The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-25
0i..ertafion ON Ankles.

TFrnm the new LoIk lLADuAor - -N-l
Yssterdsy, for the first time, We took is
into our head to make hssty study OF this
charming and suggestive festure of female
besutv IN an entirely ethnologic and pure
" esthetic point of view. Representatives
Of almost every European nation partlcl-
pated in the amusement. The wind was
high; the convolutions of the hobby horses
were swift; and the study was easy as
well IS delectable.
We aseertained by numerous examples
the following facts:
The German ankle, as general thing, is
not beautiful. It is short, thick clumsy.
Yet 70 the eve of the love sick swain it may
anpear more graceful than that Of the Ve-
nus de Mediei. Nevertheless, there are
msny kinds of ankles of Germsnic forma-
tJon. and some OF them are not at al un-
symmetrical.
The Danish ankle is generally very good
The blood of the ses-kings Is In the dam
sells veins.
ssBrfQhf maiden Of Orkney,
Star OF the bius sea,
I've swept Ger the waters
To gaze upon thee"
So sang the Bsrserksr of old, and he evil
IDENTIFY had cultivated his taste for ankles
his OWL uAklN6 DAhf 60ao-e-4gN
the Danish ankle is too abrupt in its de-
scent from the swell Of the calf to the dell
cscv of the approach to the foot This
gives it clumsy appearance and prevents
it from being special tavorite.
The ankle of Saxony (of course we speak
and always of female ankles us worse than
the Danish. 1t is shorter, thicker and In.
dicstive of vigor and vigor only.
L. "a ~ Of haorrkrr
Long, slim, elegant, delectsble, it is somc-
thing TO think and dream OF. The peas
ant stocking of plaid covers it with fairy
like exactness. You can see the Keen
muscles play beneath the fabric of the COW
ering. II sWells not abruptly, but gently
upward into perfect calf. Only the Al
piue roads, the rude torrent crossings, the
romance Of Switzerland could produce such
an ankle. 1t is for 8 picture rather than
an everyday sight; it is for the painter,
the poet, and the philosopher. It is bsau-
tiful, delectable, charming, enchanting. 1t
is strangely suggestive.
The ankle Of Bavaria is also beautiful.
Lean and elegant, it however broauens too
quickly as it approaches the foot which IS
an imperfection not easily to be over
looked by the cOnnolsseur.
Austria is....worse. Her ankle has the
fault of having no taper The calf OF the
leg ends at the foot.
Hungary is the came. This is probably
owing 10 the inhuman tyranny which has
trodden over her for years. Women are
compelled to pull PlOws and canal boats,
and engage in other species OF degradlr g
labors more meet for cattle, steam and cal
oric engines, and nothing better could Do
expected Of their ankles.
Prussia makes better show, but On The
vhele her ankles are not good, and, N "
l uanCIug, sn0 Has y IuuIcr0n--~s09sOHA u
switching up her Petticosts IN order TO
make special display.
The irish ankle needs no eulogy. 1t
| speaks for itself.
The English Is fair, indicative of great
faats of walking. and other exercises.
The French ankle is positively bad. The
| fault with the German is usually an excess
ofsizs--s superfuity of flesh and muscular
power; but the French errs IN an entirely
opposite direction. It Is too slim. 1t u
long, slim, serAWny. The ascending swell
to the calf Unfortunately large) is too long
and gradual, and the largness OF the foot
also detrscis from the general eneet.
Italy has an exquisite ankle, light grace
| lut, luAl u bla5klCAAlg 1uA sOh MAhA = -eA-
| guild listlessness which recalls the prone
nsdes Of Naples and the evening lounge
round the HWinged lions of st. Mark"
But perfection is only reached in the
ankle Of the Spanish girl It is soft, slight,
luxurious, and rife with tremulous, nervous
thrills. It decends TO the little foot with
firm confidence, but it rises TO, and is slow
" immersed in the gradual expansion Ol
the leg with happiness of inimitable pro
gressiOn.
A Spanish maid was upon hobby.
horse, which was flying at full speed; hen
dark face was sglow with the exercise, hel
little hands cIutched the bride with trem-
ulous eagerness, and her large eyes, "Wild
with the fire of the South were emitting
more than their accustomed blszs, but the
gazs of the admiring throng was fxedup-
on her ankles-her chiefest charms. Al
the Wind-the south wind, fresh from thC
ses, with all the voluptuousness Of the trOp
ics-gently lifted her crinOline, and ths
delightful, perfect, delectsb.e snkle wa
suddenly exposed to view, deep sigt
arose from the breasts of the gszers; 81 {
when still higher the smOrous breeze ele
waited the coy, striped peLticost, and the
rounded, glorious calf Of the dsmsel wa
made visible, the deep respiration OF tn
spectators was almost painful.