Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-01
A WHlG.

MIR Editor-In this day of philan;hropic eyer
ton, there is an evil in land, affecting the softer
SEX which It appears 10 me, too little attracts the
attention OF the Reformer and does no, receive ne
II should do, the rebuks Of him who ought to be. if
he IS no., the guardian of the health Of the comm.
nI:y-the physician. While the Temperance ea,,,
Is advocated by thousands, how few are there who
raise their voice against " TIC r-LAcTsG Pr II
alcohol has sent 10 the grave nyfads SO has The
corset; and while the writer does not pretend 10
compare The demorahzing fleet OF The two. he i
iuy confirmed IN the opinion that the use of ardent
spirits has not been more destructive 10 humanliC,
inan that n.qutous fashion ofcompressing the chos
into the smallest possible dimension. Females n,ielt
much more properly afix their namesto pledgc n
abstain from tdeing, than to one to refrain from
dTink-ior incomparably greater is the evil result
Ing TO the sex from the one than from the other =
Physical suffering IS not alone borne by the devo,ee
OF this ilshIon-t IS entliied upon postertv for il
IS the opinion Of the most obscrvant and dstinsuL
ed OF the medical profession, that rare IS the instance
that the oifsprIng Of a delicate mother sniovs q
strong constitution. The child may 10 appeay,ocee
be healthy but adult age rarely fails TO devotion
the seeds Of lurking dis asses. This is NOT olone
physical evil. Ii parents permit their chiljrco -,
sacrifice health and life tie altar oil fashion tbey
may be assured their time will not be devoted IN Mi
those pursuits which should engage the attention nj
int lec,ual and immortal beings. That time which
should be devoted to the culture of the mind viii
be expended in The ffiyotes Of fashion and lie d.
coraiion Of tho body. Any one at all acauainteJ
With the construction Of the human fame, and ibe
nee essi:Y OF proper play Of the functions TO IN.
insurance OF health, cannot for moment doubt H..
destructive tendency Of that apparatus, which re-
duccs the quantity OF air taken n OF each ipspiro
ton, from 40 square inches to perhaps iess than 90
Yet such IS the effect OF that delestnbls con,ri
vance, the corset. At each breath the adult, n tb.
body be unconhned, takes in 30 square inches Of
nir-f tTnmmelled by stays, 90 square inches. If
less than 40 square inches had been sufficient 10
contribute 10 hen!lh, nlt1re would have Indicated
H. for she IS never prodiga other resources. Another
plain Ond obvious effect Of stays is, to reduce the
Dimensions which nature has given TO the chest nj
least one halt; and can any one, even should he be
most Ignorant OF the laws Of the animal economy
doubt for moment that this IS a suLversion Of ma
lures plans, and consequently incompatible with
health. Observation, me ancholy observation d,ilv
proves to us the death dealing destruction Of III,
fashion. One year witnesses blooming beauty. tbs
bright and Joyous fice, the eas ic STEP the n,rrv
laugh; onoihcrtho pale brow, tie tm1ci'eJ form tho
feeble step, The sunken eye, the hacking cough the
descent 20 the grave We invoke the oiI OF pifeo,s
OF brothers, Of pliIan nrOpis's, and the AUTHORITY
o' pubic opinion, 10 put down this crying evil -
We are not anxious % see tie formal Organization
OF o. toci.Y iof ih'5 purpose, but VIC are anxious
70 sec puJ.c sentiment bearing IN rs full force
upon u. In The language Of another, death j, ai.
Wnys terrible, but when form, of angcl beauty /.
passing oh 70 the silent land Of the sleeprrr tbe
hear. feels that something lovely M the univsrro 10
ceasng from existence, and hr0ods with senrs OF
utter desol1tOn over tho lonely thoughts that como
up like spec'fcs from the grave, 10 haunt our mid
night musings" We finally appeal to the victims
Of this fashion, to pause in their madnes, and 10
cease Iiom suicide W. n.