A REJECTED BLOUSE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 175, 11 December 1912, Page 6

A REJECTED BLOUSE.

FEMININE FINERY. la it usual for '"lilting sleeves" lo have two seams? Is it customary for an evening blouse to have "Magyar" sleeves'; These knotty questions and a mass of other feminine technicalities puzzled the Magistrate, perplexed counsel, and intensely amused a audience of "mere men," in tlie body of the Court, in the local halls of justice yesterday afternoon. More lliau once a titter of laughter interspersed the examination of the feminine witnesses, and the reprimanding "Silence, silence in the Court!" of the crier was frequently heard.

The technicalities arose out of a civil action in wnich Mrs. Edith Oldham, of Mangorei, sued Miss Harrie Kate Cant, dressmaker, New Plymouth, for an alleged breach of contract, alleging that defendant had failed to make a proper blouse, out of materials supplied by her, thereby rendering the said materials worthless for a blouse. She further alleged that she had paid the defendant the sum of los in cash, and supplied trimmings and extras to the value of £1 Os lid. Tlie blouse, it was contended, i was a misfit. Damages to the amount of £2 4s lid were claimed. Mr. J. B. Roy I appeared for Llie plaintiff, while Mr. A. I-I. Johnstone defended.

The plaintiff, who was in the witness box for more than an hour,- stated that the Mouse was "irretrievably ruined, spoilt," and that the defendant had quite "spoilt the effect of the beautiful trimmings that I bought," She also stated that the blouse was i« failure, but if it had only been altered properly it would not have been an utter failure. ,

llis Worship confessed that the technicalities of feminine finery were completely beyond him, whereat counsel f<pr the defendant suggested an ocular dpmonstration.

"Refer'it to a jury of matrons," rpmarked the opposing counsel. ■'! don't \yant to impose the ordeal on your Worship." (Laughter). : ,

The Magistrate, with becoming diffidence, eyed askance the suggestion of himself acting as arbitrator in so weighty a matter, but counsel for the defendant was insistent.

Mr. Johnstone (delving into the depths of a mysterious-looking parcel): ''The blouse is here yoar Worship, and I and Jmy client are quite 'willing d>t should be tried on. In fact I . think .it only proper that it should be put on." The Magistrate: Do youthnk I am competent to tell whether it.'fit^? -Mr. Johnstone: 1 think: eo. We men are all in a. x-er.tain .amount of difficulty about it.

Mr. Roy here ,-J.h;vt, he had not' called ''experfcs^-for - they wpjre very loth, for business reasons, 'to give evidenae, but he ft&d several lady friends of the.plaintiff wiiq weye willing to gife eYi'dtoce whether f'/.'c,'bjo'use'was a la mode or not.

Mr. JohnstonfT: 'I have dressmakers here. ia.attendance in; the 'CeuVt, and limy'will fit it. on'and examine it, if need 1.e.. Put the blouse on -and that will settle the question. " •••'■ ■■ • ■ Mr. Key;. The . blou=e is the best witness the plaintiff ha£. --(Laughter). The: blouse, was at tliis juncture entrusted to the tendor mercies of defending counsel, who held'it up for infection, ;with the remark 'that it was a .very handsome garment, - fr Mr.. Roy, with a .smile which implied that his learned friend did not have very good taste or an . eye for. beauty, begged to. differ. lie added: that -lit! was afraid that counsel did hot. know the picturesque way..of ■ unfading .-the confection. ; '

, A party of thre,e (the plaintiff,, de■fendamt, .and a third lady) ; then retired, «ad in a r.em.arkably.short ; space.of. time the the witness box wearing a silk "evening blouse. ; CQ.tnspJ.for ilie 4'f".nce.J±e£,mume<! his y 4So4to,'*-lie rii marked, ''is the irretrievably ruined /blouse. - Perhaps'"^otf-wflT"indicate to me in what respects it jfi ;tuins.". The plaintiff: It is linriecesi&ry., I think I have told alrea.d.y. ~

Counsel persisted,,in his enquiry, and plaintiff replied that :.r> (he first ■ phve the blouse was out wrongly. Counsel: What are the result;- of (lie wrong cutting?— Perhaps, you (a man) don't know, but the sleeves are cut If) high. The tucks in the back (here sh.i turned, her back for inspection) do not "lie." It is alright when I stand like this, but I am not always in this posture.

Counsel: Oh, I fchinjc, it-is a really better garment than the ono you had on before. Ileally, I must compliment .you.—But that blouse , was f only. a shirt blouse, to be worn under a jacket! ' Counsel:' But the defendant is a firstclass dressmaker—She, is considered to be. '

The Magistrate .(referring to. a par-, titular-alleged defect):■ "J anj' a mero 'man 1 , and I don't understand, What .do you mean?—My dear sir, 1 T can't see the.back of myself. It is .difficult! The sleeves are too tight. ', Just see—and 'here; plaintiff gave an otfular demonstration. ' '

After further sparring between counsel and plaintiff, tli» ■ former'"asked what parte* of ihe blouse fitted "with reason able accuracy, and, not knowing the precise, technical term, asked if something _ was "like this, shirt ..thing?" Plaintiff (indignantly): "Pardon me, this is not a shirt blouse." She then went on to say that with a "fresh pair of sleeves, and,fresh hacks," -it would perhaps be wearable,, although it would not please her.

Counsel: Well, well we have got to: something at last. . . Well, would you expect a first-class dressmaker to make it- reasonably well?— Plaintiff replied' that she expected more than that .from a first-class dressmaker. Discovering another defect, she complained that the collar made her neck feel tired.

Well, we can't, help our necks getting tired occasionally. . . But really, it -fits splendidly.—l am glad you think so, but please remember that this blouse was made for me, not for Mr, Johnstone! (Laugther). Counsel: You say you want a reasonably loose fit because you go driving in the night?—No, I don't drive in the night, but during the day time. At a later stage, the plaintiff, in endeavouring to enlighten Mr. Johnstono as to her requirements said: I want the seams cut the same as in your coat. Counsel examined his coat sleeves, but his face still wore a blank look, and, continuing, the plain!,iff said that .she "wanted sleeves put in to relieve the tension on the tucks."

His Worship (writing hard): Slower please. And so the argument proceeded, and always there remained, a yawning' gulf between the conflicting opinions, which all ihe persuasive eloquence of counsel failed to bridge. Evidence on behalf of the plaintiff w »« given bv Miss C\ Pott and Fred W Oldham, while Miss G. Bed well and Mrs! M. A. Golding went into the box on defendant's behalf. Judgment was given for the plaintiff for 5s and costs. The Magistrate directed that the plaintiff should keep the much abhored piece of finery.