RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29250, 7 July 1960, Page 22

RANDOM REMINDER

SPLICING THE MAIN BRACES.

Last summer, a Christchurch businessman decided to ioin his local cided to join his local bowling club. He had heard something of the bowlers’ etiquette, particularly in the matter of a c aress, so aner oemg elected to membership, he delayed his first appearance until he was quite hnH hie rrnont ready. He had his cream trousers and his blazer faultlessly tailored. His shoes sparkled, his shirt was of pristine purity. He wore his panama at an angle proper for a bowler, but a new one. He went • to the club, he was welcomed, he was asked to try his hand He took off his blazer and revealed a

set of splendid red braces, Two members fainted, severa l others recoiled several paces in horrorj and new man hastily withdrew, for the season. Why is it that braces can no L be . exposed to view without their owner having to bear a social stigma? Is it because they somehow have dim associations manual labour and, by inference, dirty hands and sweat y socks? The belt is untrustworthy, and requires its owner to be forever hitching himself together. Braces can give quiet unobtrusive service for years, for even when old age and infirmity cause them to break, they can be patched up with pieces of string, safety pins, fishhooks, or anything else

sufficiently strong to take the strain. A businessman may be quite splendid sartorially, but once he removes his coat he is of common clay, This is an absurd state of affairs and it is time it was changed. The manufacturers should begin a campaign to popularise braces, to make people braces conscious, to give braces some social standing. Perhaps braces could take the place of or be worn in association with the old boys’ ties which are so familiar. Braces in regimental colours would appeal, and there is no real reason why they should not be done in tartan designs. Although the true Scot, it is understood, has no real use for braces.