The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-05

ticket) and whole-hearted desire 10 have good time.
 And 1 suppose everybody did enjoy him or herself nightly according to old established custom, and in spite of the fact that from 10 o'clock, when the victory ball commenced, until o'clock, when it finished, there was no drink served stronger than lemonade or gin , ger beer and very little food beyond d i few rather dry and unprotitable sand wiches. a strange assortment of taste less mysteries called 'jellies" and "cus- tards" and some dusy slabs of a terri ble compound christened cake" But it. l IS indeed a poor heart that never re- Joices, therefore the hunger and thirst of the 4000-odd souls who danced | through the night at the first enter tainmentin celeb ra tion of the victory of the allies seemed to count for noth- ing.
 Tbe most marvellous people and the most marvellous clothes were to be seen in every part of the vast flag decked hall and the polished parquet flooring that was laid for this occasion was continually crowded with the danc- ing multitude. It is said that no mem
 bers of our own royal family were present officially" but if I am not very much mistaken one of the boxes
 
 erland also served as an observation post for England's prettiest princess who is as well known on your side of the world as she is over here Wild horses will not drag her name from me but l do not think it will be very diff ncuft Tor anyone who gives a little thought to the matter to discover if Nearly everybody in the multitude was in fancy dress. I saw King Manual. however, in evening clothes, looking un- usually pale and thin. His Queen, Au- gusta Victoria, was not with him. but in spite>of that fact he seemed to be hav- ing quite a good time. Mrs Asquith. in oriental draperies of black and gold with an amazing headdress was in tremend- >ously high spirits. I saw her at one time in the evening standing on the ledge of her box on the grand tier throw Ing paper streamers into the crowd be- low. She was at another time holding an animated converse with Mir. Ben Ali Haggin, dressed as Persian prince and Mrs. Vernon Castle, who was looking wonderfully picturesque. She attracted a lot of attention in her black satin coat with it's outstanding skirt worn over black satin brooches gartered with dia- monds. Her headdress was truly a mira cle and consisted of a close fitting tur- ban ornamented with diamonds and hav- ing glittering diamondset top from which rose two golden phea sants tail feathers that waved and curved nearly to her knees She carried in her black gloved hand. an ebony diamond en- crusted stock with long tassels of black jet and diamonds, while the heels of her shoes and the turned-up toes thereof were also set in arabesques of diamonds "a wonderful and graceful figure, surely : Another pretty woman who excited much interest was Lady Carbery, who was with large party of Americans. She had a gown made of heavy alumi- mum colored tissue belted with jet and diamonds. On her head was montrous erection of yellow paradise plumes sprout- ing from a many pronged diamond comb. Lord Beaverbrook, who, as you know, used to be Sir Max Aitken and who has recently been very i'll, was not at the Albert Hall ball, but I saw his pretty wife in box. She was wearing pow dered hair and a beautiful Mary Antoin- cite costume of rohe color and nattier blue Her box adjoined that for which Miss Jose Collins had paid $500 Miss Col fins is one of Londons favorte musical comedy actresses and l saw her talking . Lady Beaverbrook between the dances in a very neighborly fashion. She (Miss Colhns) was wearing marvellous gown of white chiffon embroidered with spark- ; ling stones, and having short cape of rose-red velvet falling from her should CTS. Her headdress was an amazing erection of diamonds set upon a cap of blue velvet.
 But I might go on forever telling of the marvels that were 10 be seen at this the first ball of our victory year. A kaleidoscopc scene of this kind, the more you think of it the more bewilderng and yet fascinating it seems to become, es- pecially to eyes unaccustomed to any, thing in the way of big social functions. for London up to the present has been as dead as a door nail during more than four years. She is just beginning to wake up, and as yet her social eyes are unaccustomed to brilliant lights and dazzling scenes.
 1 remember well my own feelings when about year ago I saw New York S glitter and glory.'SI felt like country cousin who had suddenly been intro- duced into a stage paradise. I don't think that anyone in America who has not actually experienced the gloom and suppression of London during the war years can quite realize under what a