COMMUNAL DRESS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19529, 11 July 1925, Page 9

COMMUNAL DRESS.

(By Patricia West, in the Daily Chronicle.) “ Life,” said Priscilla, looking serious, “is very hard.” She drifted towards the telephone, but rat down halfway, and looked back at me. “If one wore standard clothes, now,” she suggested. “ You would like that? ” I said gravely. Priscilla’s frocks are amazing and of infinite variety. She considered for a moment. “It would be dull but restful, perhaps.” She looked towards the telephone again. “ I wonder now ” She was talking to herself. “ Dorothy or Joan. . . . I’d get Dorothy about this rime . , .” she broke off and stared at me. “ Dorothy for hats, of course,” she said, as though she was beginning to see light at last. “ She has so many—but Joan is just my size.” “ Is . Dorothy a dressmaker?” I asked paticstly. “And Joan?” * • * Priscilla was not listening. “ There is that black frock,” she went on to herself. . . ‘‘ If I had a hat .. . or that blue hat of mine . . . if I could raise a frock from Dorothy. . . You see . . . .” She vouchsafed an ■, x planation at last. “ It’s this wedding.” It was only half an explanation to .ny slow-moving mind, but she proceeded: “There was Ascot and a garden party, and Lord’s, and now there is a wedding.” ”It sounds like a game of consequences,” I said. “It isn’t,” Priscilla said dreamily. “ It’s a puzzle played with frocks and --—■” She gave the number, and turned back to me. ” I think a black hat would be the thing,” she said, as though we had discussed it all. “ I saw a lovely hat yesterday,” I said. “ Black crinoline with ears of wheat on it.” “I expect you did”—she was not interested. “ What use would a black hat

be to me in Scotland, or in a errantry winter . . .” she broke off. “ Hello, is that you, Dorothy? . . .” • * « It was, evidently. She proceeded;’ “ Splendid, thanks . . .” and got to the point 'in a modem manner that left me ganing with admiration. “ Look here. Have you got a black hat to lend mo for to-morrow? I’ve got an elegant frock, but no . . . what? Oh, never mind. . . What? . . 0, of course You were just going to ring me up.* How funny . . yes . . There was silence" while Dorothy had her say, I suppose. Then ... “ Wait a moment . . .” She was thoughtful, staring at me, then she turned back. “ I’ve got a rather nice grev tweed . . . and a brown three-piece. Yon can have cither of those. Tor the week-end, of course.” There was silence again. . . “ You had better come round for them, any time. Thanks awfully. I’ll try Joan first, and if that’s no go I’ll come round and see what you have got. -night oh! Good-bye.” * * * “ Eathor a pood svstom, isn’t is, though mamma is horrified at it. How many times do you wear a garden party frock and hat in a year? And next year it is hopelessly dowdy. Joan and Dorothy and I have one between us. The same with the other things.” “But.” I said, “what happens if yon go out the same day ” “Wo get hold of someone else who isn’t going out that day to just such an occasion. Wo all seem to he the same size nowadays, which is a blessing. I haven’t been stuck vet.” Ffho sighed again. Life was hard. Brt the communal wardrobe seemed a solution to many problems. Ono had at least several wardrobes for the price of one I