"Eden Crisis"

"I propose the fig leaf as your emblem, gentlemen! Honor it as the origin of your great Merchant Tailors' Federation. When the Garden of Eden crisis occurred, Eve took the only available fig leaf, and Adam had to clothe himself in heavy skins.

"In our present day of grace, Eve has returned to her old principle of the scant fig leaf, but Adam still clothes himself heavily and laboriously. . . I suggest more color in Adam's clothes. . . . May we live to see a scarlet morning coat worn with fig-leaf-green trousers and a canary waistcoat!"

To convivial Merchant Tailors, banqueting in London last week, it seemed that the above words were actually uttered by Guest-of-Honor Sir Nicholas Gratten-Doyle, M. P., and Director of Northern Newspapers Co., Ltd. But friends of Sir William doubted. They knew that he knows his Bible. Therefore it seemed impossible that he could have so thoroughly scrambled the Genesis story of the fig leaves and the suits of skins.

Eve did not clothe herself in "the only available fig leaf." There were plenty. For (Genesis III, 7) "they [Adam and Eve] sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons."

Adam was apparently quite as satisfied with his scanty apron as Eve; but the Lord God was not. Therefore (Genesis III, 21) "unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins and clothed them."

Pious Merchant Tailors should honor no more fig leaf or apron of fig leaves, but rather the Lord God, as the true originator of their ancient profession.