Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 82, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 April 1920 — THEY ARE JAZZ MAD IN LONDON [ARTICLE]

THEY ARE JAZZ MAD IN LONDON

Night Club Fever Sets in as Gay Life Is Resumed. EN6USH LEARN TO DANCE Shortage of Eligible Young Men Puts Crimp In Dancing Aspirations of Many English Girls—Resort to “Paid Escort." London.— “-“Making a night of It” became 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 a 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 a 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 pnrples now and the lights are bright and red, and in Piccadilly Circus they have four electric signs that flash on and off. London has acquired the night club fever. Prom il p. m. to 3 a. m. has become the recognized space of time for worshiping at the shrine of Terpsichore. How the Night Is Spent. “Are you dancing tonight?” no longer means are yon going to spend the hours between dinner time and midnight at a hall or club. It means are yon going to Rector’s, to the Grafton galleries or to Brett’s, 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 a brief halt at the nearest coffee stall for a cup of muddy fluid which tastes like nectar at that hour, but which, taken six hours later, would spoil one's whole day. But such Is night life In a big cityl The night' dubs of London are a peace product They range from the -exclusive ones of Bond street to the frankly democratic and even mpre so ones of Leicester square and Charing Cross road —clubs to suit the taste and deplete the pocketbook of every one. ■ - London has Its closing hour, and that la ten o’clock. At none of the

clubs or dance halls is any form of intoxicating liquor sold openly. Ostensibly one does it on pink lemonade and cider cup—unless one has a large hip pocket or knows the proprietor. Every place in London which dispenses jazz music and French pastry during the wee sma’ hours is a “club.” In most of them membership consists merely of filling In a form at the door. Many, however, are sure enough clubs, where only members and their guests may dance. Of the former class, Rector’s, on Tottenham court road, Is unquestionably the most popular. Needless to say, it has an American orchestra; all the dance clubs have bands that are either American or good imiof American musicians. Rector’s draws the theatrical crowd, folks from behind the footlights -as well as those who have been to a “show” and are put to make a night of it. It charges $5 a ticket, or 37.50 for a couple, which includes a light, very light, “buffet supper.” London is jazz mad; they are learning 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 a fast one-step. The shortage of eligible young men has, of course, put a severe crimp In the dancing aspirations of many English girls. This has led to the “paid escort,” usually an amiable youth with enchanted feet and suave ballroom manners and a rented dress suit.