I bet all my readers understand how relaxing, how heavenly, and how creatively inspiring the right clothes can be, and there is an essay in the 27 October issue of the 'Spectator' by the curmudgeonly Paul Johnson, about the importance of dress. He writes, 'Wearing a different outfit tends to make the mind more flexible...Various people think they perform their functions better when dressed up'. He goes on to dressing up as a stimulus for creativity: '...And was there not a prolific author, specialising in romantic novels (among other genres), who had to dress up as a flapper before tackling his current tale, while retaining his foul pipe and Osbert Lancaster moustache? Deep waters here, eh, Watson?'

Johnson seems to be referring to Arthur Conan Doyle, if 'Watson' is meant to be a hint, in which case it is news to me. If he was dressing up as a flapper it must have been at a very advanced age. Perhaps another writer is meant, but I have no idea who. The essay is mainly devoted to Richard Wagner, who I have only seen in a black frock coat, usually standing near his seated wife Cosima, who lived well into the twentieth century, and whose death, when it at last came, must have been greeted with a profound sigh of relief by the rest of the family.

Wagner needed some housecoats to provide him with the right elevated frame of mind to complete the Ring, and their style was described thus: 'One was in pink satin ("I need 12 yards"), "quilted with eiderdown and sewn in squares". It was to be "lined with a lightweight white satin", and the width of the coat at the bottom had to be "six lengths, i.e. very wide", so that he could swish it about. He wanted "a puffed rouche all the way around", and "the trimming or flounce must be particularly opulent and beautifully worked...a foot in width [with] three or four beautiful bows" near the waist. The sleeves were to have "puffed trimmings, opulent" and there had to be "a wide sash, ten feet long".

'The whole was completed, once put on, by profuse spraying of costly scents and unguents...' No wonder the Ring is so overwhelming! Actually, the outfit sounds a little similar - but much more luxuriant - to those pretty frilly housecoats of the 1960s, pink, padded and sewn in lozenge shapes, and usually with a lacy collar and bib. They were scrumptious, and it is a pity they are no longer seen.

I received a letter this month which I reproduce here:

Dear Susan,

Firstly let me say what an excellent website you have.  My interests lie only in baby discipline and punishments. I think it is the perfect way to tame a husband or son. I only have a mild interest in the pink-petticoated side, so forgive me!  Anyway, I am particularly enjoying the letters on early bedtimes for Steve and Timmy. One thing that has not been mentioned is daytime bed for punishments. It can be arranged that an errant husband or son can, and should, be put to bed during the day, not just early.  After all cranky babies need their naps and what more humiliating punishment is there than to have a big boy or hubbie dressed in his infantile pyjamas and nightie ready for bed at one or two o'clock in the afternoon.  I'm surprised that everyone has forgotten that. Anyway, as I have an interest in early bedtimes and daytime bedtimes as punishment for boys, I set up a poll. I hope you don't mind me sending it you. If you don't wish to put it on your page, you don't have to. Its actually interesting to see the results of this poll: http://www.misterpoll.com/2708439926.html I am just anxious to get more votes (I thought I was the only one to be put to bed early when I was young!)
 

Also here is another poll on baby treatment as punishment for boys:
http://www.misterpoll.com/885711342.html

The letter was from 'Barefoot Baby', who has put together these polls. Later I received a letter from Christine, and she gives a petticoating poll which must be from the same source:
 
Hello Susan,

As usual hubby and I are enjoying reading your excellent website.

This website is a poll about petticoating:
http://www.misterpoll.com/4124083415.html

Christine A.  :)

Perhaps readers could answer the questions in these polls, so that we have a better sample (albeit not a very random one), and then Barefoot Baby could send me the results. They should be very interesting. 

And we have a new member of staff: Clarence has joined the typing pool, and will be sent a tea voucher by Miss Gribble. We all had a wonderful time at a nearby fair recently - even Sarah Fraser made the long journey from Cornwall - but more of that in the Christmas Annual.