HOBBLE SKIRT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 970, 23 March 1911, Page 4

HOBBLE SKIRT.

ACTRESS’S DEMONSTRATION IN COURT.

A demonstration of the hobble skirt was given in Westminster County Court recently, when Mrs Bennett (Miss Clifford), an actress, was sued by Morris Shneturock for £8 12s, for making costumes. Mrs Bennett pleaded that one of the costumes was useless, the hobble skirt preventing her from walking and ihe tight sleeves of the jacket stopping the circulation of her blood. At the suggestion of Judge Woodfall, Mrs Bennett retired to put on the hobble skirt costume. Reappearing, she said that she had done her best to wear the clothes. “You see,” she said—standing between the plaintiff’s and defendant’s boxes, and lilting one foot just off the floor —“I can’t get into a omnibus with it on.” (Laughter). Mr Leslie Smith (for the defence) : How long did it take you to walk a mile in it ? Mrs Bennett: It is looser now because it split in my attempts to walk in it. (Laughter). It took me three hours to go from Twickenham to Richmond, and at the ferry I was stuck on the hank unable to get into the boat. They had to lift me in. (Laughter). And I had to be lifted out. Then I found I couldn’t get into an omnibus, and I had to have a taxi cab home. (Laughter). That was the only time I wore the hobble skirt. I wore the pleated skirt three limes. The plaintiff said that he made the skirt in the fashion. The Defendant: You see the skirt. Now look at the sleeves of the jacket. They stop the circulation of my blood. Judge Woodfall found there had been an acceptance by the defendant. He had to decide these cases in a rough and ready way, hoping to do justice to the parties. He allowed half-price tor the jacket, and on the whole gave judgment for the plaintiff for £5 and the court fees.