To the Editor of the "Norta-Cuixa Dairy News."
Sir,—It seems a pity that your correspondents "Sixty," ''Alarmed" and Mr. A. Akehurst should find it necessary to aim more or less disparaging remarks at the British Services in answer to a well deserved rebuke of those who insist either purposely or in ignorance in imitating a service uniform. We are taught, however, that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" so our friends are doubtless merely using up a little harmless satire at the expense of the little peace-time fads of the Services they admired so much during the late (?) war.
The allusion of "Sixty" to the Eton coat as a forerunner of the mess jacket is, of course, inaccurate, and the service dress tunic is a field service dress after all, and for that reason is moded to give the best service. At any rate, the lavender and lilac tweeds (doubtless) so dear to our friend's happier days were not copied. Badges do not make a uniform, "Sixty," they adorn it.
Mr. Akehurst apparently has missed the point of my letter, due, I have no doubt, to his having neglected to carry out his own advice to others to keep out of the sun. A plain white dinner jacket with any buttons is the evening jacket favoured in most parts of the East, but this is very different to the White Mess jacket.
With regard to the wearing of 553 trousers, some of our friends who affect the Mess jacket could not look more absurd if they left their nether garments off altogether and toddled along to parties, theatres, ete., in "B.D, Vs.'? At least the grotesque picture would ba complete.
T am, ete,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.