The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-22
Lord and Lady Reading
 Theatrical Enthusiasts
Appointment Shows New Trend Englands Democracy Unexpectedness of Big Cities Discussed by
 Lady Mary
By LADY MARY


 New York, January 17-(Special Cor respondence.) )-Great cities-Paris, New York, London-invarably seem to pos~ sess in an equal degree the quality of unexpectedness. In London, where the four corners of the earth seem to meet, the resident and the transient guest are continually being faced with the sur- prise of meeting 8 long-forgotten friend of remembered enemy. Here in New York, as visitor, I find exactly the same pleasant flavor inspired by unexpected meetings chance encoun- ters that warm me to my very heart and cause me to reflect that. after all London and New York and Paris are linked in bonds of real friendship as we'll as international and political all liance.
 An instance-I was walking briskly along Fifth avenue one morning last week when l came face to face with q friend whom I had last encountered about three months previously under the shadow of Nelsons column in Ira falgar square. We had both been watch ing the march past of few American troops, and I remember that we had both admired their stalwart bearing and the fine swing of their bodies. Neither of us knew then that we were soon to set our faces westward, and yet here in the midst of this great strange city we once more met!
 And, again-I was bidden to lunch party recently and my neighbor at ta- ble was friend had last seen at the Carlton hotel in London. We both stared at each other and then began to laugh--we felt as if we were victims of the genie who owned the magic carpet. And so it goes-nearly every day in the week I find something or somebody who is linked up with my London home. and the result is quite cosy homelike feeling of warmth that nearly conquers the vigors of this most amazing eli mate.
 LORD READING FIRST NIGHTER
 I am reminded when reading of Lord Readings appointment as British ann bassador to Washington of tine long years that I have known him and his wife in London as members of the half social, half-artistic set that is so repre- sentative of the new trend of England s democracy. Lord and Lady Reading are theatrical enthusiasts. and no pre- miere of importance is ever quite com plete without their presence. Lady Reading is, think, a sister, but it may pc SHc IS Ouly e ucdT Tcldtioll OL ttiS well-known dramatist, Alfred Sutro, who adapted and translated so many Mae terlinck plays for the English stage, and who also Is responsible for a good many original works, among which ''The Walls of Jericho" is best known in this coun- try.
 At any rate, the Readings move among the 'intellectuals" rather than the friv- olous set in London, and when they we juS Inf Icaa q c their parties used to be quite famous for their charming and entirely elegant Bo- hemianism.
 They are great friends of MT. and Mrs. Fred Terry, the mother and father of Miss Phyllis Neilson-Terry. while at one time in his lesser legal days believe Lord Reading undertook to arrange the rather tangled business affairs of the late Sir Herbert Tree. At any rate, The Readings" are very charming. up-to- date people, whb will. fancy. interest Washington society immensely. They are entirely outside the usual brand Of British diplomatic type and are full of