Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-13
LONDON SOCIALLY SLOW
EVEN IN AFTER WAR ERA
Entertaining Fails to Reach Height ;
Attained in Summers Before
Great Conflict.
DUCAL PALACES HAVE CLOSED
No Courts Being Held for the Prcscn-
tatiOn of Dcbutantcs-.iscut Races
Gathering Only Scmiotl,.iai Func-
tiOn Circles Have known
IBy Associated Press.

LONDON, July l2.-The first sum
mor of the aftcr-thc war era is passing
as mere ghost OF the old Londcn So
cial season. which formerly for three
months after Easter transformed Bel
sravia and Mayfair into a 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
knew Their blazing windows at night
told of receptions and dances on
grand scale. Court was held at Buck
inSham Palace with an array of uni
forms and jewels making an unsur-
passable show. Ely day the entire
West End was packed with cars and
about for their calls and shopping.
There have been four blank years
from lal3 to lolS' and now, most OF
old landed families who were the pill
lars OF the declining regime are closed,
or their lives are ordered 10 quiet
tho sigs For Sale or "'ro Let" tes-
tifyinG to the devastation OF old for
tunes through war taxation or the re-
tirement OF families III mourning.
rrohtecrS Now Spending.
Nearly all OF the social fixtures are
ing held at the palace for that pre-.
sentation TO royalty Of debutantes and
seal of rank among the socially elect.
one big garden party is 10 take the
place of these. The shcphcrdinC of
the exclusive world into the .roya in
almos; tho only senlioffical gathering
OF society. and pressure upon the Lord
Chamherlains office for admission
consequently has been more fierce than
heretofore.
To the stranger london may seem
lively and even gay, but it IS reStau-
Il .avr- ~ q
the customary life OF New York and
Paris. The war prcti,H":s are spend
ing reck lessly in their way. but
among old-taShioned people there is
a general sentiment that display Is not
in harmony with the times. and Tor
many il would be Impossible II they
desired Ii.
Even the restaurant; life is much cur,
tailed Suppers have been eliminated
and there are hardly dozen places
in this largest metropolis Of the world
founG open later than 10 o'clock. The
midnight wayfarcr secs women in
evening dress with men in guards UNI
and sandwiches at sidewalk coffee
stall elbow 10 elbow with a crowd OF
soldiers. cabmen and mtsceila neous
night wanderers. a picture undrcam-
able for the old London.
sports Seem Renewed.
still. with its life war shorn Of much
that vas almost sacred TO its ancient
aristocracy. England could never be
otherwise Inan picturesque anu !dSS!-
mating The Derby came into its own
again as the greatest popular sport
ing event Of the world as Ascot IL the
most pa;riciaN in lis atmosphere The
guards regiment performed the his
tOric ceremony of troopins the co!ors
IL. Hyde Park on the Kings hirthday'
although In dull KHAKI instead OF the
Cd array Of scarlet and blue. The
coach with the sleek fourn- hand
starts from Piccadilly for Richmond
sikh the stirring flourish Of the horn.
- . g y h,-
Brighton Road since Alfred Wander
bill drove that course.
Boating. cricket, tennis and golf have
burst forth with renewed enthusiasm
after four years Of sports famine. The
Thames from London % oxford and
beyond IS ? long winding pageant OF
pleasure Graf, with white fanneled
younr hoatwen and rainbow tinted
dresses everywhere.
The hundreds OF young Americans at
oxford and Cam bridge ar" learning a
university +. nov 70 them. where stu
dents como 20 do everything but study
in term zinc and save their books for
ions