Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-09
GROWING STRIKE FEVER
HURTS LONDON SOCIETY
Dinner Parties and Other Entertain
ments Held Up by Waiter
g Walkout.
HOTELS AND CAFES CLOSED
Disconsolate Crowds Hang About
Favorfte Eating Places Where No
Service Is TO BE Iiad--'Gcncral"
Strike Holds Sway.
ny LADY MARY

ny LADY MARY.
LONDON. March 81 sailed forth
today in order to take my lunch at
one OF my favoritc midday haunts /
found the doors suffered and barricd
while across one side OF this UNI
accustomed barricadc was pasted
written in large black mournful let
iers. Closed on Account of General
Strike"
In fact general strike" is the most
conspicuous po;cntiality in London life
strike" closed all the railway stations.
which arc the main arteries through
feSSional blood of Londons great far
reaching carcas. while general strike
1t is who has caused most OF the
hotels and restaurants. throughout tho
west end at any rate. to close their
doors and send their patrons away
hungry and thirsty.
There are rumors OF still more to
como" but al present ones magma
ION fails TO raise or rather sink to
the horrors OF Inconvenience that may
DC on the way And must say that
today find little or no sympathy from
Ihc public. which is rapidly becoming
highly cxaSperated al the unsportsman-
like attitude OF people who apparently
have no conscience regarding the live
lihood and ordinary necessities OF
other workers. In fact, never
there such muddle within the metro
walking and waiting crowds arc fairly
Eood-tcmpered up to the present mo-
ment but one wonders what is GoinS
TO happen next, because undoubtedly We
arc in for Il pretty hard struggle.
MANY ELABoRATELY PLANNED
FUNCTIONS CANCELLED
OF course. the personal inconvenience
OF rich people has really very little
circle. but must say ! felt rather
sorry for several would be hosts and
hostesscs of smart luncheon parties at
hotels today. AS ii happened, many
arranged at the Ritz. and the con
sternation OF hosts and hostesses, as
well as their guests, upon finding that
no meals except for actual residents
in the hotel could he served was quite
pathetic Several dancing teas were
also scheduled for this week, one OF
William for her daughter. Lady Mar
lorie Fitz- William who is to make her
debut in the spring. This party was
to be Lady Marjorie's farewell 10 her
school girl acQuaintanceS, but it has
had to be postponed because po walters
can be secured TO serve the tea, and
none of the usual attendants necessary
for their services!
MANY OF CHEAP LITTLE
RESTAURANTS ARE AFFECTED
1t was quite interesting TO walk
along the Haymarket. Piccadiliy and
Regent Street at the noon hour today
looking people standing outside the
boltcd doors OF their favorite feed
ing places. Nothing doing" any
where, and even many of the fascina,-
ing cheap little restaurants, which
some OF us affect, are closed to the
clamoring public. My lucky star, how
ever. was, | am glad TO say. in the
ascendant. But perhaps that is because
l am rather a willy person and know
my London like a dear familiar book.
AT any rate, | hied inc to certain
house" that dates back TO generations
ago, and which is situated right at
the back OF Regent Streets busiest
quarter. This quaint old place with
its sloping. uneven floors, is called The
Sceptre." and was once upon time,
in the days of the regency, famous AS
coaching inn.
am thankful TO say that as yet it
has not been discovered" by tourists
and sightscers. Ii is frequented mainly
cial classes who prefer simple English
food to foreign "kickshaws. Even in
these times when lifc's ordinary bur
dens are added TO by the curse of the
serve chops and steaks and various
other of those staple if ponderous ar
ticlcs OF diet. in which your true and
tried Briton invariably delights. At
any rate. on tSis day.. when boards or
foreign walters .ilavt upset and made
miserable the lives OF thousands OF In
provided in this simple old-world place
highly refreshing.
EXPECT SPRING TO SEE
RESUMPTION Of ACTIVITIES
] suppose if things settle down, and
life assumes its usual round in London,
the coming spring Will be season OF
uneXampled and unaccustomcd brit
lancy. The King and Queen are show
ing their usual unscliish common sense
in not allowing the pathetic death or
their little son, Prince john, to inter
fere with social arrangements, and
therefore IL Is TO be expected that the
coming courts VIII be record ones. both
in regard TO attendance and wonderful,
clothes. There have been no dcbutantcs
for tour years. therefore added to the
growing army Of girls, whose hose right !,
be added those who ought 10 have come
out -four. long, sad years ago. Each
day, in fact, sees the arrival in town
of girls who are eagerly anticipating
their entrance into the world OF so
ciety For these dcbutantcs in the
near future, many preliminary JOY.
dances for young people are exceed
ingiy popular.
The Ear and Countess Of Cairns. for
instance, have taken a charming house
they will entertain great deal for
their young daughter. Another i'm
portant debutantc this season will be
Lady Hermionc Herbert. She is the
only daughter OF Lord and Lady Fowls
who have a beautiful house in Bcrkc-
ley Square. hear that Lady Powis il
giving series OF afternoon dances
which are very largely attended cs-
peciaily by young American officers
who are exceedingly popular in Lon
people who arc dancing mad" (and
nearly everybody is in London nowl
make surprised comment upon the de-
lightfully easy and simple style Of
dancing that is 10 be observed In all
American men and girls.
JONDOS'S IDEA OF JAZZ
ABUSES LADY MAY
IL London, ] regret 10 say the iov
Of the dance is greatly marrcd by tho
extraordinary antics indulGed in by tho