The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-06
NEWS AND GOSSIP
 OF SOCIAL INTEREST
Womens Clubs and Civic Organizations Meet-Informal Parties-Invtations Issued-Mrs D. M Drennen Enter tained in Hot Sprngs-Luncheon Guests-Infor-
 nal Reception Affairs of Note-An
 nouncements and Personal Briefs
Fly MYRTLE MILES

Ii is no longer possible to call London slow. Even in the midst of wars alarms, while we on this side have been fu- riously talking efficiency and scientific arrangement and even putting new meth eds into practice to some extent, Lon don bachelor has oustripped us by ap- plying the new ideas to social activities. At least he has made a good beginning sn that direction, which he may be clever enough to follow up.
 What he has done is to compile a list Of the available dancing men of the me- tropolis, keeping their names by card index. He finds, by the way, that these number only 55O Then, just as fac tory superintendent classifies his men. he has ascertained the character of their talents, conversational and terpsichorean, and has labeled the cards accordingly. So, when a hostess calls upon him for names of dancing men he does not have to rack lis brain with the imminent possibility of making mistake, but swift running order through his little index, and the trick is done.
 An achievement like this is surely one Of the glories of our century. It could Tot have happened in any other. And LOW that the way has been shown, why should not the proverbialy enterprising American pursue it to the happy end?
 But watt Perhaps right here in Bir- ningham rests the germ of this idea an idea the advantages of which cannot but recommend themselves as an institu tion of tremendous importance to the Fashionable world.
 It is told, fairly reliable authority, that the bachelors who compose Camp killkare have compiled a social register of their very own; it is an eccentric volume, they say. and might not in the least meet the needs of the tentative hostess, out everyone who has heard of it would give almost anything for a peep. The Kilkare men haye-metaphorically speaking-separated the sheep from the goats; and have gone even a bit further sn descriptive sense, for there is a section brief of course-devoted to the "batters dn the big league" with the minor per formers each in his correct niche. There is place for good fellows and q place for "erazies," and one for snobs and other undesirables. At least so it Is said, no one, as yet, has been privileged with a look at it.
 The Killkare men are on the right tra ck-that is, if they really have com piled list of such a sort. It would be 9 fine institution. Everybody has been complaining for years of being rushed to death by social activities. The leisure of the old days has departed, perhaps for ever. Already those who are most par ficular in observing forms and usages do not scruple to use the telephone for off, fering dinner invitations while it's em- Iloyment for matters of less punctilious- ness has long been common. Why not Then, take up this idea of scientific man agement for social affairs and develop st until one can dispatch dozen of such matters as easily a he now disposes of one? A writer in Spur Magazine elabo- rates on the idea introduced in London. He says:
 Think of the lost motion involved in the mere issuing and acknowledging of A.l the various kinds of missives that it is necessary to issue and acknowledge If there is one thing more repugnant to the scientific person than another, it is lest motion Society should eliminate lost motion by filling the need with a great clearing house of invitations and replies, notes and answers. It would keep adequate supplies of every sort, from note of invitation to theatre party to note of condoence on the death of a prize winning pug. Address Ing machines both for the invitations and the envelopes would save millions of hours now wasted annually The obiec- ton might be raised, to be sure, that changes in fashions of stationery and in styles of phrasing might render stocks of forms useless. But under a system like that described, fashion would be less 1Ickle than 1t is now. Once you begin tc standardize, you see you discourage the cratic genius that presides over sogues Then, there is the ever disturb ing matter of paying and receiving calls. Official society in Washington recently had to again wrestle with this problem With central bureau or social clearing house, difficulties would vanish. It would only be necessary to detirmne by period- 'cal examination of the cards left ot the houses of those belonging to the clearing house what the net debts and credits were and only these would have to be ad- tusted. For example, you might be as many as three calls in arrears upon