The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-27

ness. She was to have made her debut this spring and now she says that great event has to be postponed indefinitely. She is as busy as a bee in June seeing to Christmas presents for the soldiers, but when there Is no dancing at the back of it nor frivol of any kind, life for the 1S-year-old princess is anything but what it might be. With tears in her eyes she has besought her mother to permit her to go to the front with one or other of the Red Cross contingents, but the queen is adamant-so far. However. l heard. the other day, a rumor that 1t is within the possible that the Queen herself may go out for a while and take the princess with her. The departure of the Prince of Wales and the King was arranged to do away with the cruel things that have been said about the royal family since the beginning of the war. The Duke of Orleans had chat with King George be- fore the latter's departure. He sought the interview to induce the King to use his influence to get him into the French army-or our own. The first thing the King asked him was, had he made up his differences with the duchess? Every one knows George and Mary are rabid over matrimonial disagreements among their friends and subjects and they will do nothing for husbands or wives who quarrel with their better halves.
 AdukH 0t <AuCA ll4n
 Society is talking great deal and laughing more over a certain American who, burning with the desire to get into royal favor, bought a large house on the sea coast and sure was he-and his lady--of success that they furnished the place regardless of cost gs an hos pital for wounded, to find that when it was offered to the war office and duly inspected they would not have it on any account, the position being out of the way and the sanitation impossible. It is one of the numerous houses of the Duke of Buccleuch, and 1t was palmed off on the unsophisticated millionaire on a long lease by the dukes agent, a first class business man, who knows that the new duke just now needs all the money he can lay his hands on to pay off the immense death duties on the late peer s vast fortune. Like his. master, the agent is Scot, clever as they make em and he thinks it is considered very cute thing to be able to "do'' the astute Yan- kee whose ambitious wife is pining for social fame.
 The American offers to have the sanita- ton difficulty put right, put this does not really help, the place being so far from a railway station; so his wife sug- gests that motor ambulances might be pressed into the service.
 Carving at Table
 One of the latest customs which the war has brought into vogue Is that of carving at table, and such women as the Duchess of Marlborough, Mrs. Waldorf Astor. and Lady Randolph Churchill have adopted it. Indeed some of our great ladies are having special lessons in carv- ing from their own domestics. and there is quite rivalry among them as to who shall be most accomplished in covering 6aintiy the limbs of turkey this Christ | mas. One reason for the revival of this | charming custom is that all servants are scarce, but in any case 1t is tickling the fancy of the smart women of the younger | and just now most women like above all things to be considered domcsticated. Again 1t is an Opportunity to display pretty hands and rngs.
 The Belgians ara responsible for the