BRANDING OF GOWNS

Evening Star, Issue 22455, 28 September 1936, Page 10

BRANDING OF GOWNS

/ CHINESE CAMPAIGN STOPPED I A stern policeman with a, big rubber stamp had the curious assignment in Canton of marching about the streets in search of women’s gowns which seemed to him over-modern in styling. / ‘ . \ When he saw one he would dash up and conspicuously brand_ it with the words “ Violating the Anti-modern Dress Regulations ” —these regulations being a device of the police authorities for preserving the ancient virtues. ; A number of women were highly annoyed, a number of gowns were ruined, but nothing happened otherwise until suddenly the policeman with the rubber- stamp was called into headquarters, his stamp was taken away from him, and word went out that the campaign was “ off.” . What was more; the Canton garrison commander inserted a notice in the local newspapers apologising for the inconvenience caused during the period of anti-modernism. It developed—after some whispering, for the papers weren’t allowed tovpublish the full facts—that the policeman had stamped the wrong woman finally. Me spoiled the best dress of the wife of , a high Canton official. She returned home and read “ the riot act” to her husband, who lost no time in , making indignant representations where they would do the most good. At the same time the wife had photographs of the stamped gown taken and these were shown to tfie wives of other high officials, who agreed that a grave injustice had been done, and similarly made life miserable for their husbands. This is only one of the several efforts which Canton police have made during the past few months to protect the morals of the community, but it seems to have been the most conspicuously unsuccesful of the lot. Last summer the police successfully campaigned against mixed bathing. A feature of the unlucky drive was the prescribing of a “ standiu-d dress,” including sleeves covering the elbow. A number of incidents occurred before the grand finale. Police patrolled the city in a van at one time, arresting modern-attired women and stamping their gowns. One girl was ashamed to leave the police station with her dress so marked, and finally ono of the secretaries of the police chief lent her a. cheap cotton gown—and was herself subsequently discharged for her action.