The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-21
By RIFLE NILES

Bs MYRTLE NILES
 If New Orleans feels the pinch of hard times there has been nothing in the de rneanor of that city the past two weeks to indicate it. declares Mrs. Lee Moody. who. with MT. Moody, returned from there Friday.
 Visitors have been there in thousands, . they have made Canal street impossible. their automobiles and carriages have driven in an endless stream up and down beautiful St Charles avenue and other residence streets; they have poked their noses in all the queer corners of French Town; they have sat in the boxes of the hcsitoric old French opera house as one gorgeous ball followed another; they have filled the theatres and packed the picture shows and above all. as the midnight hour approached they have thronged the caba- rets, there to sup and dance dance, dancei , Most Popular Cabaret
 Among these cabarets whose informal fly and cheer make them so popular the Grunewald cave enjoys the greatest vogue and is familiar to many Birmingham peo- pie. Every one visits this enchanting place. a large. perfectly ventilated under ground apartment, the walls of which in excellent imitation of those of real cave, are studded with the safety diff fused lights of electricity. Supper tables are clustered about an open space where to the strains of an orchestra whose rhythm and spirit are irresistible, couples dance the counter, the one-srep and the trot Now and then the lights are cov- cred and colored calcums are thrown upon evolutions of high class profession als in their interpretations of modern dances.
 Next in popularity" declares Mrs. Moody, lis the Jardin de Dause'' at the St. Charles. This is entirely unlike the cave. much more spacious and lighted py hundreds of Chinese lanterns Besides the mighty supper dances here there is a tea dance every Saturday afternoon, when every one of importance native to New Orleans or from out-of-town is to be seen Another cabaret with an individuality of it's own is Kalbs Il cosy little place Of no special pretensons but where the cuisine and music are excellent"
 The Crowd
 The crowds who frequent these places, Mrs Moody declares, present curious study. Among them, she says. one sees representatives of the old aristocracy, new" people whose money and energy have helped push New Orleans to the fore; xgovernors. senators, people whose life stories make incredible read ing; very young people and very old people. In fact" she exclaimed .the per cent of elderly people participating in the dancing is beyond belief. The perfectly white-haired the baldheaded, the middle aged, were quite as numer- GUS and nimble as the young and, if anything, seemed to be having a better time. The Louisiane and Antoines were also thronged throughout the carnival she continued. "The fine Creole cooking in these queer old re- sorts of French Town attracting many visitors
 Like other returned visitors, Mrs Moody asserts that the hospitality of the New Orleans people indicates no finan- cial stringency. She says: Nowhere in the world l am sure, is finer courtesy shown visitors than in New Orleans. It Is in all respects the truth to say that
 
 poyment comfort of visitors. One meets it everywhere, this charming cour- tesy and consideration, in the homes, on the streets, in the stores, at the balls at the clubs. All the clubs kept open house throughout carnival, and more beautiful and inspiring sight could not have been imagined than the Pickwick club and the view from it's gallery on Mardi Gras night.
 At the Pickwick
 The gallery was filled with women in evening dress gathered to see the Comus parade, before going on to the ball. In the center in a brilliantly illuminated space, sat Comus' queen, Miss Spencer, and her maids. and here she stood and reviewed the parade as it passed. Her gown was almost priceless and her grac- iousness and dignity called forth many eX- pressions. As far as the eye could reach the great, broad stretches of Canal street were packed with humanity under the blaze of thousands upon thousands of electric lights ill the carnival colors- green, purple and yellow. It was d sight to finger in the memory. It was at the club Mardi Gras day that met Mir. and Mrs. Matt Sloan, who were there to see the Rex parade and lunch with friends. They are looking well and happy and seem delighted with New Orleans and It's people. This charming couple have already formed large circle of friends in their new home. We ran across many | and Bessemer people during | our visit. Turning to glance at the pretty | little woman next me on the gallery at | the club, l discovered Mrs. Henry Dean, | who was with her sisters, Mrs. Tom Bow | ron and Mrs. Solomon, and enjoying her self hugely" Mrs. Moody learned that fears had been | expressed lest on account of the hard | times and the fact that it would be i'm | possible to procure the costumes from i abroad as customary, the parades and |