Clean Suspenders

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During a recent trip to Sin City I spied this curiosity – Travelling Suspender Cleaners. I’d never thought of this as a vocation. Probably less in demand now than in the fifties and sixties I postulated. 

I sought comment from Ira Maine – herewith is his response:

Dear Sir,
There are those amongst us who might take issue with you on this matter. I might remind you that the Order of the Garter still exists, nay flourishes amongst the upper echelons of society. Societies abound unnoticed, unheralded but enthusiastically supported by those of us who appreciate their true value. Belonging to such a society is, despite your protests, regarded by many as perhaps the only true vocation.
Allow me to make a point or two with regard to the supplied photograph.

The success of these societies depends, surely on which practitioner is wearing the suspender belt, how ‘vigorous’ the wearer has been, the location involved etc. etc. As can be seen from the attached photo, this vehicle is obviously attending the aftermath of a particularly enthusiastic outdoor encounter, perhaps an exclusive ‘Followers of the Belt’ club outing judging by the queue assembled at top left. It is of course only to be speculated upon but, judging by the lowering skies in the background, I would have thought this had been a particularly muddy, but gloriously fruitful encounter where, in one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ happenings, a dizzying level of heightened abandon had gripped the entire company. This would have  resulted in the usual civilised restraints being cast aside in favour of the heart-pounding joys of Saturnalia.

Without a doubt these types of activities would of course demand the attendance on site of the vehicle in question. One cannot, in all good conscience, return to the suburbs, to one’s ordered existence, in a state of deshabille. The world must turn and one’s reputation, not to say one’s  proclivities must be at all times protected.
I sincerely hope this note has helped to alleviate any lingering doubts you might have retained regarding the various enthusiasms entertained by some of our societies.
For the Office of the Chief Whip,
Penny Trajan