The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-07

Londen. December 20.--I am really afraid that we have felt that there is "a war on" this Christmas. Certainly If military restrictions. food control boards and defense of the realm acts can do anything toward stemming the gay spirit that usually exists over the holiday season. we have reaped the result This week the military order went forth that no British officers or soldiers are to appear in public in any except regulation uniform
 This new edict concerning the wear ing of uniform all day and every day and therefore once more that 'Ill wind" has yet to be discovered that does not blow good in some direction. Even military authority cannot forbid dancing and gaiety behind those closed doors which every Englishman regards as his own impregnable castle.
 It is really rather pathetic how of ficers and men on leave from France look forward to and thoroughly enjoy the dances that have hitherto been special features of certain London ho- tels. and the amount of grumbing and
 
 latest edict from the war office is per haps greater among the soldier-men who enjoy fox trotting' and "one- stepping" than among the hotel pro- prietors who probably have been put to considerable amount of extra ex- pense by indulging their patrons en- thusiasm for this relaxation. Of course everybody realizes the terrible gravity and importance of events In the pres ent and the near future, but still cus- tom dies hard in England and even the most obedient and self sacrificing spirit resents a dictatorship that ex- < tends its sway over ordinary Yuletide entertainment
 N There was huge crowd at the Sa- voy theatre one afternoon this week when an entertainment in aid of the Italian Red Cross took the form of some charming tableaux and two or three little plays in all of which ap- neared many ladies of distinguished birth and much personal beauty. I only had time to look in at the crowd ed theatre for 2 few minutes when caught glimpse of the inevitable but beautiful Lady Diana Manners posing ns an ivory and white porcelain fg- ure against a background of black vel vet. She really looked exquisitely pret- ty in her draperies of golden tissue and lustrous white satin that gave the glazed effect appropriate to the ware she represented. I was amused to note, however. that evidently she had not taken the trouble to change her shoes. thinking. doubtless, that her feet would be hidden by the enveloping drapery. One foot. however was well in view on the small golden dais on which she was posed and 1t was clad in the grey suede shoe with red heel that the irresponsible daughter of the Duchess of Rutland wears as portion of her nursing equipment.
 Arlington House. which is the town residence of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland. has, as I daresay you know been converted into a hospital for wounded officers This has been done, ! fancy. chiefly to indulge the lovely Lady Diana's desire to pose as q Flor ence Nightingale. She commenced probationary course of nursing at St Bartholomew's hospital. but somehow or other the strict regularity and discipline of this famous institution did not appeal to her volatile tenn perament Therefore she departed from the learned school of surgery and med donned the cap and apron of prelimi- nary servitude.
 Then the initial Idea of the Arling- ton House hospital was noised abroad and Lady Diana ''composed" a spe- cial uniform of her own to wear with in the wards" that are cnshrfned be- hind the aristocratic front doors It (the uniform) is of soft dove grey cashmere