The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-31

things, especially dress, and promptly dis cards a thing when 1t becomes ubiqui- tous. For example, she has ceased to wear her beautiful civet cat furs, a pelt she was the first to introduce to us. h. stead she is wrapped this winter in the finest white leopard skin coat in Europe. l hear an Indian prince told her he had never seen so superb a garment The skins are perfectly matched and the ami mals who furnished them were shot by her husband.
 AstrOlogy Now the Craze
 Many of the interesting women of the moment have taken to studying astrology. Recently one of the morning papers pub lished an advertisement which gave an address in Albemare street requesting the services of a professor skilled in xnowl- edge of heavenly bodies. I hear the Grand Duke Mlchaefs daughters and their great friend Miss De Trafford are going in for it. and also pretty little Miss Nan cy Cunard Society people are also read ing up the history of mascots and it would seem that many of those reputed to be lucky are the very reverse. There
 is a Japanese idol being sold, and was
 in tremendous request a couple of months ago, that has brought disaster to two thirds of those to whom it was given. Oddly enough it advances extraordinary good fortune to some, those born in June coming in for special recognition by it. Now these little charms are being de- stroyed as fast as possible. At party the other night I saw no less than six being consigned to the fire. They positively seemed to grin as the flames caught them.
 Too Solid Flesh
 Lady Essex is about a great deal and very busy. She is much distressed at having grown so thin and now every thing she does to correct the trouble has no effect. I met her shopping the other day, looking just as pretty as ever but almost transparent. Like other smart women she was buying petticoats, which are going to be all the rage again-and such engaging ones, all fluff and frivol as of yore l am told in the first instance Lady Es sex tried to get thin to please Lord Essex, who has perfect horror of fat women. He is not the only one, for just this week I was told a certain very important peer threatens to separate from a bride of a year or two ago if she continues to put on avoirdupois as she has been doing. She is a Jewess, and, like her race, is inclined to develop. The poor little thing has been using all sorts of patent medicines to remove "too, too solid flesh" and she has been to every obesity specialist there is without a bit of success She cried bit terly she related her experiences to me and she was looking positively Ill with worry. One of her doctors says if only she could get to Marienbad the waters might help her, so she is going to move earth and heaven to get there
 No Society Nurses
 There is very little known about the doings of the Prince of Wales at the front, but now and again an officer home for few days rest tells little things in the bosom of his family about this important young man. The Queen, it seems, has written to Sir John French begging him to see that her son is kept out of the way of the society nurses When his royal highness had a cold recently and had to be taken care of 1t was professional nurse who was tolled off to tend him. By all accounts he was quite delighted with her and never grumbled He has been abso- lutely plagued with gifts and mascots from society women. but as he has not a vestige of imagination this kind of thing does not appeal to him bit. He Is quite dutiful and writes every week to the Queen giving her a conscientious account of all his doings-indeed he in- herits King Edwards fondness for letter writing to his own relations and friends. The great grievance of his royal highness is that he is not allowed more into the firing line and the trenches and all privileged to speak say he is as brave as they are made and is soldier every inch.
 Want to Amuse Soldiers
 Will K. of K. sanction the appearance or the troop of society girls who are or eahlzing fascinating programme to per- form before the soldiers at the front? The troop Include among others the Duch- ess of Westminster already abroad as A Hospital nurse. the Marchioness of An slesey and her sister. Lady Dian Man ners, Miss Nancy Cunard, Lady de Cliff ford, now Mrs. Stock, and some others. Their hope is to spend the time for the warriors by dancing, singing and acting Tor them Great overtures are being made to Lord Kitchener to grant his permis- sion. The people taking part in the enter prise are quite prepared to pay all ex- penses and to organize the affair regard less. Many of the rich American women are ready to advance funds, notably Cora Lady Strafford, who is very much to the fore just now, though, of course, she is in mourning. Mrs. Cecil Bingham, too, Is interest though I don't for a moment suppose her general would allow her to dance, as for one reason he thinks she is too beautiful for anyones eyes but his own. By the way, I hear Mrs. Bingham has discovered a new dance by which she means to bewitch society when once more We do dance in London. It will be re- membered it was she who made the tango the craze in society.
 Cemeteries for Pets
 Nearly every country house in England in these days has It's dogs garden of sleep. where pets are laid away to rest among flowers that are as carefully tended as those in the pleasure grounds. It was Queen Alexandra who originated the idea and her dogs cemetery at San. dringham is the most perfect thing of it's kind in England. There is a marble tomb- stone for each grave on which is recorded the life history of the dead favorfte. It was only the other day that the stone was put up to Caesar" King Edwards favorite terrier. and on 1t his faithfulness is recorded in the words of the Queen her self-"When his master died" the en- craving goes on to evplain, The fretted and declined to be comforted" Nearly f all the smart American women who are | dog lovers have such little cemeteries | Indeed. many go so far as to place wreaths on these little graves on annlyer- saries, though Queen Alexandra. who Is l