The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-11-10

day, and although nobody on the
 crowded ship showed any conspicuous signs of ''nerves,' I think we were all glad enough to get into the quiet wa ters of the harbor. 1 don't know that 1t is of any special interest except to
 oneself. but the mere fact that jour ney has been made in boat that has 1 been subsequently, torpedoed gives one a nasty jar. l felt like that when I
 heard likewise of the sinking of the | C. F. R. ship in which I made a voyage
 to Montreal exactly a year ago.
 l As l prophesied a good many weeks l ago, London is going to be the scene | of large number of dances during | the autumn and winter seasons. Last winter and for two winters previously
 dancing was barred by military decree, 1 but the embargo has now been lifted
 and private dances, public dances, sub | scription dances and charity dances will be the order of the day and night I for long time to come. I am told that from the beginning of November near ly every hotel will have it's ballroom going at full swing for afternoon teas and afterdnner dances. Already the sfew places where dancing is indulgea in are oyercrowded to an uncomforta- ble extent and large sums of money i,are being made by those enterprisinG people who had the foresight to ar
 range informal entertainments, the
 price of admission to which is not too
 steep to exclude young officers.
 At the various Young Mems Chris
 tian association huts throughout Lon-
 don dances are being arranged for the
 soldiers who can bring a girl friend
 with them or else find that they can
 be supplied with excellent partners
 when they arrixe on the scene of ac-
 ton. Any number of English girls are
 delighted to volunteer to come and
 dance with American and Canadian
 soldiers. They have a great admiration
 for the American style of dancing. It
 has quiet rhyt and swing about it that is quite different to the English
 movement. Also, it is not nearly so
 Complicated. q like to- dance with Americans" an English girl told me,
 "because they are such perfectly
 straight dancers. They never take un-
 expected leaps and bounds like English
 boys do. They have few easy simple
 steps that are just delightful. I wish
 English dancers would take pattern By
 them.'
 I am told of quite a brilliant ball that
 is to be given at the Grafton galleries
 on the first of November. II is to be in aid of Sir Arthur Pearsons wonder ful hostel for the blind--St Dunstan's
 Home for Soldiers. The Duchess of Sutherland, Lady Londonderry and va rious other notable ladies are work ing hard towards it's, success and there is q rumor that one or two royalties of the younger generation may be pres- ent on the occasion. In fact, it will be the first time since the war was in it's Infancy that smart society will come out of it's shell and enjoy itself in public.
 Every day. however, one sees a change in the attitude of fashion towards l amusement, in spite of the terrible losses that many families have siis- tained and are still sustaining. There is no doubt that the feeling of~fiope is causing tremendous Tightening of the cares and anxieties of many. / We all see that the end is coming and therefore it is only human that we should rejoice.
 By the way, although we are all try ing to practice economy in regard to our frocks and our frills, there are really a lot of tricky and expensive fashions being vigorously followed how adays. For instance. no really chic 1, woman who is "at home" at tea time fails to wear an apron over her after { noon gown. They are quite too lovely, | these little adjuncts to the costume of the "elegante." and are quite irresisti- ble. I was shown some the other day made in gold and silver tissue, em- brcidered with silks and studded here and there with gold and colored stones. One in particular that has been fash toned for Princess Patricia of Con- naught specially appealed to me. It is one deep frll or flounce of lace, hang ing from a pointed waistband of rose- pink silk, having long ends with deep knotted fringe tassels. One corner of l the lace is turned over dogs ear" fashion, and held by a big flat shaded pink velvet rose ,
 Of course, on the economic side the apron fashion is a great advantage to ] the woman who has not much money to throw away on frivolities. The least gifted person can easily make the most delicate little affair of the kind with 1 out going further than her own pet particular rubbish head for bit of old broeade. a frill of lace or chiffon and a 1 few strands of embroidery silk. I am told that the fashion was really started or revived from memories of Victorian 1 home life by Queen Mary. She always wears an apron when knitting or sew ing Tea time is her special hour for pofsuing her charitable endeavors in ! this respect. l don't think her majesty { attempts anything elaborate in the way of an apron. but she has set a fashion that society is certainly following eag- erly.