
, for the most part tempered by high good humor, at times verged on
rowdyism Hooliganism is disruptive or unlawful behavior such as rioting, bullying and vandalism, usually in connection with crowds at sporting events. Etymology There are several theories regarding the origin of the word ''hooliganism,'' which is a ...
. Girls used a stick ripped with feathers to tickle the faces of young men, and they retaliated vigorously with the slapstick.
1920: "Ordinarily reserved young ladies used the 'Coney Island ticklers,' sold by countless vendors, upon the chins and faces of every young man who came within an arm's length," the ''Globe-Democrat'' reported. "And the favor was reciprocated.""Thousands Line Streets to See Veiled Prophet," ''St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat,'' October 6, 1920, image 2
/ref> 1926: Slapsticks, rolled newspapers and feather ticklers were used "to tease and torment." Women reported dresses torn and hair rumpled. Police confiscated more than a hundred slapsticks and arrested six vendors. Chief Joseph A. Gerk said: "I am opposed to the use of slapsticks and heartily approve of the beating of one man who used a slapstick on a woman." He thought some of the enthusiasm stemmed from the excitement of the World Series being played that week in St. Louis — the
Cardinals Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
against the
Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
. 1930s: Some onlookers used pea-shooters, rocks and other missiles against the floats. Confectioners' shops stocked the pea-shooters in anticipation of the parade, according to Robert Tooley, who identified himself as VP "den superintendent" in that era. Pea-shooters were again active in 1947, and in that same year "the new plastic bubbles" were evident. 1937:"For the first time in years," the ''Globe-Democrat'' reported, "great volumes of paper were dropped from windows." Some of it was ignited when it came in contact with sparks from trolley wires. Downtown merchants played safe either by "boarding up windows or lining the window sills with boards in which nails were upended" to prevent crowds from pushing against plate-glass windows. "Youths with bean shooters were active, as always." 1966: A judge sentenced an 18-year-old man to sixty days in the city
workhouse In Britain, a workhouse () was an institution where those unable to support themselves financially were offered accommodation and employment. (In Scotland, they were usually known as poorhouses.) The earliest known use of the term ''workhouse'' ...
after convicting him of throwing stones at a
police car A police car (also called a police cruiser, police interceptor, patrol car, area car, cop car, prowl car, squad car, radio car, or radio motor patrol) is a ground vehicle used by police and law enforcement for transportation during patrols a ...
during the weekend VP Parade.


Ethnic floats


19th Century

In 1882, the parade theme took a new direction, which led to controversy over the inclusion of a float criticized for its portrayal of
Irish people The Irish ( ga, Muintir na hÉireann or ''Na hÉireannaigh'') are an ethnic group and nation native to the island of Ireland, who share a common history and culture. There have been humans in Ireland for about 33,000 years, and it has been c ...
. The theme illustrated "the leading characteristics of the principal nations of Asia, Europe and Africa, and giving a special tableau of American scenes, representing the ballot box, the Indian on the plains, life on southern plantations and the western rivers. . . . The tableau came more directly within the comprehension of the average citizen than the mythological representations of previous years and was cheered to the echo." But St. Louis members of the
Irish Land League The Irish National Land League (Irish: ''Conradh na Talún'') was an Irish political organisation of the late 19th century which sought to help poor tenant farmers. Its primary aim was to abolish landlordism in Ireland and enable tenant farmer ...
were incensed over one of the floats, and "it was universally agreed there that there would be a grand and frightful riot unless the Irish float was taken out of the procession.""The Fate of a Float", ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' October 4, 1882, image 2
/ref> The Irishmen who drove the parade's teams and wagons said they would "withdraw their services" if the float was included, so the entry was removed. Figures aboard the planned float included
shillelagh A shillelagh ( ; ga, sail éille or , "thonged willow") is a wooden walking stick and club or cudgel, typically made from a stout knotty blackthorn stick with a large knob at the top. It is associated with Ireland and Irish folklore. Other ...
-wielding men and a woman in "peasant costume" dancing to a
fiddle A fiddle is a bowed string musical instrument, most often a violin. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including classical music. Although in many cases violins and fiddles are essentially synonymous, th ...
. A "drinking booth with the
Irish harp The Celtic harp is a triangular frame harp traditional to the Celtic nations of northwest Europe. It is known as in Irish, in Scottish Gaelic, in Breton and in Welsh. In Ireland and Scotland, it was a wire-strung instrument requiring great ...
" is nearby. "A
pig sty A sty or pigsty is a small-scale outdoor enclosure for raising domestic pigs as livestock. It is sometimes referred to as a hog pen, hog parlor, pigpen, pig parlor, or pig-cote, although pig pen may refer to pens confining pigs that are kep ...
, with a couple of grunters anxiously peering over the side, stands to the left, a
bushel A bushel (abbreviation: bsh. or bu.) is an imperial and US customary unit of volume based upon an earlier measure of dry capacity. The old bushel is equal to 2 kennings (obsolete), 4 pecks, or 8 dry gallons, and was used mostly for agricult ...
basket of potatoes evidently tempting them." Alonzo Slayback replied that the message of the " first procession" in 1878 had gone "over the heads of the spectators" and since then "we found that a float which aimed rather to convey a pleasant bit of fun pleased the people much better and we have carried out this idea ever since. . . . Let them raise a finger against any part of the pageant, if they dare. I feel sure that there will be on hand a sufficiently large number of people . . . to prevent any attack. Yes, sir, just let them try it.""The Irish Float," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' October 3, 1882, page 4
/ref> The day this quotation appeared in the morning ''Post-Dispatch,'' Slayback stopped in the office of managing editor John A. Cockerill to request that the latter "suppress all mention of the action of certain citizens regarding the Irish float. . . . Our meeting was pleasant and he went away in good feeling," Cockerill said. The offending scene was eliminated, and other
prop A prop, formally known as (theatrical) property, is an object used on stage or screen by actors during a performance or screen production. In practical terms, a prop is considered to be anything movable or portable on a stage or a set, distinct ...
s were used on the refurbished float.


20th Century

In 1938, an Irish-descended group headed by Circuit Judge O'Neil Ryan protested the imagery on a float with the title of a popular song, "
Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly? "Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?", with music and lyrics by C. W. Murphy and Will Letters (1908), is a British music hall song, originally titled "Kelly From the Isle of Man". The song concerns a Manx woman looking for her boyfriend during a visit ...
" The name of the float was soon changed to "
The Sidewalks of New York "The Sidewalks of New York" is a popular song about life in New York City during the 1890s. It was composed in 1894 by vaudeville actor and singer Charles B. Lawlor (June 2, 1852 – May 31, 1925) with lyrics by James W. Blake (September 23, 1 ...
." In addition, a statement from the Veiled Prophet organization said: "At the same time the Order announces that the float entitled '
Schnitzelbank The "Schnitzelbank" is a simple song, popular primarily with German Americans. Etymology ''Schnitzelbank'' literally means "scrap bench" or "chip bench" (from ''Schnitzel'' "scraps / clips / cuttings (from carving)" or the colloquial verb ''sch ...
' has been changed to '
Harvest Moon The full moon is the lunar phase when the Moon appears fully illuminated from Earth's perspective. This occurs when Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon (when the ecliptic longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180°). This means ...
,'" which the ''Star-Times'' said was done "to forestall possible criticism arising out of the recent European developments."


Biblical theme

St. Louis Protestant minister S.J. Nichols castigated the
Old Testament The Old Testament (often abbreviated OT) is the first division of the Christian biblical canon, which is based primarily upon the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, a collection of ancient religious Hebrew writings by the Israelites. The ...
theme of the 1887 VP Parade. In a sermon on September 18, he made a "sweeping condemnation," particularly condemning the printed invitation to the ball, which included representations of the
Ark of the Covenant The Ark of the Covenant,; Ge'ez: also known as the Ark of the Testimony or the Ark of God, is an alleged artifact believed to be the most sacred relic of the Israelites, which is described as a wooden chest, covered in pure gold, with an e ...
and the
Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments (Biblical Hebrew עשרת הדברים \ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים, ''aséret ha-dvarím'', lit. The Decalogue, The Ten Words, cf. Mishnaic Hebrew עשרת הדיברות \ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְ ...
. He also denounced floats depicting
Moses Moses hbo, מֹשֶׁה, Mōše; also known as Moshe or Moshe Rabbeinu (Mishnaic Hebrew: מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ, ); syr, ܡܘܫܐ, Mūše; ar, موسى, Mūsā; grc, Mωϋσῆς, Mōÿsēs () is considered the most important pro ...
and
Elijah Elijah ( ; he, אֵלִיָּהוּ, ʾĒlīyyāhū, meaning "My God is Yahweh/YHWH"; Greek form: Elias, ''Elías''; syr, ܐܸܠܝܼܵܐ, ''Elyāe''; Arabic: إلياس or إليا, ''Ilyās'' or ''Ilyā''. ) was, according to the Books of ...
. Nichols said:
In this shocking prostitution of things sacred, there is a failure to make a distinction between sacred and profane, or common things, and it is calculated to foster the spirit of irreverence and bring God's Word into contempt. . . . All this is done in the name of a great city for gain. . . .
his His or HIS may refer to: Computing * Hightech Information System, a Hong Kong graphics card company * Honeywell Information Systems * Hybrid intelligent system * Microsoft Host Integration Server Education * Hangzhou International School, in ...
last great blunder is well calculated to bring St. Louis into disrepute with other cities . . . .
He was soon answered by
David Swing David Swing (August 23, 1830October 3, 1894) was a United States teacher and clergyman who was the most popular Chicago preacher of his time. Early life Swing was born to Alsatian immigrant parents in Cincinnati, Ohio. Citation: Joseph Fort ...
, a widely known progressive minister from Chicago, who wrote:
The "Veiled Prophets" are a set of rather foolish old boys, who are not worthy of any special notice from the
pulpit A pulpit is a raised stand for preachers in a Christian church. The origin of the word is the Latin ''pulpitum'' (platform or staging). The traditional pulpit is raised well above the surrounding floor for audibility and visibility, access ...
. Their parade once a year can not have much influence for or against the real cause of Christianity. . . . No one is hurt. . . . nearly all the episodes of the
Old Testament The Old Testament (often abbreviated OT) is the first division of the Christian biblical canon, which is based primarily upon the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, a collection of ancient religious Hebrew writings by the Israelites. The ...
have been repeatedly pictured in a humorous aspect . . . there are thousands of persons in St. Louis who will gain . . . their first lessons in sacred things . . . . They will learn by pictures of Bible scenes what they can never learn from the baseball grounds alone, nor from a life-long association with
cigars A cigar is a rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leaves made to be smoked. Cigars are produced in a variety of sizes and shapes. Since the 20th century, almost all cigars are made of three distinct components: the filler, the binder le ...
and
beer Beer is one of the oldest and the most widely consumed type of alcoholic drink in the world, and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches, mainly derived from ce ...
.


Lighting


Torchbearers

The first parade was lit by a thousand torchbearers, all dressed in brown
habits A habit (or wont as a humorous and formal term) is a routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously.
, with
cowls A cowl is an item of clothing consisting of a long, hooded garment with wide sleeves, often worn by monks. Originally it may have referred simply to the hooded portion of a cloak. In contemporary usage, however, it is distinguished from a clo ...
, "priest fashion," walking beside the floats, carrying gasoline lanterns with three burners each,
the affairs looking not unlike sections of the
footlight A footlight is a theatrical lighting device arranged to illuminate a stage Stage or stages may refer to: Acting * Stage (theatre), a space for the performance of theatrical productions * Theatre, a branch of the performing arts, often referr ...
s in a small theater in a town where the gas was uncertain as to brilliancy. Others held, with outstretched hands and averted face, long beacon lights, which burned alternately red and blue. The air was filled with the stifling, sulphurous fumes from the burning lights; the eyes of the throng were dazzled, and the air was filled with a unanimous cough.
Each man carried "a quadruple gasoline torch with a reflector behind the flame, lanking it on either side. . ., respectable but disagreeable flambeaux." The lamp bearers wore protectors to keep their wrists from burning."The Veiled Prophets: At the end of the Procession," ''St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat,'' October 9, 1878, image 2
/ref> In the second year, 1879, Daniel Carroll was in charge of the six hundred men hired to lead the horses and carry beacons and torches. He told his men
to be as mysterious as possible and to keep their cowls well drawn over their faces. . . . But the temperature and the weight of the torches began to tell . . . and . . . they threw back the cowls and . . . revealed in the ruddy light a perspiring congress of nations, for Carroll n choosing his marchers had not beenhampered by any prejudices of race, color or previous condition of servitude.
Each float in 1879 was drawn by six horses, "covered with snow-white trappings, on which two
cabal A cabal is a group of people who are united in some close design, usually to promote their private views or interests in an ideology, a state, or another community, often by intrigue and usually unbeknownst to those who are outside their group. Th ...
istic letters, 'V.P.,' were wrought in deep red color." Two mounted horsemen rode before and two behind, and "at each side were four bearers of reflector torches and an equal number of flambeaux carriers." In 1887, these torchbearers were "mostly colored men" dressed in red robes. In 1890, a newspaper said that they were "chiefly negroes of the
steamboat A steamboat is a boat that is marine propulsion, propelled primarily by marine steam engine, steam power, typically driving propellers or Paddle steamer, paddlewheels. Steamboats sometimes use the ship prefix, prefix designation SS, S.S. or S/S ...
type."


Other illuminations

In at least two locations in 1878 locomotive headlights lit up the streets. "The Court-house was the center of the grandest illumination along the entire route," being lit "and covered with
Chinese lanterns A paper lantern is a lantern made of thin, brightly colored paper. Paper lanterns come in various shapes and sizes, as well as various methods of construction. In their simplest form, they are simply a paper bag with a candle placed inside, alt ...
," the ''St. Louis Evening Post'' said
fire'
was made and placed behind the fountains and caused the water to take the appearance of being sparkling blood." An electric light in front of Tony Faust's building at Fifth and Elm made the block "as bright as day.""Golden Glory," ''St. Louis Evening Post,'' October 9, 1878, image 3, column 4
/ref> The ''Daily Commonwealth'' of
Topeka, Kansas Topeka ( ; Kansa language, Kansa: ; iow, Dópikˀe, script=Latn or ) is the Capital (political), capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the County seat, seat of Shawnee County, Kansas, Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the ...
, said the 1878 procession, under the
light of various colors thrown upon it, and the glare of illuminated buildings along the route, presented one of the most gorgeous sights imaginable, and elicited almost deafening and continuous applause from the greatest crowd of people ever seen in St. Louis . . . on Bridge Square the most brilliant and beautiful ever seen in the city took place, the air being densely filled with stars of nearly all colors for a height of three hundred feet."


Natural gas and calcium light

Some business owners "expended large sums of money" in 1878 to furnish lighting in front of their properties by
natural gas Natural gas (also called fossil gas or simply gas) is a naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting primarily of methane in addition to various smaller amounts of other higher alkanes. Low levels of trace gases like carbo ...
, using it "as extravagantly as though it were to be found on the streets for nothing," but they found that their attempts were "so eclipsed" by the "gorgeous dazzle" of the VP Parade "that they became disgusted" and vowed not to do it again the next year."The Prophets' Veil," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' October 7, 1879, page 2, column 6
/ref> Nevertheless, in 1879, "Fifth street was light as day with its many pyramids of gas jets that had taken the place of the every-day lamp-post illuminations. . . . At each end of the Washington avenue corners of Samuel C. Davis & Co.'s
dry goods Dry goods is a historic term describing the type of product line a store carries, which differs by region. The term comes from the textile trade, and the shops appear to have spread with the mercantile trade across the British Empire (and forme ...
building, a
calcium light Limelight (also known as Drummond light or calcium light)James R. Smith (2004). ''San Francisco's Lost Landmarks'', Quill Driver Books. is a type of stage lighting once used in theatres and music halls. An intense illumination is created whe ...
shone down upon the multitude." In 1881, a line of gas pipe was run down Fourth Street, "broken only at the cross streets, from which myriads of jets surrounded by white globes poured forth their effulgence. . . . Swung high in the air at distance of about every thirty feet tall branch lights had been placed, which when fully ablaze resembled . . . a row of beautiful trees hung with brilliant lanterns. The effect was magical." Gusts of wind from the river, however, blew out the lights, which were relit by workers with
oakum Oakum is a preparation of tarred fibre used to seal gaps. Its main traditional applications were in shipbuilding, for caulking or packing the joints of timbers in wooden vessels and the deck planking of iron and steel ships; in plumbing, for s ...
torches. "Taken as a whole, the effect was very brilliant and will long be remembered by the thousands who witnessed it." After the main gas pipe was opened in the early evening, merchants and businessmen along the route were responsible for lighting the gas jets themselves with torches provided by the gas company."The Illuminations," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' October 2, 1882, image 8
/ref> The 1883 parade was held in conjunction with the 23rd St. Louis (Agricultural) Fair. Twenty-five thousand globes, nineteen arches, and "miles of gas jets" were newly installed, and "many of the business houses will be brilliantly lighted up by gas and electric lights." In March 1885, Charles H. Lewis and his wife received $283 from the city for the injuries they had received from the falling of a gas pipe at Broadway and Washington Avenue during the VP Parade.


Electricity

In 1881, lighting the line of the parade with electric lights suspended from the
telegraph poles A utility pole is a column or post typically made out of wood used to support overhead power lines and various other public utilities, such as electrical cable, optical fiber, fiber optic cable, and related equipment such as Distribution transfor ...
was discussed but abandoned because, a newspaper report said, "the intense white flames of the electric lamps would interfere with the colored lights." Still, a string of electric lamps were "stretched from the
St. Louis Club The Saint Louis University Museum of Art is the formal art museum for Saint Louis University. It is located at 3663 Lindell Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri and is also known as Doris O'Donnell Hall. Architecture Designed in the Beaux-Arts archi ...
-house down along Washington avenue to Samuel C. Davis' store on Fifth street." As well, other establishments promised to provide enough electric lights in their vicinities "to turn night into day." And, torch-bearers were "three times as numerous" as they were in previous processions."Amusements," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' September 7, 1881, image 7
/ref> In 1894, illuminations were considerably reduced, the rural visitor perhaps being unhappy with the lack of "even the usual number of gas jets and incandescent globes," the ''Globe-Democrat'' said, but the floats "and their attendant illuminators had no glare and glitter from street lamps to dim their luster," and the "innovation proved to be a decided success." The 1903 parade was the first in which the floats, with more than forty thousand mounted electric lights, moved along the streetcar tracks with everything powered by the overhead electric trolley wires. "The pageant will be more clearly seen," ''The Republic'' predicted in an advance story. "There will be no dull patches in it. . . . The floats will move much more easily on the streetcar tracks" than they had done before on the asphalt or granite streets. Each float was to be supplied with "300 to 400
incandescent Incandescence is the emission of electromagnetic radiation (including visible light) from a hot body as a result of its high temperature. The term derives from the Latin verb ''incandescere,'' to glow white. A common use of incandescence is ...
bulbs . . . to produce every effect of lighting that can devised, . . . vivid and full of color.""Probably Largest Crowd on Record Sees V.P. Parade," ''The St. Louis Star,'' October 8, 1919, image 3
/ref> Horses, however, still pulled the floats, "it having been deemed inartistic and impractical to supplant the gallant steeds with buzzing motors," the ''Post-Dispatch'' said. The ''St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat'' noted in 1906 that "The nightly street illumination will remind all who witness its strange and brilliant combination of the wonderful recent advance in lighting the avenues and in rendering the darkness eloquent with various devices. This is one of the triumphs of the new century." In 1919, a United Railways employee walked behind each wagon, carrying the "trolley rope." The trolley on the Prophet's float was accidentally torn off at 7th and Olive, so it had to be lighted by torches the rest of the way.


Shift to daylight

In 1969, the parade was shifted to
daylight Daylight is the combination of all direct and indirect sunlight during the daytime. This includes direct sunlight, diffuse sky radiation, and (often) both of these reflected by Earth and terrestrial objects, like landforms and buildings. Sunligh ...
hours and incorporated into a larger civic celebration. That year was the first in which the Prophet did not appear in the parade.


Mishaps

*1884. A witch character in Float No. 10 "spilled some of the alcohol that was used as fuel in their caldron, and in a moment it was on fire." Attendants stamped out the blaze, and the witches handed the cans of alcohol to them."The Annual Carnival," ''St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat,'' October 8, 1864, image 2
/ref>


Street conditions, police, and traffic

*1879. "Vehicles of all kinds swarmed in and began to block up the crossings so that the police were kept busy . . . making room for the pedestrians. . . . By 8 o'clock the street cars could hardly move . . . .""The Prophets' Pageant; The Grandest Pageant," ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch,'' October 9, 1879, image 2
/ref> *1881. The VP organization made out a route for the procession and handed it over to Street Commissioner Turner, who, said the ''Post-Dispatch,'' would "patch up" the streets "so that the floats may not be stalled and the torch-bearers may not go over a
precipice In geography and geology, a cliff is an area of rock which has a general angle defined by the vertical, or nearly vertical. Cliffs are formed by the processes of weathering and erosion, with the effect of gravity. Cliffs are common on coa ...
every half block." On parade night, "The vacant lots and all the cross streets . . . were closely packed with wagons, carriages, etc., in which the occupants were standing and sitting." *1890. In advance of the parade, the ''Globe-Democrat'' said that "A strong cordon of mounted police will act as a skirmish line to clear the crowded streets, while a similar force will follow in the wake to preserve the rear floats . . . . hey willprevent the hilarity of the occasion from degenerating into stone-throwing . . . ." *1893. The "entire police force" was on duty, required to serve "from fifteen to eighteen hours, or about the same time as on election days," an officer assigned to march behind each float, each man "provided with a long cane." Two were on
horseback Equestrianism (from Latin , , , 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding (Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American English), includes the disciplines of riding, driving, and vaulting. This broad description includes the ...
at the rear of the procession, to "keep advertising schemers from following." Police "in citizens' clothes" mingled with the crowds and watched for
pickpockets Pickpocketing is a form of larceny that involves the stealing of money or other valuables from the person or a victim's pocket without them noticing the theft at the time. It may involve considerable dexterity and a knack for misdirection. A th ...
. *1894. Vehicles included "the elegant
barouche A barouche is a large, open, four-wheeled carriage, both heavy and luxurious, drawn by two horses. It was fashionable throughout the 19th century. Its body provides seats for four passengers, two back-seat passengers vis-à-vis two behind the co ...
, drawn by a handsome pair
f horses F, or f, is the sixth Letter (alphabet), letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the English alphabet, modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is English alphabet#Let ...
" "the
ash Ash or ashes are the solid remnants of fires. Specifically, ''ash'' refers to all non-aqueous, non- gaseous residues that remain after something burns. In analytical chemistry, to analyse the mineral and metal content of chemical samples, ash ...
cart dragged along by some poor equine," businessmen's and farmers' wagons, baker wagons, milk carts, drays,
carriages A carriage is a private four-wheeled vehicle for people and is most commonly horse-drawn. Second-hand private carriages were common public transport, the equivalent of modern cars used as taxis. Carriage suspensions are by leather strapping an ...
, omnibuses, "and one enterprising
malt Malt is germinated cereal grain that has been dried in a process known as " malting". The grain is made to germinate by soaking in water and is then halted from germinating further by drying with hot air. Malted grain is used to make beer, wh ...
eer and aledealer had transformed his immense vehicle into an observation tower for a jolly crowd of young men and girls."
Motormen Motorman may refer to: *Motorman (rail transportation), a rail vehicle operator *Motorman (ship), a member of a ship's engine department responsible for maintaining the ship's systems *Motorman (drilling), a member of an offshore drilling crew resp ...
, conductors and passengers climbed to the top of parked streetcars to watch. . . . It was really a question of which was the happier lot he ''Globe-Democrat'' said— "the rich laden with diamonds and silks entering the grandest festival of the year or the folks from the country who milked the cows for supper and barely had time to get the straw off their bonnets before they were right there looking on.""The Veiled Prophet's Ball," ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat,'' October 3, 1894, image 9
/ref> *1906. The parade that year would feature "a great array of decorated vehicles, including
automobiles A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people instead of goods. The year 1886 is regarded as ...
, whose rapid rise and multiplying uses are one of the sensations of the day.""Festival Days in St. Louis," ''St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat,'' September 30, 1906, image 36
/ref> *1914. Again, the "entire police department" of 1,400 men was on duty "to prevent rowdyism on the streets and arrest any suspicious character." Patrols were assigned to residential areas to guard against burglaries. A city ordinance forbade the use of
confetti Confetti are small pieces or streamers of paper, mylar, or metallic material which are usually thrown at celebrations, especially parades and weddings. The origins are from the Latin ''confectum'', with ''confetti'' the plural of Italian ''con ...
and
slap stick A clapper is a basic form of percussion instrument. It consists of two long solid pieces that are struck together producing sound. A straightforward instrument to produce and play, they exist in many forms in many different cultures around th ...
s. *1919. The ''St. Louis Star'' reported that "never before were so many automobiles massed in the downtown district. It took virtually the entire police force to handle the traffic. Owners of trucks permitted their use by employees, who fitted them with seats for their families and friends." Autos with men and women in evening attire, bound for the ball at the Coliseum, had the
right of way Right of way is the legal right, established by grant from a landowner or long usage (i.e. by prescription), to pass along a specific route through property belonging to another. A similar ''right of access'' also exists on land held by a gov ...
. *1930. Rules were changed to make egress for automobiles easier after the dance, "so as to occasion the owner the least possible difficulty and delay in getting out of his parking place, and to enable
chauffeur A chauffeur is a person employed to drive a passenger motor vehicle, especially a luxury vehicle such as a large sedan or limousine. Originally, such drivers were often personal employees of the vehicle owner, but this has changed to speciali ...
-driven cars to reach the door of the Coliseum very quickly after being called. In former years there have been twenty-three elephone call stations for cars and of late years only eight or ten . . . have been used because . . . so many guests drive their own cars." *1940. In an
editorial An editorial, or leading article (UK) or leader (UK) is an article written by the senior editorial people or publisher of a newspaper, magazine, or any other written document, often unsigned. Australian and major United States newspapers, suc ...
, the ''St. Louis Star-Times'' castigated city officials for not having provided "a modern, scientific pattern" for coping with the 410,000 people who flocked to see the VP Parade, when twelve thousand VP Ball attendees were receiving "first class" traffic arrangements, with special routes set aside and parking places "abundantly provided." The editorial went on: "Failure to provide a modern, scientific pattern for coping with the traffic . . . smacks of indifference and official inertia or a perverse distaste for progress." *1941. Things got better in 1941, with every street intersection manned by one to six officers, and when the larger part of the parade had passed, police cars shuttled the patrolmen to the head of the procession for duty.


Notable guests

President
Grover Cleveland Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18, 1837June 24, 1908) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897. Cleveland is the only president in American ...
and his wife,
Frances Folsom Frances Clara Cleveland Preston ( née Folsom born as Frank Clara; July 21, 1864 – October 29, 1947) was an American socialite, education activist, and the first lady of the United States from 1886 to 1889, and again from 1893 to 1897 as ...
, attended in 1887 and
Margaret Truman Mary Margaret Truman Daniel (February 17, 1924 – January 29, 2008) was an American classical soprano, actress, journalist, radio and television personality, writer, and New York socialite. She was the only child of President Harry S. Truman a ...
, the author and daughter of President Harry S. Truman, in 1969. At the former, the number of invitations to "perhaps the most exclusive ball of them all" had been "somewhat limited" and the guest list "carefully scrutinized," the ''St. Louis Republic'' recalled in 1900. In 1893, sixty representatives from 34 countries or colonies exhibiting at the
World's Fair in Chicago The World's Columbian Exposition (also known as the Chicago World's Fair) was a world's fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. The centerpiece of the Fair, hel ...
arrived by train and were escorted in carriages to the Southern Hotel. They were feted at a dinner, witnessed the parade, and taken to the Ball. The next day featured a tour of St. Louis sights. The governors of fifteen U.S. states participated in the annual VP festivities in 1907. It was the largest number of state executives ever assembled up to that time in one city. They met with President
Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...
and accompanied him on a voyage down the
Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...
. Poet
Edgar Guest Edgar Albert Guest (20 August 1881 – 5 August 1959) was a British-born American poet who became known as the People's Poet. His poems often had an inspirational and optimistic view of everyday life. Early life Guest was born in Birmingham ...
and wife Ellen attended the 1921 ball. Guest authored a poem titled "The Veiled Prophet."


Publications and programs

A printed description for the first parade in 1878 was done by Alonzo Slayback, who wrote in his diary that it was "the nearest thing to a stroke of genius that I ever produced." His story, he said, was a "prose poem" which had "brought order and identity out of some very gorgeous but very meaningless representations," the floats in the parade. "For next year, and the year after, and so on for a hundred years . . . the strangers who visit our October fairs can be entertained . . . ."Thomas Spencer, “The St. Louis Veiled Prophet Celebration: Power on Parade,” , page 26 In 1881, the organization's "official publication" was printed by the Compton Lithographic Works, St. Louis. In the "principal illustration," representing the "hall of the Veiled Prophets, . . . Three or four fire-glowing planets wandering in and out among gleaming
pillars A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression (physical), compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column i ...
send a shower of gold down upon the radiant raiment of the assembled Prophets and light up the picture in a manner that makes a circus poster look like a
postage stamp A postage stamp is a small piece of paper issued by a post office, postal administration, or other authorized vendors to customers who pay postage (the cost involved in moving, insuring, or registering mail), who then affix the stamp to the fa ...
." A lady's program for each ball listed individual dances for the evening, with spaces for the names of men with whom she would dance. In 1890, for example, it was designed in the form of a shield, with a heavy black cord and hook to attach to a coat or a dress, with a miniature pencil."The Souvenir Programme," ''St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat,'' October 8, 1890, image 10
/ref>


Gallery of illustrations

File:"Household of the Veiled Prophet." From Veiled Prophets Sixth Annual Autumnal Festival, Oct 2nd, 1883.jpg, Missouri History Museum. "Household of the Veiled Prophet." From Veiled Prophets Sixth Annual Autumnal Festival, October 2, 1883 File:Illuminated Official Programme of the Autumnal Festivities at St. Louis, MO. 1886. (Cover).jpg, Program, 1886 File:Two Round Medallions with Veiled Prophet Images.jpg, Two medallions with Veiled Prophet images, 1902 File:Veiled Prophet World's Fair Tray.jpg, Metal World's Fair (1904) tray with image of Prophet on throne, building, and female personification at left File:Veiled Prophet Ball Invitation.jpg, Ball invitation, 1913, with measuring marker at the bottom


See also

*
Ku Klux Klan in Southern Illinois The Ku Klux Klan in Southern Illinois operated between 1867 and 1875 in seven counties—Franklin, Williamson, Jackson, Saline, Johnson, Union, and Pope. The "worst Klan years" were in 1874 and 1875. The earliest date attributed to this group w ...
, for first use of ''Missouri Republican'' woodcut of man posing in Ku Klux Klan garb *
List of Veiled Prophet Parade themes The following is a list of Veiled Prophet Parade and Ball themes. The events were formerly held each year in St. Louis, Missouri. Where there is no listing, the theme has not been recorded. 19th Century *1878: Festival of Ceres, an illustrat ...
* Fleur de Lis Ball – St. Louis's other debutante cotillion *
Jewel Ball The Jewel Ball is a debutante Ball in Kansas City, Missouri which benefits the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Kansas City Symphony The Kansas City Symphony (KCS) is a United States symphony orchestra based in Kansas City, Missouri. The curr ...
– another debutante cotillion in Missouri * Walter B. Stevens (1848–1939), active in the VP organization


Notes and references


Further reading

* Darst, Katherine. "The Prophet's Pearls", '' The St. Louis Magazine'', Vol. 1, No. 4, Sept. 1963. * Jennings, John J. ''The Veiled Prophets Unveiled,'' 1881–1882. "This book had a large sale last year and was accepted by the public as a pleasant revelation of the mysteries of the initiation ceremony each Prophet is obliged to go through. The work is written in a humorous vein and will be found interesting reading by all who are fond of funny literature.""The Veiled Prophets Unveiled," ''St. Louis Globe-Democrat,'' September 25, 1882, image 7
/ref> * Nance, Susan. "The Veiled Prophet's Oriental Tale: St. Louis' Famous Festivals in Context, 1878–1895." ''Missouri Historical Review'' 103, no. 2 (January 2009): 90–107. * Stevens, Walter B. ''St. Louis The Fourth City, 1764–1909,'' S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1909.


External links


Official site
Veiled Prophet organization
Veiled Prophet Collection finding aid
at the St. Louis Public Library *
Veiled Prophet History
,
Missouri Historical Society The Missouri Historical Society was founded in St. Louis on August 11, 1866. Founding members created the historical society "for the purpose of saving from oblivion the early history of the city and state". Organization The Missouri Historica ...
, September 12, 1959 (video)
The O'Fallon High School marching band at the 1997 VP Parade

Memories of the Veiled Prophet; How the Floats Are Made in The Den
June 2008, from Nine PBS
Veiled Prophet activities in 2009
video report by Anne-Marie Berger, from Nine PBS
Veiled Prophet Parade
July 2, 2011, by Dickson Beall *
Long and Complicated History of the Veiled Prophet Parade, Organization
,
KMOV KMOV (channel 4) is a television station in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, affiliated with CBS and MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power Circle owned-and-operated station KDTL-LD (channel 16). The two stations sh ...
St. Louis, July 6, 2021 (video feature report)
Article and map concerning extension of and changes in the VP Parade route between 1890 and 1940


series of historic illustrations, 1878–2016 {{authority control Culture of St. Louis Debutante balls Balls in the United States Recurring events established in 1878 1878 establishments in Missouri