Cocktails, Confidence, Aberration

Cocktails, Confidence, Aberration

French priests were ordered last week by Franc, Cardinal Verdier, new Archbishop of Paris, to begin an "extensive survey" of the spread of the "cocktail evil" in their parishes. Neither a snooper nor a prude, His Eminence thus showed that he is in harmony with the great body of French public opinion which holds:

1) That Scientist Pasteur (originator of milk pasteurization) was right when he said: "Wine is the most healthy and hygienic of beverages."

2) That alcoholic spirits (primary cocktail ingredients) are not beverages but weak and pleasant poisons.

The new Archbishop intimated that when his priests have completed their report he may take drastic action about cocktails. "But may I ask Your Eminence," said a respectful reporter, "what is intended to be done about French women's dress?"

This reference was to the famed Twelve Orders "on women's immodest fashion of dress" issued by authority of Pope Pius XI some months ago to higher Catholic clergy throughout the world. Order No. 1 declares that "the parish priest . . . should insist, argue, exhort and command that feminine garb be based on modesty and that their ornament be a defense of virtue." Order No. 5 states that "headmistresses and teachers must not receive in their colleges and schools immodestly dressed girls, and should not even make an exception for the mothers of their pupils." Order No. 9 is the most drastic: "maidens and women dressed immodestly are to be banned from holy communion and from acting as godmothers in the sacraments of baptism and confirmation and, if it be an extreme case, may be even forbidden to enter the Church."

What actually constitutes "immodest fashion" the Twelve Orders leave to be construed by the local ordinaries of dioceses, as circumstances may require. Last week the new Archbishop of Paris vastly endeared himself to Frenchwomen by his construction. Short sleeves, low necks, short skirts (should they again come in) and the scanty bathing costumes still sanctioned by the French mode were apparently all covered by this statement from His Eminence:

"It is not a question of inches in length of material, but of how a garment is worn. I have confidence in the morals of French women."

While His Eminence was dealing with decency of dress in France, a large delegation of physicians were received in audience at the Vatican by Pope Pius XI who addressed them thus:

"On the question of decency in dress, how often do people try to secure the complicity of doctors in order that a veto against indecent dress should not apply? Many other things gain vogue under medical pretext which would have disastrous consequences if they got a foothold among sound medical practitioners, such as things concerning conjugal life and sexual relationships, offenses against maternity, and therapeutic abortion."

The growing European cult of Nudism, most active colony of which is in Paris, was described by His Holiness as "a sad aberration."

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