A Venus in Wadding.

Otago Witness, Issue 1622, 23 December 1882, Page 30

A Venus in Wadding.

An amusing case came before the Brighton County Court Judge recently. The action was brought by a dressmaker named Coffen to recover from a lady named Taylor the sum of 13s for work done. Plaintiff having given evidence in support of her claim, the defendant said she refuged to pay because the plaintiff spoiled her dress. It did not fit her, and could not be made to fit. Plaintiff, in an indignant tone, said : "I did make the dress properly, but the lady has no natural figure whatever. She said she was suffering from her liver, and could not be squeezed, and how could I make her look like a Venus when it was all wadding ?" — This created much laughter, in which his Honor joined.— Defendant : I did not want you to make it tight ; I like my dresses loose. — Plaintiff : You should say how verjr deformed your arms are. — Plaintiff (excitedly) : I am not deformed. I am a better figure than you ; I have no deformity. My husband is in Court ; ask him. — Plaintiff : Will you allow me to try the dress on in Court? — Defendant : Yes, before all the gentlemen. — His Honor : You must put the dress on, and I must see it. — The parties then retired into the < solicitors' robing-room, and after the plaintiff had put on the dress, hia Honor was informed by a bailiff that she refused to come into Court. His Honor accordingly entered the robing-room with the Registrar, and on his return into Court he said he did not think the plaintiff had followed the model or pattern given to her to work by, and the work was very indifferently done. He did not, therefore, think she had earned the money claimed, and the verdict would be for the defendant.