The recent letters from 'Jill' and 'Mrs. R.R.S.' on pinafore discipline for boys have been very interesting. I too have had some experience of this subject.

My nephew Peter lived with me between the ages of 13 and 18. When he first came, his parents had been dead for two years, and he was very wild and disobedient. I determined to correct these faults, and right from the beginning I put him into a pinafore whenever he misbehaved, and with this useful garment I made him wear silk blouses and velvet shorts. Since I am a trained dressmaker I was able to provide the costumes I considered necessary for him.

My treatment was very effective, and once Peter realised that any rudeness or naughtiness would be followed by a spell in pinnies, his behaviour began to improve. He learnt that I was absolutely firm about his discipline and would make no exceptions; if he deserved to be pinafored he had to remain in his costume for the full period ordered, no matter who came to the house.

This discipline continued the whole time he was with me; as he grew bigger I made him new pinafores, blouses and shorts when he needed them. By the time he was 16 or so I had to put him into his pinny only rarely, but up to the time he left me at the age of 18 there were still some occasions when his behaviour was unsatisfactory and I had to be firm and put him into costume.

I enclose one of a series of sketches I made which may be of interest to your readers. Peter was 17 or 18 at the time, and he had been ill-mannered or disobedient in some way and needed correction. He is already dressed in a white silk blouse and black velvet shorts, and he is being put into his pinafore. I hope I have managed to catch something of his subdued expression as he realises he must spend his spare time for the next few days in a pinny and velvet shorts.

     Peter is now 24 and married, and his wife Sally, a charming girl, recently came across some of my drawings of him. She was fascinated by these, and she questioned me closely about the details of his upbringing and discipline. I believe she is now thinking of putting Peter back into blouse, shorts and pinafore when she wants to keep him under control in their house, for a few weeks ago she asked me if I could still make the sort of clothes that Peter used to wear as a boy.

Aunty Dorothy