Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-01-20

arm and hand resting upon the lower ribs,
will not allow their elevation so that the air
can enter the lower part OF the lungs at all;
at best, but a sixth part of those hfegivlng
organs are used, and only their upper part
fully inflated /; now if the hooped skirt be
hooked TO the jacket in four places, at least,
and not left to rest upon the hips, the read
er viii perceive that the backbone and all
the muscles which lnclOse and steady both
the great cavities OF the body, and keep
them elegantly erect upon the hips, must
carry both the hoops and the skirt then
these may be made both light and elegant,
or heavy and grand as the seasons may re-
quire while drawers of material adapted to
our severe winters, may be so artistcally
adjusted, and supported by suspenders, as
completely to protect and clOthe the limbs,
without the necessity Of the skirts so girdlng
the body by drawn cords TO keep them and
the drawers in place, as not only seriously to
cripple all the viscera, but to interrupt the
haalthfal action of the muscles of the abdo-
men, and worse than this, to compress all
the VEINS that carry back the blood trom the
lower limbs to the heart Tor pul1icatlon and
often, as we have seen, to render the lnteg-
ument, below this girdle of many cords,
very perceptibly dropsical. Every lady If
she will use her eyes, can see this for her
SCiI tllc IpllIi ildi Ao ttitlt tIlIg Ssiu1N.
she often laments. Now, readers, if the
lungs are only used one sixth part, the mus
ces Of the body scarcely at all, and the ven
Gus blood from the lower limbs, prevented
from returning at the full rate OF five slxths
of the speed intended by Nature, when you
are walking even at the snail pace you are
allowed to, what must be the result on the
nutrition of the muscles of these for you
know they act and grow by blood alone de
pend upon it, though you may make them
dropsical and deceptive in size, they will not
help you to dance as well, or to go up and
down stairs
And this brings US to another great evil;
if We will sacrifice so much to brown stone
fronts and the fancied necessity OF fashiona-
bic streets !; if we must live IN houses fur
ries high, ..for PHYS sake let us so distribute
the load Of dress our climate requires as TO
allow every part of the body to be used to
carry it upstairs, let the jacket or the shoul-
derstrap give the chest It's share of the
work in a word, let our wives and daugh-
ters shoulder their loads. if they would have
theIr Gays prolonged IN the land.
IF the ladies will pardon us, we will ven
ture hint on the dimensions Of the skirt
its most excellent end is to insure the unres-
tricted use of the limbs in walking it must,
luCiCiOiC, Dc VI SulIciCil tidHiCCCi " dioh
full step and the necessary space for the
under-clothing if it restrict the step in the
least degree it is too small no woman
should be ambitious Of short step the
longer the step the more breath required,
and the greater development Of the thorax
and lungs quick and energetic walking,
with the shoulders thrown back, will do as
much for the growth Of the vital organs as
singing woman must dress warmly, keep
her feet dry, walk more, and eat more, or
she win never fulfill the great object Of her
creation.