The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-02

the Duchess of Albany is a decidedly pro- gressive and up-to-date old lady. think she is one of the first members of the English royal family who has ever sent out invitations to journalists. and when the gathering was complete talked to
 them in quite cheery, informal way concerning a matter of social interest
 This accounts for the fact that in the
 London press recently there has been regular epidemic of articles written by
 newspaper women who mention casually
 HI. R, II. then said to me- and "I asked
 her royal ,highness. with similar re
 marks, showing that Miss Gladys Glow
 of the Evening Boomer" and Mrs
 Charlie Chatters'' of the Daily Flap
 doodle are quite on friendly sup-of-tea
 terms with an aunt by marriage of our
 own King. and an aunt by blood ties O.
 Queen Wilhelmina of Holland And al
 this talk and pleasant gossip concerns
 the Georgian ball that the duchess anG
 various other people are arranging
 toId at Devonshire House during May
 It is naturally going to be a most dis
 tinguished affair with probably the Kinf
 and Queen to head the list of guests
 Except as a freak party, however, ]
 don't think that people are going to hay.
 a really frolicsome time.
 The ball, which is to he for charitable
 purposes is, I think. also intended as
 a. sort of propaganda effort against the
 tendency of modern women s clothes and
 the prevalence of the somewhat irrespon-
 shle style of dancing that is dearly loved
 by all grades of society in London. Every
 body who attends this ball will be obliged
 to wear costumes of the period of King
 George HIS court. As you probably
 know, this means dresses of stiff brocadeS
 ~ I q Na.
 creetly yelled shoulders and necks. and
 enormous paniers or crinolines that have
 no relationship to the rather saucy varie-
 ties worn in this year of grace, and also
 huge headdresses. So how on earth are
 the people who will wear these gowns be
 able to manage when engaged in a one
 step or a. fox-trot?
 The Duchess of Albany is also going to
 renstate quadrilles and lancers in her
 ball programme 90 what with one thing and another it looks as if the Devonshire
 House ball will develop into a sort of reincarnation of the last twenty or thirty years of the past century. with costumes taken from the Eighteenth Century and worn with considerable protest by a very 1920 collection of people, Already I have heard rumors that debutantes and the younger set generally are objecting tc wasting the night in such antedeluviar surroundings, but the Duchess of Albany seems to be "all for it and it is to be presumed that she will have big sue. cess, especially if their majestices grace the occasion with their presence
 THE "REEL" THING
 Another coming social event of grea | importance is announced for the 7th oi June when. for the first time in six years the Royal Caledonian ball will bt l held at the Connaught rooms. This bal has been for many seasons an annua function of immense importance in Lon | don. It is the one great charitable en tertalnm ent that is representative of al I the Scottish Clans.
 Before the Marquis of Tullibardine sue ceeded to the title of Duke of Atholl Con | the death of the old duke his father) h, and his wife had yearly organized thi 1 Gathering of the Clans. Now tina war is over. the Duke and Duchess o Atholl have once more "waded in'' anC are as busy as people in their exaltes | position can be in the organization of tn l Royal Caledonian ball
 l AS in other years. all the men attending l the ball will wear their Scottish kilts ol l the unifom of whatever regiment tc which they belong. No ordinary civilian will be allowed access to the dancing | floor. One portion of the nights enter tainment will be the dancing of Scotcl FeelS edSn group or dancers DeHlS u0Qel the leadership of some distinguished Scot tish lady of title. The Duchess of Atholl for instance. and the Marchoness oi Butte are both arranging two groups O ''sixteensomes" for the reels Tn, duchess group, far as the men ar, concerned. will all be officers of the Atholl Highlanders and the Scottisf Horse regiments. while the ladies will al be dressed in white and wear sashes O. the tartan of whatever can to which they belong. The Countess of Cassils (whicf is pronounced CasseD has another group while Lady Sempill the Countess of Aar lie and Viscountess Farquhar are other: on the list of 'reelers.'
 The Duchess of Atholl, think, and the one of the only women think, and the only duchess, l am sure, who has beer given the degree of doctor of law Shs was awarded this honor couple of years ago and she is very proud to write aftel her name the letters ID. B. E." Uams of the British Empire) and IL. D.
 KING AND QUEEN UNBEND Speaking of the Atlloils, I notice tha they were at dinner party the othel night given by the King and Queen q. Buckingham Palace, and among the othel guests were that interesting bride an( groom. the Marquis and Marchioness ot Blardford (Uhe son of the Duke ana with the reverence due to religious chief. His apartments are bedecked witf all sorts of presents from tho fo,pn.nao