THE TALE OF A COLLAR.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 649, 7 March 1914, Page 7

THE TALE OF A COLLAR.

Man, to-day., haß accepted the tyranny of the collar —he rebels against its angular edge, and liability to fray, yet without it he is sadly at a loss ; feels himself, indeed, in some curious way, unfit for the society of his fellows. To be without hat, coat, cuffs, gloves, all this is of no account —would argue, indeed, a pleasing originality—but to be without a collar—each a thing is not possible. During a stifling summer afternoon in Kensington (hardens, this dependence of man upon his collar was curiously exemplified. A gentleman, attired in Panama hat, and the most correct of light green suits* tie and socks to match, was seated beneath the shade of an elm tree. In this seemly garb there lurked, unfortunately one weak spot ; the collar, though of regulation shape and height, was elderly—this very characteristic, indeed, had led to it being worn on that sultry day, since with age its once relentless) grip upon the neck had somewhat relaxed. Seated beneath the shade of the tree, the owner of the collar drew a deep breath of satisfaction, whereupon—crackle !—the stud holes at the neck gave way ; slowly avid gracefully the collar began to part, being held in position only by the green silk. tie, itself elaetit. The owner, unbapptfy, would not let ill alone ; gksacing round, and perceiving himself to be entirely unobserved, he removed his c.oHar, and lying it upon his knee, strove with the aid of some fioe thread to remedy the defect. There came just then a breath of wind, which raised the collar and bore it along the • ground. The owner started in pursuit, but another hunter was before him—one of those long legged and elfish dogs which haunt the neighbourhood of the Serpentine. On r«K*d the collar—liberty shortlived, for in a moment the elfish dog had seized 'it, and, tail between his lags, made straight for the Serpentine ; there, a white fla=h. dog and collar vanished, to be seen no more. Ta* situation was appalling. Light summer suit, green socks and tie, the latest thing in Panamas—all these were of no avail. Impossible; to face one's fellow mortals without that demure necklet of linen. Coat collar turned up might indeed conceal the deficiency, but this would be an eccentric proceeding upon ssch a sultry evening, and on? well calculated to attract undesirable attention. Head upon hands, the erstwhile owner of the collar pondered! deeply. ... There emerged before long, from Kensington Gardens, a gentleman attired in the most correct fashion ; he walked with head slightly bent, the' regulation rim of white round his neck. From the volume in his hand two blank pages were missing.—"Globe."