The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-04
NetU Jazz Controversy
 Stirs London Society
By LADY MARY,

land is either objectionable to watch or LII pleasant to engage in. As a matter of fact, these ballroom gymnastics, when properly accomplished by graceful dane CTS, are really delightful to witness. AS for participating in them, there is noth- ing jollier or more energizing. But the interesting fact remains that it is not American dancing" and therefore I think that someone in authority ought to put us wise on the subject else there will be another wave of bad temper curl ing over us, before some genuine spring weather readjusts our nerves and softens our feelings.
 Apropos of this criticism of what is called Jazz dancing, there is to be a challenge sent forth to the clerical critics Who have said that it is not a proper eance for the ballroom. One of the series of American nights" which are held
 in the bathrooms of Princes gallery every week, is to be devoted to demonstrations
 of dancing before a committee of critics
 who are all in disfavor of modern danc-
 ing. sum of $500 will be, given by the
 organizer of these dancers (Mrs. Law rence) if this body of critics find any
 legitimate ground for complaint against
 the Jazz as it is danced at the pres
 ent time in society in London.
 l have been to Sir Thomas Beecham's
 performances of grand opera at Drury
 
 found really brilliant audiences that re-
 call pre-war times at Covent Garden
 very pleasantly to my mind. For the first
 time since the very early days of 1914
 ela aborate evening dress prevails through
 out the boxes, stalls and parterre. l mo-
 tice that our English opera-goers have
 adopted the charming American custom of carrying huge ostrich feather fans and wearing or carrying large bouquets , of natural flowers. Fans have not been seer in fashionable assemblies for many a long day, and l remember how delight full to me was the appearance of the
 Metropolitan opera house two seasons ago when every smart woman in the audi torium waved wonderful fan of feathers or lace, as she talked or listened to the music.
 Last week when the Queen of Rumania was one among bevy of royalties in the Kings box at Drury Lane, 1 noted with pleasure her splendid fan of rose-shaded feathers with diamonds sparkling in the handle. Queen Marie, by the way, has developed into very handsome woman,
 but I am told that she is obsessed with
 the idea that she may sooner or later be- come rather too plump. I daresay she has grounds for this fear, because although her figure is very fine and her head is well set on her handsome shoulders, she looks just a little heavy when stand ing Her beautiful hair and her clear, wide, blue eyes are immensely attrac- tive however, and with the exception of the Queen of Spain she is certainly the best dressed royal lady in Europe. The Queen of the Belgians used to share in this rather rare quality. but naturally of recent years she has quite dropped out of the running. I daresay, however, now that better times are dawIfng for Belgium, that she may emerge like bright chrysalis from the rather dull series of sports dresses and hats of white and grey wool that she has worn | OF all and every occasion for the pas. five years.
 | I am told of a very gorgeous ball that 1 is to take place at the Albert Hall on May | 14 It is being arranged by a society known as the Friends of Italy, and I hear that the wife of the Italian am bassador the Marchesa Imperiali, is talk | ing special interest in the arrangements | of what is to be called the Venetian ball. A wonderful pageant is being arranged | to represent the ceremony of the DoSe 1 sWedding the Sea" The characters in the great procession that will make the page ant specially brilliant will all wear six teenth century Venetian costumes, and there will be scenes from all the plays | that Shakespeare wrote where the stories are laid in Italy, such as "The Merchant of Venice, ''- "Othello,' Romeo and Juliet, etc. I hear, but will not vouch for the 1 truth of the statement, that no less a person than Col. Gabriel d'Annunzio will | grace the proceedings, while Madame Marconi has already consented to take ] charge of one of the Shakespearean | groups, and will herself appear in the pa geant LADY MARY. Copyright. 1919)