A HOBBLE SKIRT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1030, 20 January 1911, Page 6

A HOBBLE SKIRT.

AMUSING CASE IN COURT,

A dispute over a dress—it was a holiblo skirt, .too—provided some funny incidents : at the. Paddington Police Court, Sydney on January 9, More Mr. Barnettj SSI. A-young woman named Amy Sheen proceeded against Mrs. Mildred Eyau for the recovery of £3, alleged to be duo in respect of material supplied defendant for the purpose of malting a dress to a design and pattern submitted to defendant at the time. •According to plaintiff the dress sun--plied did jiot fit. She did not want a hobble skirt, besides it was all "bagged up" '. around tho waist. , The dress was produced. . Mrs. Ryan said'it was "beautifully made." The trouble, as stated by defendant, was that plaintiff wanted the. dress without the money. Defendant would not allow .anything to go out without its being paid for, as she'said she bad'£sß outstanding for dressmaking in Paddington. The magistrate: What about trying this dress ou. It will bo more satisfactory? ■ - Mrs. Ryan: I will put it ou. ' Mr. Parker: Oh, no; Miss Sheen will try it on. ~..-. ~., ..-••.• ••■■ Mrs. Ryan: I object. •-J., want to be present at; the putting'of it on, and to see that it is hooked properly. I also want to seo whether Miss Sheen has the same amount of clothes on as when she ordered it. :■'.'. .. Miss Sheen: I have always the same amount' of clothes on. Mrs. Ryan: Lots of people have "up to date" clothes, but don't - know how to put them on. (Laughter.) Plaintiff, accompanied by her female friends and defendant, retired for the purpose of trying on the rejected garment, and in tho course of ten minutes returned to Court. The magistrato (to plaintiff): Will you point out to me where the dress docs not Ct you? The plaintiff: It doesn't fit me anywhere. She (defendant) admitted to me that it did not fit. "Look at the sleeves," she ejaculated, 'as she thrust her arms forward. • Tho magistrate: You are frilling them up. . Miss Sheen: No; I'm not. The dress is "baggy" at tho back, and doesn't fit mo round the waist. Tho magistrate (to defendant): She says that the dress doesn't fit her-round the waist. . , Mrs. Ryan: If there is any fault: to find with it I will alter it. Mr. Parker: Why, it makes her look ten years older. Mrs. Eyan: I cannot help her figure. ! (Laughter.) ■.','. ' Mr. Parker: Can't you fit her figure? Mrs. Ryan: I have doiio that. The magistrate ■ said he plainly sawthat tho dress did not fit plaintiff, and gave a verdict in her favour for .El 15s. Cd.. tho value of the material. There was a second case,, in which Miss Sheen sued l[rs.' Ryan for the detention of a. quantity, of.laco.and silk left for the purpose of making another dress,.the value of .which was .£1 3s. The magistrato ordered defendant, to deliver up the material within 48 hours on pavment of the sum of T)s. bv plaintiff. ANOTHER CASE. Considerable amusement was caused in tho Adelaide Court by a dispute as to the cut of a "hobble dress."- A barmaid claimed .£3 from a dressmaker as value of some material which she had supplied to bo made into a fashionable "hobble' skirt," and which she alleged had been completely spoilt by defendant. At the request of his Honour, Mr. Commissioner Russell, plaintiff retired to a room and donned the dress, so that it might be better seen. When sho returned there was a simmer of amusement in court.. The sleeves reached down to tho fingers, and the neckwas bare both back and front for several inches, .while the whole dress, hung loosely at tho waist. Plaintiff gathered up the slack cloth at the waist, and turning to the Court said, "There is absolutely no figure in tho thing, and I would not wear it cither in the street or in tho house. It is shocking." When asked what she thought of the cut of the dress at the neck, she said sho did not think anyoito should bo allowed to wear such a thing in the streets. Defendant, on tho other hand, was con- i fident that if sho was given an opportun- . ity sho could alter tho dress so that it : would suit plaintiff. ', Tho case was adjourned for a fortnight ] to allow tho dressmaker to try to remedy j the misfit; ,