Jewel Ball - Predecessor: The Priests of Pallas

Predecessor: The Priests of Pallas

Beginning in 1887, partially in response to the establishment of St. Louis's popular annual Veiled Prophet Fair and Veiled Prophet Ball in 1878, Kansas City held an annual harvest-time, Mardi Gras-style festival called the "Priests of Pallas". It consisted of a public parade and an invitation-only debutante ball (the "Priests of Pallas Ball"), organized by a secret society of prominent Kansas Citians that called itself the Priests of Pallas. The first year, President Grover Cleveland attended. Gradually, however, the public lost interest. The festival was suspended for several years beginning in 1912, began again in 1922, and ended for good in 1924. The Queen of the festival (Pallas Athene) in 1922 was Miss Ada Bell Files from Fort Scott Kansas. She was a Freshman student at Lindenwood School (Now Lindenwood University).

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