LIP-STICKS IN BUSINESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 377, 11 June 1928, Page 13

LIP-STICKS IN BUSINESS

TYPIST DEFENDS THEM Fraulein Bibi, a typist with a face like a doll's, speared before a Berlin labour court to claim a month's wages in lieu of notice, writes the Berlin correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” Her late employer stated that he had noted mysterious red marks on the white curtains of the office. He ascertained that Fraulein Bibi had formed the evil habit of correcting the curve of her lips when they required a new coating of lipstick, with the curtains instead of—as she might have done—with a pocket handkerchief.

The curtains were covered with greasy smears of lipstick, and clients had passed remarks about them which were most painful. His reputation and the reputation of the firm were at stake. In the circumstances he discharged the typist and refused to pay her anything but the money due* to her for work done.

Fraulein Bibi acted as her own counsel. She sustained with great ability the thesis that lipstick is a necessity of life and indispensable for any girl who desires to have a successful business career.

She went with great thoroughness into the question of the price of lip sticks. She admitted there were superior lipsticks of indelible paint—so cleverly made that a fashionable curve could be given to the mouth without the help of curtains or Handkerchiefs. She stated emphatically that she did not consider a typist was justified in buying these expensive lipand pointed out that a girl with ner salary was forced to buy cheap lipstick. She discussed the wage question with the eloquence of a trade union leader, explained what she did with her money, and proved conclusively that she had nothing over for extra pocket handkerchiefs or for higherpriced lipsticks, which were unsuitable for a person of her station in life. Her film-star lips parted in a brilliant smile when the Court upheld her point of view.