D THE A D HALF By DARLA SHEHADEH male charm that oozed over the footlights. Might have had something to do with those perfectly cut clo- thes designed by Norman Hart- nell. **** Even before Mr. Hartnell and the British manufacturers brought their clothes and mo- dels to the Middle East, Eng- lish fashions were making great strides in Beirut. In fact the English ready-mades are quickly replacing those of the French, which have never rea- ched the same quality and are way over-priced. Used to be that a Leban- ese shop-kee- per could make a salebyutter- ing the phrase "It's from Pa- ris". These words were Don't bother to lock your- used even for self up just because its the 13th items manu- and a Friday as well. As Ted and Louisa Kennedy anreadily factured in Red testify, a spirit from another China by slave labor. However world isn't bothered by locks the tune is chan- and bolts. Their spiritual visitor, ging. More often than not, they in most cases, merely mater- proclaim in awesome tones that ialized out of thin air. Accor- "this French knit is from Lon- ding to Louisa, the ghost wore don." a plain grey business suit, "nothing Edwardian or excep- **** tionally dramatic." I too honestly believe that He first ap- British ready-to-wear de- peared to the serves respect, nanny who, But aren't the Lebanese shop- feeling that her keepers carrying it a bit far employers mi- when they charge 16 sterling for ght consider the twin of a dress that I her unfit, wi- bought for 5 sterling in Eng- sely decided to land? That's economics for you, keep her mouth I suppose. shut about the whole incident. **** But when the eldest Ken- One very kind gentleman nedy boy pointed and asked who journalist thinks that women the man was, she decided some- might have some good sug- thing should be done. After all, gestions on the subjects of eco- a strange man popping in and nomics and politics. out without the aid of doors or He said that he wishes there windows could very well frigh- were more female writers con- ten the rest of the children. tributing articles on politics After thorough investigation, and economics. it was discovered that this same "I know they would have a dif- well-behaved gentleman had vi- ferent and interesting view- sited each previous tenant of the point," he said, house. He was the ghost of the Personally, I consider this man who built the house, a for- the grandest understatement of mer university professor at the century. If we could ever AUB. And the reason for his manage to understand the male visits was quite simple. The dominated worlds of politics and gentleman wanted to look over economics our articles would the tenants in his home to see be revolutionary. if he approved. So far he has, because after a few visits, he **** isn't seen again until the house changes hands. There are some problem ar- Although he is a harmless eas, however, that women will fellow and quite unobtrusive as never be able to solve. Take ghosts go, the Kennedys quite walking in the streets for in- often have that uneasy feeling tance. that maybe they are still being A sympathetic male aquaint- watched, ance told me the other day that all women in Beirut should be **** supplied with a suit of armour. A young lady working at the He's right. British Fashion Exhibition gets Nothing else, that same feeling of being wat- short of blood- ched and keeps looking over her shed, seems to shoulder. work.The dis- "Have you ever been alone in cussion was the same room with a hundred prompted by lifelike dummies?" she asked. the story of a I saw her point. The dummies young Leban- were designed by a genius. Not ese lady was even the wax figures in Ma- approached dame Tussaud's are as life like. from the rear, Each girl looks as though she's so to speak, ready to speak or break into a while out on an frug. innocent shopping errand. **** Raging to the boiling point, our heroine hissed athim in her The male dummies, however, best Arabic. Roughly transla- could never compare with their ted, she told the amorous gentle- live counterparts, whoappeared man that she hoped he would in the fashion show Monday choke on a fishbone in the very through Wednesday. near future. I don't know if beautiful girls With all the guile of his an- are old hat these days or what, cient ancestors, the wiley male But despite beautiful clothes and replied," I didn't do a thing. figures, the female mannequins You were walking backwards were completely eclipsed by the and ran into me."