Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-07-29
A Dissertation on Ankles.

lFr0m The new 0rk IrlDune, July 2O.I
Yesterday, for the first time, we took it
into our head to make a hasty study of this
charming and suggestive feature of female
beauty in an entirely ethnologic and pure
ly esthetic point of view. Representatives
of almost every European nation partici-
pated in the amusement. The wind was
high; the convolutions of the hobby horses
were swift; and the ''study" was easy as
well as delectable.
We ascertained by numerous examples
the following facts:
The German ankle, as general thing, is
not beautiful. 1t is short, thick, clumsy.
Yet to the eye of the love-sick swain it may
appear more graceful than that of the We
nus de Medici Nevertheless, there are
many kinds of ankles of Germanic forma-
tion, and some of them are not at all un-
symmetrical.
The Danish ankle is generally very good.
The blood of the sea-kings is in the dam
sells veins.
bright maiden Of Orkney,
Star OF the blue sea,
...f I've swept Ger the waters
10 gaze upon thee"
So sang the Berserker of old and he evil
IDENTIFY had cultivated his taste for ankles in
his own native land. But, generally, the
JdulSil duhlC 10 IOV III lbS uCSCCul
from the swell of the calf to the delicacy OF
the approach to the foot. This gives it a
clumsy appearance and prevents it from be-
ing special tavorite. ... ..
The ankle of SaXony (of course we speak
always of female ankles) Is worse than
the Danish. 1t is shorter, thicker and in
dicative of vigor and vigor only.
But the Swiss ankle is model of beauty.
Long, slim. elegant, delectable, it is some
thing to think and dream of. The peasant
stocking of plaid covers it with fairylike
eXactness. You can see the keen muscles
play beneath the fabric of the covering. 1t
swells not abruptly, but gently upward in
to perfect calf. Only the Alpine roads,
the rude torrent crossings, the romance of
Switzerland could produce such an ankle.
1t is for a picture rather than an everyday
sight; it is for the painter, the poet, and
the philosopher. 1t is beautiful, delectable,
charming, enchanting. tits strangely sug-
gestiye. ....r' ..- .l
The ankle of Bavaria is also beautiful.
Lean and elegant it however broadens too
quickly as it approaches the foot, which is
an imperfection not easily to be overlooked
by the connoisseur.
Austria is worse. Her ankle has the fault
of having no taper. The calf of the leg
en0S at tne t00C.
Hungary is the same. This is probably
owing to the inhuman tyranny which has
trodden over her for years. Women are
compelled to pull plows and canal boats,
engage in other species of degrading labors
more meet for cattle, steam and caloric en-
gines, and nothing better could be expected
of their ankles. au ...
Prussia makes abetter show, but on the
whole her ankles are not good, and, in dane
ing, she has ludicrous custom of switch
in up her petticoats in order to make q
special display. ...b .L
The Irish ankle needs no eulogy. 1t
speaks for itself. 4I0
The English is fair, indicative of great
feats of walking, and other exercises.
The French ankle is positively bad. The
falut with the German is usually an excess
of size-a superfuity of flesh and muscular
power; but the French errs in an entirely
opposite direction. 1t is too slim. 1t is
long, slim, scrawny. The ascending swell
to the calf Unfortunately large) is too long
and gradual, and the largeness OF the foot
also detracts from the general effect.
Italy has an exquisite ankle, light, grace
full, full of elasticity, and yet with Ian
guild listlessness which recalls the promen-
AIDES of Naples and the evening lounge
round the "winged lions OF St. Mark"
But perfection is only reached in the
ankle of the Spanish girl. 1t is soft, slight,
luxurious and rife with tremulous, nervous
thrills. 1t descends to the little foot with
firm confidence, but it rises to, and is slow
ly immersed in the gradual expansion OF
the leg with happiness of illimitable pro-
gression. .i r.U ,Hi.l.. lo
A Spanish maid was upon hobby horse,
which was flying at full speed; her dark
face was aglow with the exercise, her little
hands clutched the bride with tremulous
eagerness, and her large eyes, "wild with
the fire of the South, were emitting more
than their accustomed blaze, but the gaze of
the admirlng throng was fixed upon her
ankles-her chiefest charms. AS the wind
the South wind, fresh from the sea, with
all the voluptuousness of fthetrOpics-gent-
ly lifted her crinoline, and that delightful,
perfect, delectable ankle was suddenly ex-
posed to view, deep sigh arose from the
breasts of the gazers and when still higher
the amorous breeze elevated the coy, striped.
petticoat, and the rounded, glorious calf
of the damsel was made visible, the deep
respiration of the spectators was almost