The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-07-14
LONDON SOCIAL SEASON
GHOST OF FORMER SELF
Before the War the Early Weeks Of Sum-
mer Saw Great London Houses
Thrown Open for Entertaining
on Scale Which No Other
European Capital Knew

London, July IA Correspondence OF
the Associated Pressl.-The first sum
mer of the after -the-war era is passing
as mere ghost Of the old London social
season which formerly for three months
after Easter transformed Belgravia and
Mayfair into spectacle by day and
night.
In other years, before the war wrought
its changes, the early weeks of summer
saw the great London houses thrown
open for entertaining on a scale which
no other European capital knew. Their
blazing windows at night told of recep-
tions and dances on grand scale. Court
was held at Buckingham palace with an
array of uniforms and jewels making an
indispensable show. BY day the entire
West End was packed with cars and ear
riages taking the women Of society about
for their calls and shopping.
There have been four blank years
from 1915 to 1918, and now most Of the
establishments of the ducal and old land
ed families who were the pillars Of the
declining regime are closed, or their lives
are ordered TO a quiet and subdued tone,
Not few bear the sign For Sale" or
ITO Let" testifying to the devastation
of old fortunes through war taxation or
the retirement Of families in mourning
Nearly all of the social fixtures are
missing this year. No courts are being
held at the palace for that presentation
to royalty OF debutantes and Others
which gave them the formal seal of rank
among the socially elect One big gar
L.. l. - faI h. MA Of
The shepherding Of the exclusive world
into the royal enclosure at the Ascot
races has been almost the only semi,
official gathering OF society, and pressure
upon the lord chamberlain's Office fol
admission consequently has been more
fierce than heretofore.
To the stranger London may seem
lively and even gay, but it is a restau.
rant and theatregoing liveliness like the
customary life Of New York and Paris
The war profteers are spending reck
lessly in their way, but among old-fash'
toned people there is general sentiment
that display is not in harmony with thu
times, and for many it would be impos
sible if they desired it.
Even the restaurant life is much eur
tailed. Suppers have been eliminated
and there are hardly dozen places il
this largest metropolis Of the worle
found open later than 10 o'clock. Thu
midnight wayfarer sees women in even
ing dress with men in guards uniform
or formal black buying coffee and sand
witches at sidewalk coffee stall elbow Il
elbow with a crowd Of soldiers. eahmer
and miscellaneous night wanderers, d
picture understandable for the old London
Still, with its life war-shorn of much
that was almost sacred to its ancient
aristocracy, England could never be 9th
erwise than picturesque and fascinating
The Derby came into its own again a;
the greatest popular sporting event o.
the world, as Ascot is the most pstrieiar
in its atmosphere. The guards regi
ment performed the historic ceremony
of trooping the colors in Hyde Park OF
the kings birthday, although in dull
khaki instead of the old array of scarlet
and blue The coach with the sleek four
n-hand starts from Piccadilly for Rich
mond with the stirring flourish of The
horn although there has been none OF
the Brighton road since Alfred Wander
hilt drove that course.
Boating, cricket, tennis and golf have
burst forth with renewed enthusiasm
after four years Of sports famine Thu
Thames from London to Oxford and be
yond is long winding pageant Of pleas
ure craft with white fannelled young
boatmen and rainbow tinted dresses
everywhere.
The hundreds of young Americans al
oxford and Cambridge are learning q
university life new to them, where stu
dents come to do everything but study in
term time, and save their books for va
cations