Prudes v. Pajamas

A=ARGENTINA

A backward glance at the Winter Season just closed in Buenos Aires reveals that the outstanding event was not the Hoover visit (TIME, Dec. 24), but the sudden and epochal decision of paunchy, prosperous Argentine males to adopt sheer, silk pajamas as their public garb. During previous hot winters--with thermometers more often than not at 98DEG in the shade -- perspiring Argentines merely peeled off their coats, went about in shirtsleeves. This year, however, the policia strictly enforced an ordinance punishing with a fine of one peso (42-c-) the offense of "appearing in public without a coat." Result: thousands of smart, irrepressible Argentines appeared on the streets, in subways, cafes and at bull fights, wearing pajama pants with coats.*

* Throughout the "A B C Countries"--where even the most potent U. S. news services are represented chiefly by native correspondents-- banquets are considered major news. In a single day, last week, one such news service received five "banquet stories," not one of which contained an atom of what U. S. citizens consider news.