LIFE IN LONDON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16590, 12 November 1919, Page 4

LIFE IN LONDON.

WILD ORGIES OR REVELRY

(Sydney Sun’s Correspondent.)

LONDON, Oct.. 17 Joyous delight in pre-war pleasures is tiie most notable reaction of tho war. 'Western .Europe seems to have left its chrysalis and to he clothing itself in gaiety. On every hand in the ' victorious countries bright scones _ roilcct tho infinite relief of the millions who .spent live years in the shadows. Dancing; is enjoying an unprecedented ■ boom. Clubs are springing up in Britain like mushrooms, and in many cases they arc being directed by middle-class ; gnls, who are not satisfied with a return to idle pre-war ways. It is estimated that the number cf dancing teachers in (jontloii lias trebled in tho Inst six months, A strong leaturo is a general wish amongst the middle-aged people to resume their ; dancing days. Organisations are ox- : tending in "the provinces for the im- ■ provemont of national dancing, and vil- ' htgo dances are having a great vogue. ‘ The lugger London hotels have balli rooms open afternoon ami evening. The dinner dance Is the newest form of private hospitality, and tho supper dance is disappearing.

SPORT IX FULLEST FAVOUR. 'Sport lias already returned to fullest favour, the crowds during the Newmarket week constituting a record. The King won throe races, giving a lead to the renewed popularity of racing. The war barrenness of the golf clubs has been overcome, and now there are waiting lists for membership. The green fees have been doubled, and it is difficult to got -n game. Football, it is estimated, draws nearly a million spectators a week, whilst there is a strange revival of old-world sports like archery. The theatres are booming, and ‘Chu Chin Chow” has surpassed “Charley’s Aunt” world record of 14G7 performances. At the picture shows long queues are seen nightly, and a strong musical season has now opened, tho artists including Melba, Tetrazzini, and Busoni, while Bceaham’s Grand Opera Company is beginning a special cheappriced season at Covent Garden. Bridge maintains supremacy amongst card players, but whist drives arc enjoving a boom. Similar events are marking the, life of Paris, where boxing especially is much in vogue

1500-GUIXEA SETS OF FURS

Many commentators remark on the huge expenditure involved in joymaking, and some are attacking the wild expenditure of women on furs, amounting to even 1500 guineas a sot, but the critics at present are. concentrated upon the Government, declaring that until the Treasury ceases spendthrift finance and paying tho deficiency by note-printing, and: thus further reducing money’s purchasing power, private jxioplc will not recognise that frugality is essential.

Money ha-S never been spent in Britain as' it is now. Dressmakers and tailors are charging 150 per cent, above pre-war prices, yet they cannot handle tho orders. There is a groat craze for jewellery and precious stones, and merchants declare that thoir stocks arc getting scarce. America is an enormous buyer or diamonds, taking at least three-fourths of tho world’s production, but the dearth is being somewhat relieved by the fact that Russian people’s jewellery is coming to tho British market hv'many devious courses.

"Tho Evening Kcws publishes a raking exposure of the night clubs, describing profligate scones which it alleges arc common between 10 and 4 o’clock. “Tho night clubs are ablazo with light. The women are indecently underclad, wearing tho latest evening fashions’ with bareback bodices. Wine Hows lavishly at fabulous prices. A profit of £2OO a night is frequently made. Even dope is procurable, but. the main joy is an tho dancing and cigarette smoking in an atmosphere of abandonment and familiarity. Introductions aro unnecessary, and Christion names aro bandied about.”

Such dancing dens are undeniably common, but it does not alter the fact that tho great bulk of the post-war pleasure-seeking is along wholesome lines.