The Washington herald., 1919-02-23

because the world loves q lover and
loves even better q fighter.
8umptuous weddings were taboo
in war. Marriages took place in the
simple meaning of the term. To
large majority of minds there Is an
acute difference between marriage
and wedding. and this difference
has been sharply impressed upon
the public mind during the last
twenty months.
A wedding means a social occa-
sion which is hung on the peg of a
marriage service, a flower decked
altar. bridesmaids. splendid clothes,
tulle veil. a roomful Of gifts.
sometimes music and always a feast.
BY common consent each one of
these features was abandoned dur
ing the war. when two people went
forward to the altar to plight their
troth under conditions that made
the marriage ceremony tragic and
solemn. No matter how frivolous
girl, she surely could not disregard
these words when they bound her to
| man in khaki. who sailed on his
transport the next day into a de-
bauch of barbarism that has rarely
been let loose upon this planet.
These war brides are getting q
glimpse of what a wedding may be
through the new trousseaux that
are ordered for the belsted honey
moons. and the peace bride is
swinging into the full regalia of a
splendid wedding.
The world is again turned topsy-
turvy. and all our conditions and
emotions. our mannerisms and ex-
l Al 4
| with 1t. 1t is thus that the world
is kept from losing its balance.
When we all turn together we do
not feel abnormal.
A revolt against the spectacular
side of a wedding controlled a ma
jority OF people on this continent
for several years before the war,
| but the present hour seems a ft
time for sumptuousness: IL is an ex-
preston of the riotous gayety in
every heart.
| Peace brides have been quick to
catch this feeling in the air, and
weddings are planned for the early
spring that might almost be termed
pageants. 1t is youth getting its
revenge.
Most of debutantes have not been
allowed to make their bow to So
ciety for two years. Youngsters
have been thrust into the furnace
of war work here and on the battle
felds, learning more of the tragedy
of the world in twelve months than
they might have learned in a life
| time. Now youth must have its
fling. for IT is the quickest to re-
bound from tragedy.
Palm Beach just now is jammed
| full as are all the other resorts
along the East coast which is hav-
ing much the best season ii has ever
| known. Certainly a large slice of
! Washington society has wandered
down there for a while. At Palm
Beach life is more like that in some
Of the gay resorts along the Riviera
than would have been possible be-
fore the war. The days furnish a
continuous round of parties" begin
ming on the bathing beach and wind
ing up with ham and egg breakfasts
now being served during the early
hours at the Beach Club. A new
| feature is the so-calied room
party" meaning the frequent infor-
NAL gatherings of a bakers dozen
of intimates in private apartments
| for refreshments of the variety
which may no longer be sold by the
4 hotels but which it is still legal for
the owner and his friends to con-
| sumo.
Which brings to mind the an
nouncement that one of the first
| things the President will do when
he reaches these shores will be to
sign the bill making Washington