The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-05


 Now that everyone has settled the question of why Is Christmas?" and ceased rehearsing for the charity fetes of various sorts which occupied polite attention during Lent and the weeks following-it is to think about clothes again. And to note the many smart costumes on the streets in the morning as my lady hurries to and from tho rnilliner and the tailor and the modiste preparing for the season which sets so- -ciety on the wing, is 10 see the cleverest and most appropriate gowns and bon nets that the well dressed woman has worn for many a day, There are clothes as demure as a Dickens heroine; clothes as superior as shaw's candida . clothes as nirtatious as the Dolly Dia- logues," and clothes and then more clothes, for those who are preparing for the later flight to mountain and seashore in search of new sensations must be in proper array for the event, and as they rush about preparing for it they are more than presentable. In the cafes at luncheon time the newest modes are in evidence; in the afternoon one sees the Birmingham woman at her best, for coming from matinee in clever silk gown and chap or from a motor ride, swathed in rainbow wells and wrapped in smart coat, she is the personacation of daintiness. One sees everybody if one stays down town long enough.
 The rooms of a fashionable tailor the other morning were more like a scene from a musical comedy than anything else. The principal villain of the plot was the coat filter who had gone to lunch with the proprietor and had pro- longed his stay in q most cold hearted manner, forgetting the ladies with whom he had appointments in quite a Byronic fashion. About the waiting room ranged the fitting boxes and with the regularity of a well trained chorus, angry half clad females would fling oren the doors and fill the air with T cannot wait another second" This lady has got to catch train Ghis from a sympathic friend, the lady herself 1oin- ins in in sepulchral tones from within, <.lsnt there anybody here to fit me?P
  patiently waiting for an hour and half pinned up in a taffeta coat (she would make a fine wife for a clubman). The curtain fell with the advent of the fat and important tailor who looked like an Italian tenor in disguise.
 And later in the cafes was full quota of fashionables. Noted especial- ly in one of the clubs was Mrs. George Kelley with her sister. Mrs. Ernest Pat- erson of Atlanta, who was appropri- ately attired for luncheon in blue taffeta with a becoming hat made of chiffon and hep. Mrs Kelley was wearing gray tailored gown and a black and red bonnet in which she is lovely Mrs. Charles deBardeleben was another pop ular matron noted during the luncheon hour. wearing a light foulard gown and a stunning chapeau turned at piquant angle which suited it's gay cerise and shaded pink colors and its natural look ing flowers.
 Fitting about from corner to corner, sitting in motors in front of the fash ionable places where one buys an ice or one of these more elaborate cOncoc- tions topped with fluffy creams and things, the younger and older women or society may be seen any afternoon of this season when almost everyone is in town and no one stays in doors. The visit to the tailor this week. when gowns noted were all Tn the making, was followed by gay afternoon, when My Lady Modsh was much in evidence. Whether her preference led her to the high school to become a part of the cultured throng of listeners to an emil nent lecturer, or to the Music Festival matinee, she was present. in or out of the cars, and looking as delightful IS summer frpck can make her. Either strictly tailored she is, at such time, or maybe, in harmony witlYher more festive mood, if returning from some dalnty social function, she is wearing one of those lovely imported things to be found tucked away in special cup boards in the shops, and which trans form her into a brilliant soft petalled tropical flower.
 Two pretty young matrons who were noted together were Mrs. Wilbur Edrald Kelley, whose costume was a clever affair in the natural linen color, and made with coat whose lapels were lined with the new rough linen; her hat smart straw in the same shade. and Mrs. owen Gillespy in the smartesl of navy tailored frccks with Milan sailor the same shade, brim turned down and flowers for trimmings. Mrs. George Gcmbrill (Kathleen Stringfellow) in