KILTS IN PARLIAMENT.

Grey River Argus, 2 September 1908, Page 1

KILTS IN PARLIAMENT.

h Black Rod is not likely jto be a match for an Irish Nationalist when it comes to a controversy. Black Rod is a gentleman who takes himself very seriously, even if nobody else decs. His exalted position enables 1 him to peiform menial duties without loss of caste. He is a glorified messenger : 1 gorgeous doorkeeper in the House «." T»nrliament. But i^e dignity with wiudi he clothes himself rrd his office phices him at a disadvantage' when i^ comesto to a contest of wits with an Ir member. Recently Black Rod, otherwise Admiral Sir Henry Stephen son. was rash enough to censure Mr Hazlefon. M.P., for introducing into the ! gtillery of the House of Lords a visitor dressed in the Irish kilt and plaid, the. ancient Celtic costume of Ireland., Black Rod sent a message to the effect that the costume was "not a proper, one to wear" in that aueust assembly. Mr Hazleton promptly wrote complainin tr of what he considered a slight ca^t upon the Celtic revival by Black Rod's message. The reply by Black Rod was evasive, and when Mr Hazleton wrote a second 'time, asking the grounds of Black Rod's objection t© the national dress of Ireland, he received no answer at all. The Irishman was hurt. "Dear Admiral," he wrote, "I am sorry the Black Rod standard of manners is so lo.\v that you have not replied to my last letter. Why do you object to kilts, anyhow? You dpn't -even wear trousers yourself, and as for the rest of your costume, it is hardly a model of conventional austerity, is it? Even if you are opposed to the Celtic revival, why be so rude about it? Of course you are an Admiral, and I see from the papers that there is »an epidemic of rudeness amongst Admirals. I thought however, that they kept it for one another Cannot you be satisfied with reducing the livery of Parliament to he level of a fancy dress ball without trying to reduce its courtesies to the level of the Channel Fleet?" The letter concluded with a suggestion that She Admiral, as a dress reformer, ought to devote his attention to the King's habit of appearing in kilts in Scotland. Black Rod did not answer this irreverent epistle, but Mr Hazleton had his revenge by publishing the correspondence in all the newspapers.