The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-15

Wherever two or three women are gath cred together these March days you may be sure they are discussing clothes with capital C. More than ever at this season and because of the approach of Fashion week, we are fashion mad, and we think, talk and dream of hats, cos tunes, the crinoline, the hustle. the pla- teau and all the other offerings of the couturiers. Most of us have decided that the modes this year are not going to be as becoming as last year. Assuredly they appear to be more discreet, though not as artistic. And by no means are all the modes discreetl Some are start ling. Reading in smart magazine that somebody or other of Paris ''has express ed a severe idea in this suit" we say naturally. Nothing could be more start. ling after a good deal that we have seen in these last months in the way of fash ionable apparel than something severe In tho world of clothes. pre-eminently. it is the unexpected that happens. With fashion. there is a continuous perform ance of surprises. That is why everyone has become complacent. accepting such paradoxes as tight gowns with loose effect. hardly daring to suspect that even the whrling of change might overwhelm us with so unprecedented an invention IS an agreeably loose robe with all the effect of tightness.
 This absence of variety from one sea son to another is one of the reasons why the ancients seem to have passed such dull lives. A thoughtful man who was commenting the other day on the queer vagaries of Fashion, rather dwelt upon this fact: "Try to imagine" he said Julius Caesar going to his tailor or rather having his tailor come to him to advise him regarding the new style of foga. It is impossible. The toga was the toga. To have altered it would have been to do violence to an established Roman institution The pilgrims who sang of the immortality of the Coliseum might better have sung. While stands the toga, Rome shall stand! When falls the toga Rome shall fall" Though, as a matter of fact the toga went long before the Coliseum, which in very real sense, yet lives.
 From an aesthetic standpoint as the thoughtful gentleman pointed out it is n- deed fortunate that we can picture the lords of Rome in the dignified garb which so deeply impressed even the Gauls. Would it not have been absurd for Mark Antony to sway his auditors by eXclaim. ing, You all do know this frock coat" UT Auu III HIS culdWaN,' up ms faee-great Caesar fell
 Just as Fortune was the goddess of the Middle Ages, Fashion is the dictator of ours. and the chief trait of them both is ficlSleness.
 Lent, as usual, is scattering the forces and the strength of society in various directions. There has been the usual exodus, a number of members of the smart set always choosing this pe- riod for a visit either to the north for shopping purposes, or to the coast or country. However the departing con tingent IS never large, and they by no means leave dullness behind. There is gaiety enough in Lenten days even without the large receptions and other affairs which are bandoned to great extent from Ash Wednesday until after Easter. Here the ubiquitous tea, dinner. supper and other more or less prandial dances alone ere enough to keep so- ciety busy every day save Sunday of the ponitential period.
 Charitable endeavor, however, occu- pies the time and attention of the wom- en of Birmingham during the greater part of Lent. This adds to the beauty of the observance and it is noticed that almost everybody who is anybody Is engaged in some philanthropic pur- guit.
 The annual charity ball is as usual the chief concern of society at this period, and the two chairmen have been chosen, chairman of the dance has been appointed and plans are well under way toward making the annual rost-Lenten function the tremendous success it has always been.
 Mrs. w. E. E. Davis and Mrs. Sydney Johnston Bowie are the two chairmcn They will be assisted by an executive committee composed of Mrs. Frank Nell son, Jr.. Mrs. Leo K. Steiner, Mrs. Gull pepper EXum, Mrs. William Mudd Jor- dan, Mrs. Edward Wilkinson and Mrs. Tom o. Smith. The ball will be given at the Southern club, where the en- tire second floor will be thrown open for the dancing. This will permit the use of the ballroom and of the large living room and the hall between, all