THE LEO THEORY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 106, 1 November 1933, Page 10

THE LEO THEORY

(By Nolle M. Sc&nl&n.) - LONDON, September 26. It was thought that in yic.toria's day, modesty alone induced women to wear long- skirts and hide their legs. But it wasnH; it was worsted stockings. At a manufacturers' conference recently a man let the cat out of the bag. As long as a woman's legs were clad in woollen stockings she was compelled to keep them concealed, and by the lure of frill and flounce to suggest a subtle charm beneath. But when the vogue of silk stockings became rampant she-hitched up her skirts to the knee and unblushingly displayed her sleek and silken calf. Without silk stockings, short skirts would have been impossible—unbearable. A man said so, and men know. Having ventured her legs in silk of heavy texture, she took' courage and went'from fine to. finer, until at last the chiffon became 1 invisible, but it spread a kindly glamour over Nature's imperfections. ' The day was to come, however, when that brazen hussy the modern woman discarded her stockings altogether. This year's long and glorious summer has revealed, nay, thrust upon us, a staggering variety of legs. And in this matter of legs-there is no doubt some women got a dirty deal. We might have passed the slim, and shapely legs of youth; the tanned and seasoned calf of satiny skin. But we have had fat legs, bulbous legs, hairy legs, bandy legs, and knock knees; legs with freckles and, legs *Vith. scars, and stringy legs like an aged hen's. We saw them parading the city streets, in shops and restaurants, under dinner tables, and on dance floors. Legs naked and hideous, and not even the worsted legs of our* grandmothers wore half as revolting as most of them. Cool and comfortable 1 No doubt. Beautiful! Decidedly not. A few, yes, but do the lovely few justify the "exposure of the appalling many? The objection is not moral but asthetic. These unattractive legs would surely safeguard any virtue. The Edwardian woman knew tho value of suggestion, the intrigue and charm of ■ veiled clusiveness. But charm is an old-fashioned word. Now the orgy of legs is over. Tho first rain has fallen, the heath fires are drenched out, the coalman's mournful voice rings blenkly in the autumn calm, and tho mothballs are being shaken from the stored furs. What will next summer bring? What is the Log Theory of 1934? Sunburnt and scaling nudity, or will the modern woman realise tho wisdom of , her grandmama? Worsted legs were bad enough, but bare ones. . . Mind the step, please.