Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-04-22
THEY ARE JAZZ
!. MAD IN LONDON
Niqht Club Fever Sets in as
Gay Life Is Re-
Sumed.
ENGLISH LEARN TO DANCE
Shortage of Eligible Young Men Puts
CrImp in Dancing Aspirations of
Many English GirIs-Resort
to "Paid Escort"

Misunderstanding q night OF 1t" be-
came almost a lost art in England
during the late war. The owl and the
Briton were scarcely on speaking
terms.
In the first place, it wasn't patriotic
to "stay out at night" Then there
was the absence Of lights, the shortage
of taxis, the ban on dancing and-the
Gothas. So nights were spent in bed,
and the only time Londoner saw the
sun rise was when he got up early to
work in his allotment.
London, once the gayest Of cities,
became a silent tomb Of somber grays
and deep shadows after nine o'clock
at night. I can remember when it
was actually penal offense to strike
a match in the street. But those who
only saw it in wartime wouldn't know
the old place now!
The grays are puppies now and the
lights are bright and red, and in Pic
cadilly Circus they have four electric
signs that flash on and of.
London has acquired the night club
fever. From II p. m. to 3 a. m. has
become the recognized space Of time
for worshiping at the shrine Of Terp-
sichore.
How the Night Is Spent.
"Are you dancing tonight" no long
er means are you going to spend the
hours between dinner time and mid
night at hall or club. It means are
you going to Rectors, to the Grafton
galleries or to Bretts, picking up your
party somewhere about midnight and
never thinking of going home until the
milkman's horse has got his second
wind and the pink finish Of a London
dawn colors the cold night mists.
Then, and not till then. does one turn
homeward in a private car, If one has
one, or a taxi, if one can get one,
with perhaps brief halt at the near
est coffee stall for a cup of muddy
fluid which tastes like nectar at that
hour, but which, taken six hours later,
would spoil ones whole day. But such
is night life in big city!
The night clubs Of London are a
peace product. They range from the
ultra-exclusive ones of Bond street to
the frankly democratic and even more
so ones of Leicester square and Char
IL ; Cross road-clubs to suit the taste
and deplete the pocketbOok of every
one.
Closing Hours Ten O'Clock.
London has it's closing hour, and
that is ten o'clock. At none of the
clubs Or dance halls is any form Of in
toxicating liquor sold openly. Ostensi-
bly, one does it on pink lemonade and
cider cup-unless one has large hip
pocket or knows the proprietor.
Every place in London which dis
penses jazz music and French pastry
during the wee sma' hours is 'club."
In most of them membership consists
merely of filling in form at the door.
Many, however, are sure enough clubs,
where only members and their guests
may dance. Of the former class, Rec
tors, on Tottenham court road, is I'M
4uestionably the most popular. Need
less to say, it has an American orches-
ira; all the dance clubs have bands
that are either American or good imi-
tations Of American musicians.
Rectors draws the theatrical crowd,
folks from behind the footlights as
we'll as those who have been to a
"show" and are out to make night Of
it. It charges S. a ticket, or $3.50
for a couple, which includes light,
very light, buffet supper"
London is jazz mad; they are learn
ing to dance over here, and when an
Englishman dances he likes to get
plenty of exercise. Woe to the slow
or tender Of foot when the band
strikes up fast one-step.
The shortage of eligible young men
has, of course, put a severe crimp in
the dancing aspirations Of many Eng
lish girls. This has led to the "paid
escort" usually an amiable youth with
enchanted feet and suave ballroom
manners and rented dress suit.