The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-23

years old and one of the most re- mark able men l ever saw" Mrs. Oster declared. q think with his sound philosophy. he voiced the sen timent of Germany when he said: We had everything; now We have not friend; the whole world hates Germany.
 Butter, eggs and milk are stiil under government restrictions in Germany" Mrs. Oster said, "other commodities are not, think that the high light in Germany, to me, was Nurnberg with it's modern shops and streets and cafes and hotels. l bought a lovely gown there in one or the fashionable shops for just one third of what l would have to pay for it in Amerha. We went through the 'Saar valley which is still oc- cupied by French black troops. We went over into Czecko- -Slovakia and at Carlsbad we found pre-war days obtaining; the promenades were won- drously beautiful and again the only signs Of war we. saw were the under fed women and achildren.
 At Lucerne of course, the beautl- ful scenery held our attention. and l felt like the two giggling girls who went out west, and seeing the Grand Canyon, exclaimed: Some hole' Some mountain I would have para phrased for Mount Pilatus and Mount Rig: are genuinely beautiful with their little cogwheel trains climbing to the top of the mountain, where there are elegant hotels.
 "Lucerne to Fleuland by water through the lakes which zig-zag through the Alps, preceded an over land trip to Montreux, which, like Lake Como. is restful, quiet and lovely. Here we had 8 glimpse of real roulette. which was exciting and thrilling. At Lusanne we made stop. this being one of the most beau tiful points in the Alps. Then We took the Paris express for the gay, narghty wicked, insouciant, fun- loving Parisian capital.
 Eve been abroad before-thls IS not my first trip Mrs. Oster said but while much was new to me, other things were quite familiar, put let me say right here that Paris IS even gayer and wickeder and more worldly-wise thanfI ever dreamed II ccuid be after the war.
 And such crowds. Every hotel and cafe and boulevard and theatre packed and damned" Mrs. Oster con tinued. "Of course, the shops were interesting to me-and l was quite impressed with the / new fashions. s. Longer dresses, we/are told by the Parisienne contouriers, will be worn; yet saw few of them; the skirts are still short. although not as short as those worn right here at nome Harem wells are very popular-filmy lace affairs hanging in gracetul lines from the hats, while monkey fur is all the rage. Every thing has monkey fur on it; gowns, wraps, hats. everything!
 -'The greatest joy I had was at the opera" Mrs. Oster said. T heard three performances at the Opera Comique and let me say just here that while France and Germany are at each others throats so to speak, heard La Valkyrie; opera en Trois lactes de Richard Wagner. Traduction francaise de Victor Wilder superbly sung, which shows that war or no war, music should he universal. It was a wonderful performance; the Siegllnde of Geraldine Lubin far surpassed the Brunhilde of .Demougeot, while the Wotan of Marcel Journet was the most gorgeously lovely thing l ever expect to listen to. With their en- |thusiasm and love of music the French people applauded Journet over and above the orchestra. after his 'Wotan's Farewell which, was superb.
 T was perfectly happy because one dream of my life came true,' Mrs. Oster said. T heard 'Manon' in q French opera house, in French sur roundings, sung in French by French artists with the exception of iilda Roosevelt. who sang the title role, who is an American It was beauti- ful production of the Massanet opera and Marcelin as Le Chevalier des Grieux was perfectly charming. I say Ariane ct Barhe-B Bieue flor rhe first time; the Maeterlinck-D -DukaS opera. directed by the flying con- ductor' of the Metropolitan opera of New York. MT. Albert Wolff, It is entirely a one-voice opera, Ariane. sung by Madame Balguerie. being. : 5 we'd say stha whofe ShoW:' Barbe-