New-York daily tribune., 1856-02-27
IMPORTANT DISCOVERY.


SIR: This is an age Of improvement. Ravinza
tendency to investigation. and being OF an inqnrDg
turn of mind have been rewarded by discovery.
have learned a fact, developed in this age Of
proqress. and promising to be impressed upon US in
manner ve are not likely to forget: That are made
wrong that Adam and Eve were not perfect in form;
that the Venus of Milo and the Venus de Medici are
almost defomed, and that only now in this advanced
age of the world we arriving at the true ideal,
N. proper proportion and development Of the human
form.
We know what is; | have learned what should be;
that the ribs are made elastic and rather loosely hung
NOT for purposes of breathing but so az to be COM
pressibe and therefore squeezed in in order TO make
the waist as small as possible
have learned that the shoulders were not made TO
hang clothes on, would seem most natural Dut 10
be raised and eveoped upward, and the less REFER
epce they have to clothes the better; that the lungs
do not require as much room a. has been supposed,
but must learn to make room 0r Themselves. Whnt
are they good for if they can do as much as this
have learned that it is not desirable the waist
but that the smaller il can be made, the more elegant
The sculpors who thought they arrived at the pertec-
ton of the human form divine were simply mistaken
in their taste and should have taken for their models
not the form as left by Nature, but US nodded and
shapen by Art.
The foot also should have been made stiff and
pointed and tightly rolled up as possible so I" TO
present q very narrow surface to the ground. Any
elasticity any spring in its movements, Is decidedly n-
elegant and must be repressed. There may be some
pain in the process, but that is to be borne Come
what may the foot must be nodded and shapen to suit
the-shoe and the public taste!
IL must he owned that we make slow progress in
adopting these Improvements; that every new frame
has to 90 through the same training, and the race
shows no sign of a radical change in form.
There is hopeful result, however. As all reforms
tad ruith We II
The result of the system is general weakening OF oil
the powers of life-making the frame more delicate
ana yielding afordng less sturdy resistance TO the
training than if it were in high health.
In this way it is to be hoped should the race sur
vive, that may in time see the perfection of the
new development. Wasp waists, hgh round shoul-
ders projecting shoulder blades (who knows but they
are ncpient wings fat chest, curved spine, with mar
row-ponted feet and full development OF the large
toe-joint, 20 symmetrical in its prominence.
Further, to promote this object propose TO follow
I'D suggestion have met in another paper and re.
quest an artist to model two statuettes sufficiently
draped but showing the contrast in proportion and
form.
The one might be modelled from the knees the other,
any young lady you meet who shall have been
sufficiently long in training to have attained to tho full
elegance Of the new Standard waist, say half yard,
shoulders high chest sunken and lungs pushing up"
ward and backward for want of room elsewhere.
"A hint might he taken from the poor trees in our
rayemente where often, when the Aone is not cut
away they are compelled to yield to the pressure snd
swell out above, where there is freedom.
In one statue the foot must be taken from the an
tiaue; no natural model can be found here; in the
other give us the bundle of toes piled one upon
another aud the joint thoroughly enlarged that the
foot shall be as little possible adapted to walking
purposes
II any enterprising artist viii undertake these 6g-
ures promise Immediately TO take haf-adOzen pairs
ana will should my means allow, send also pair to
every boardiDgchool in the country 90 as to cult-
vate the youthful taste far possible, and esab
lish at once the standard Of beauty and grace.
1t is to be regretted that the material necessarily
used either plaster Parian, will preclude the posi-
bity Of showing the fine contrast in color between the
two specimens, but perhaps this will be shadowed
forth in the development The full rounded form and
contour of the one oontrssted with the dat, fabby
nusces Of the other, and the fine prominence of the
bones and joints so suggestive Of ideas Of grace and
elegance.
The artist will please hasten his work; orders may
be left at THE TRIBUNE Office. s.s. J.
n. B.-foops inexpedent.