Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-06-15
from tile Encyclopedias Americana.

hody, and may be compounded OF the french words
cDrps and serrer The influence of female charms.
among civilized people, has, III all ages, been extern
sve and beneficial, and The have always regarded
the possession oil beauty us their richest endowment
and thought it's acquisition be chrapy made at any
expense of fortune. To this may be nttribu
ted the origin of the cosmetic arts, with their count
less banciu and innocent prescriptions, for restoring
snoothness to the skin, and rcvv'ng the delicate ro
upon cheeks too rudcy visited by sickness or time
The preservation production Of beauty OF form Us
even more admired than mere regularity OF features,
or from being, apparently, more a'tanablc by art,
RECEIVED an early and ample share OF attention, and
has largely exercised the ingenuity ot the fair asp-
rants for love and admiration. 1t is Office to
uid them to the utmos, IN attaining their Wishes by
indcu:iny the true principles upon which the cor |
ST., should be constructed, and the attentions neccs
sary all the advantages of its application. Or
the abuse of this instrument OF the toilet and the
dire catalogue of nseres 1t Off occasions the wri
has elsewhere spoken at large and readers
terred thereto VIII DESTROYS of ascertainng what
great evils may flow from apparently triiling
Cuuse*-Eo prevent the form from too early showing
the inroads OF time; to guard 1t from slight incleGan
cics, rcsui,n from improper positions the charac
ter of exterior drapery; to the beauteous pro-
portions of the bust from compression dispacc-
nent, and at once, agreeabg display the general
contour of the figure, without impeding the grace
fitness of its motions, or the gentle fluctuations caus
cd By natural respiration, tho legitimate objects
of tine corset For this purpose, 1t should be compo
sed of the smoottict and most elastic materials, should
be accurately adopted to the individual so
that point may receive undue pressure, and should
be drawn tight to interfere with pcrfec1y
free breathing, with graceful! attitudes and move
nents 1t is obvious that such cursets should be
tirely destitute of those barbnrous innovations ofstee
and whalebone. which, by causing disease, have
thrown them into dIsrepute and which, under cir
CumstanCes add to the value of the instrument
when worn by well formed individual Such hurt
ful appliances first resorted by tie ugly, d.
formed dsea >ei, who, having natural preten-
lions to figure. pleased themselves with the hope Of
being able by main strength exertcd upon stecl rib
bed, whale boned and padded corscts, to squeeze
themselves into delicate proportions. Ii, however
it be remembered TINT the use of corsets is to
preserve and display fine figure not make ore.
and that they to be secondary dicious course
OF Diet aud exercise, 1t will be readily perceived
such injurious agents utterly uncaed for in their
composition BY selecting material proportioped
IN its tghtness and elasticity, to the size age &c. of
the wearer and by proper employment of quilting
and Waddlng they may be made of any proper or Ill
lowable degree OF stiffness 1t it be then accurately
fitted to the shape OF the individual, and laced no
tighter than to apply II comfortably, all the advan,a
ges of the corset may be fully obtained. Blu; such,
unfortunately, is not the cours, generally pursued
Ladies purchase of the fashionable ma
kers and of the most fashionable patterns and male
mails, regardless of the pecullerities of their
cures, which may require construction and material
ct very different sort Hence 1t often happens that
females, materially endowed with fine forms. wear
corsets designed for such ore dsproportionably
thick thin. and destroy the graceful ease of their
movements, by hedging themselves in the steel and
ych0cbonc originally intended reduce the supera-
bundant cprpulence of some luxurious dowager. As
no two human figures precisely alike, it is ALSO
lnely necessary that the should be suited with
naturally good figure derive advantage
from any corset bot constructed aud
adapted IN the manner above Indicated Sigh,
Irregularities defects may be romeed or render
ed nconsplcoous, by jddicaons applica tion of wad
ding or by inte<pong an additional thickness Of the
doth. But should be remembered that certain
changes to the female frame after the cares o.
maternity have commenced, which are ahsplutel 10
AmODR he
lnent or filing up of the figure Is the most Observable
bur is never productive Of ineegance, unless il take
place very disproportionately The undue enlarge
Inent OF the bres: and waist most dreaded and tho
attempt TO restrain their development by mere force
has led to the most petnclous abuse of the corsp
T4ere Is doubt bat that judioously fitted CORSET
whose object should be to support and gently COM
press might. IL such cases be advantageousy worn:
but, at the time, it must be thoroughly under
stood, that the corset only be really beneficial
when Combined With a proper attention to diet and
exercise. Thus many Indies, who dread the DIST
guTement produced by obesity and constantly wear
the most unyelding and uncomfortable corsets lead
entirely inactive life, and indulge in rich and lux
uTious food. Under sucn circumstances it ia in vain
to hope tina, beauty Of figure can be maintained bv
corsets or that they can effect any other purpose than
that OF cramping and restraining the movements
and causing discomfort to the On the other
band, proper exercise, and abstinence from all bnt
the simplest food would enable the corset to preforu
rs1part to the greatest advantage There is another
error IN relation to corsets, preludcia Us it is gen
efai ana calling Ter the serious attention of ali those
concerned IN the education of young ladies' This
error is the belief that girls Just approaching their
majority should constantly be kept under the infu-
ence of corsets in order TO form their figures They
therefore subjected to dcipne Of strict lacing
ut period when Of oil Others tendency is to pro-
duce the most extensive mischief AT this time all
the organs OF the body in q state of energetic
angmentation and interference with the proper ex-
panson OF any one set is productive of permanent
Injury TO the whole. So far from making fine form
the tendency is directly the reverse since the
the corsets detrimetaly interiors with the perfec
ton of the frame. The muscles being conpressed
and held inactive, neither acquire their due size nor
strength and stiff. awkard carriage with thin fiat
uDgracoful, DelegaDt pei the frequent result
OF SUCH inJudicious treatment The Corset of a rir
from the 18th or 18th year till her ast should be moth
ing more than cotton jacket made SO us rather tn
brace her shoulders back, but without improper com
preston OF the armPits and devoid of oil STITCHING,
but what Is TO The nlnterlal of ,rhnh p