Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-06-12

."'s 'c'u"'e peri, ID impossible tor to who
er the corset IN some fornl. might have belong
ed t. the complete toilet Of tho anccnts Isra ish
ladies we lind tho Prophet Isaiah, in chsp. hi. ,
'nve'shi"g against their numerous and useless
oeeoratons-~the bravery Of their tinklng
rlonts about their feet and their cauls, aud their
round tires like the moon, the chains. and the
bracelets. and the inufllers the bonne,s, and the
ornaments OF The logs and the head-bands, aud he
taoets, and tho cur- rings, tho rings and nose
jewels, the chaugeablo suites of apparel. and rho
muntes, and the wimples and the crispine pins the
glossos, and the fine linen, and tho hoods and tho
Ves. THIS catalogue. at least, shows that tho dis.
position eVinced by the fair adorn their per
SOM, and render them more attractive is not of mo
deru origin, but most probably originated with our
great mother Eve The earliest and most delightful
record We have OF continuance like the corset
emons Ehnc writer's, is Homers account of the Cir
die. or cestus OF Venus, mother Of the Loves and
traces, which even the naughty Juno ~ tabled to
nave borrowed, IN order to make a moro profound
impression upon her rather unna nageuble husband
Jupiter This grdle was invested by the poet with
magical qualities. which rendered the wcarcr ,rresis
tibly facnatins:-
IN this was every cod every charm
Fond love, the gentle VOW, the CAV desire
I he Kind deceit, the stiH Iovivins 6rc
ietsuasive Speech and more persuasive si1hs.
| Silence that spoke, and eoq uence Of owes
POPS, NfaS book xiv, line sa7, &c
LAS after oil. we are persuaded was nothing Lu,
sucn corset as we hayo described in the beginning,
worn by an elegant form, which it WINS accurately
adapted Even Venus herself could not look OF hor
wise IMAM awkward and repulsivc in one Of the armu.
dio' shell like machines which are sold as fashiona
bic without any regard to their neleeauco
lhe costume of the ancient Greek ladies was in
eVey particular, opposed stiffness or personal re-
stronf, and We find tina, the ccs,us, or ei,dIe to
gather the h'wing reundancc of their robe. around
sHer Wa's' was considered sufficient for the display
OIL their enchanting forms. The Roman ladies' were
great adopts IN the mysteries of the toilet thouph
no possessed OF the grace aud elegance of tho Gre
can beauties.
Wo fipl, ~
the hancages which they wore around the chest for
the purpose of preserving he shape of the bosom
una u'Spiayng II tn advantage. They wore common
" made of woo!,cn linen cloth and ire alluded tn
III Setia, instances oy the poets Thus, in Terence
we nnd ChrrcA saying TO his servant conccrninp an
unknown beauty who attracted bis attention. This
SIR! has nothing IN common with ours whom, their
Ii'thcrs force to stooP, and make them bind their
slender"
=, a writer in the T. ench Dictionary of Medical
sciences, IN Oh article corsets which the reader
may compare with tho present, states that the whale
oohed corset, dividing the female form into two part,
Is relic OF the ancient German costume which is
sui TO De seen IN pictures of ceebrated uos-
CTS we are not, however, prepared to retract our
oPihi"h, mat such contrlvances We're first resored
20 n cases OF deformiy for, on inquiry we find that
The German iemues, described nv the Roman
writers wore dresses tight TO the person, though no
men, ION ~ made of artificial con,rivanccs To rive i,
peculiar form. The dress of both sexes was similar
q
ana vest or ,unic which fitted tightly and showed
all the fJrp II night prove interesting to nouire
ih'o inc influence which the ONE of the mailed
is"gh's during the age Of chvolry. had upon female
,Is snn @he'Aer much OF the disposition display
te entire figure as far possible did no, arisc from,
LAS o'sPiay constantly made by the mule SEX 70 their
ctSey ntfing armor. IL would lead us too Ir bouc
ever 10 engage IN such eKannatiou here; neither
shoA we attempt to e'py 81 de- Jouys scconnt Of the
th"racio CORSET Of the Bsyaderes of India "a nelc
woven net made Of bark. which is worn about The
oreas and mover laid asdr as having but little rela
ZION 70 the OBJECTS we have IN view. Throughout
our observations, have spoken of n ceyta:n
degree OF display Of the female form, us NOT
incompatible with correctness Of manners But
mere IS limit which, we believe, Cannot be er
ceeded without Immediate detrment to public morals.
una positive ohence to delicacy. spirit of rivalry
ana emulation to excel IN dress has freuucntv bcrav
CD Irmaies OF unquestionsbe character into wearing
costumes Wh'ch their modesiy would shrink from un
uef ordinary circumstances Perhaps a minority of
"c'h' exclusively I'D ent upon their own adornrnent
DO not reflect upon the CONSEQUENCES that NAV csi,
rom their appearance 10 public. II is certainly ey
acting great deal of young men, in the full viGor fI
me 10 expect them to behold unmoved the most &C.
9ucVe OF for MS displayed with oil Tho alluremen,s of
a'eSs' IN such manner os scarcely to leave any
ting Tor The imagination; nor ia it SURPRISING ,b,t
Their passions should be excited and their ornc;nss
sneKen when, IN the street, in church, and in short
every where, such exhibitions are constantly placed
before them. 1t cannot be doubted bn, iha, H.
cause daily operates TO the deterioration Of the nubl
morals; and is full time that it should receive the
serious attention Of parents and guardians There
we, .'ne wleh tnis mode OF dressing to display ev-
cry personal charm wac peculiar 10 an unfortunate
Class OF beings, regarded lost to all tho ,odesv
ana dignity OF the sex; but it is melancholy truth
that this distinction between the lost nd the repnta
DC no longer exists in great cities where Leaders
u iash9n and celebrated beauties, claiming the high
es RANK and character, are remarkable for the
sOn. ~ S @,n winch they prepare their lovely per
lions T 1y the passing crowd! We should not have
onuaeg 10 this subject, did We not hope that slight
a'naoVelsion upon lis evil tendency would help to
IN covering The sex in the estimation of men. since j,
lessens Their reverence for beings they would her.
wise always look upon with due respect; and surely
Gu te'hng decocy are among The most potent anx
, a'les OF their charms. That they should rush into
,'e we have deprecated, appears to result
merely rom 'netteniion and we encerelv hone Iba,
snort TIME VIII eopse before they will strictly
,odd Wv BOUNDARIES established By good sense and