Citroen Sits

Smart, blase Deauville was almost surprised, last week, when dapper M. Andre Gustave Citroen, famed "Henry Ford of France," sat as judge upon a male fashion parade and upon a bevy of diving Adonises.

Sponsored by exotic novelist M. Maurice de Waleffe were cool culottes de juillet (Breeches of July) much resembling the "shorts" already worn by smart U. S. males--as nether underwear. With the culottes is worn a waspish waisted jacket. Formal evening attire of quite similar cut was presented at Deauville in sheer green or violet silk, topped with a silk hat of matching hue, and completed by a nuvelle chemise-d'habille (new dress shirt)--soft,-collarless, and deeply "V" cut to display virile hirsute chests.

Judge Citroen, assisted by Baron van Zuylen and clubbable M. Andre de Four-quiers, scored the entries by a discreet system of points which admirably concealed the personal penchants, if any, of the greatest European motor man (150 cars a day).

The bevy of Adonises, clad in bathing trunks without tops,*were judged according to standard occidental notions of masculine perfection. Plump tummies, esteemed by Orientals, were ruthlessly penalized by slightly tubby Judge Citroen.

Fashion displays such as that at Deauville were explicitly condemned by a general pontification of last week from the Vatican's famed semi-official news organ Osservatore Romano. Lamenting for the Globe in general, Osservatore cried: "Immorality is still vast. Sufficient proof is afforded by the Press with its audacious articles and by fashions which are ever more bold and unseemly."

*A standard omission at most European beaches.