The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-28

Among the large entertainments given at the club annually is the winter recep- ton and cotillon, which pracucally marks the opening of the season. being held the last week in November A time -honored observance Of Christmas morning is cotillon and the last season or two the club has held a Mardi Gras celebration brilliant ball being danced there. The November reception, the Christmas morn ing cotillon and the Mardi Gras ball Hos tesses invite their house guests weeks ahead for these events and never presume To conflict with these dates
 There are always informal entertain ments at the club all through the season and despite the summer heat people dine there in great numbers every Sunday evening, the handsome balconies of the club attracting many parties and the cafe itself being made delightfully cool.
 The club is splendidly ofhcered, MT W. E. Leedy president; Mr. T. H. Banners yice-presdent. and AIr. R. l. Tilshman, secretary.
 On the board of governors are AIr. B. M. Allen, MT J. II. Barr Mir. A. DeValcourt Mr George Eustls and MT. w. II. l<ettig
 Automobiists are interested in the re- cent arrival in this country of a young Japanese who mas made a record as an amateur driver abroad. He brought with him four cars of the most expensive kind. MT Okura. who is son of the steel king of Japan, is an authority on auto racing. What he says on the subject sadly em- phasizes the present rage for risk among automobilists. Racing to the death is no longer confined to the few professionals who make it a business to enter races for cups and auto honors. Speed records are broken almost daily by those who have nothing to gain in their reckless disregard of life. To be in at the death is a pass port into the reckless driving class of the auto of today and for an auto driver to openly declare in favor of a novice as machinist for racing events because he is less cognlzant of his nearness to death, is an admission of the cheapness with which life is held
 "I have 120-horse power machine that I think is pretty fast, but I am having one made that is more powerful, and should go at even a greater rate,' he said, in perfect English, as the ship came Up the bay. "I had the good fortune recently of coming in second in one of the biggest races in England, and was only beaten by a professional Hutton, who is one of the best drivers in Europe.
 Tt was at the first Montague cup race. and Wagner was scheduled to drive. At the last minute, however. he found that he had a bad wrist, and it looked as if his car, which had been built especially for the opening of the Montague course. would not be in the race l begged to be allowed to drive it. and argued that if did not make q good showing it would re- fleet on my driving and not on ,he car, and they consented to let me.
 It was a hard tussle that we had from start to finish. The course, which is a beautiful one, and cost $l5O000 to build, is three miles around and the race was for twelve laps. took ninety-three miles an hour gait and maintained it practically throughout the race. l could catch everybody but Hutton, who has had vastly more experience than l, and he knew his machine better: but I made sec ond place and got a 5000 prize, but not tbe Montague cup, which l had set my heart on'
 When asked about his methods of rac- ing, Mir. Okura said: 'T try to work up my machine slowly and do not tax the me- chanlsm too suddenly. l like to have q young man who has not muchs experienc< to act as my machnist when l am racing. l find that the well-tralned man knows when the danger is greatest, and his being nervous acts as a restraint upon me. novice does not really know when he is near death, and so Is not afraid, and we get along better
 
 Stuart of Chicago and MT. Frances Ben nett Poe of Washington is an interest ing announcement of the midsummer sea- son, as they both are known in the south Miss Stuart met her fiancee on visit to Miss Catherine Culon Ridgely in Wash ington. MT. Poe Is a member of the well-known Baltimore family.
 Miss Jean Leclde, to whom Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is to be married in Ser tember is the youngest daughter of Mir and Mrs Lecllie of Monkstown Cottage, Crowsborough. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle the crt4tor of Sherlock Holmes, is wid- over, his first wife having died about a year ago, leaving two children. Sir Ar thur staying at the Crowsborough resi- dense wrote there his defense of Edalgi. MT and Mrs Frank Holland Lathrop are at Madison, Wis. where they have leased the very charming house of Mr. | and Mrs. Edwin Ball Mrs. Lathrop is