The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-03-07

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH Z, 1866.
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Horrible ReyeIations-A Look under
PetticOats.
The Round Table Of last week has
an article calculated 20 create q great
sensation in fashionable circles, as il
laws bare what is well calculated to
! shock the modesty OF most beholders.
Itis on the subject OF Artificial or
False Calves manufactured by corset
makers, and sold by coTsetdealers We
present specimen OF the Round Ia
/ ble's disclosures
By calves we mean just what the an>
! atomists mean when they speak of the
! lower extremities. We do not know
whose ingenuity devised them. nor
when they were first introduced, nor
indeed their method of construction.
But that they were a popular article Of
apparel with young ladies and especially
those who made dashing displays on
| skates, we have abundant reason to
| believe. In fact, several of the pTomi-
nent corset-makers devoted all their
energies to the iabrlcatiou OF these
rare bits Of fashionable anatomy; and,
Notwithstanding the very rapid pro-
duction, the supply fell short OF tho
demand OF course 4 good deal or care
was taken lest any prylng masculine
eyes should penetrate the mystery ana
give publicity to the newly created
market; for this would have had a very
Injurious effect upon the sale of the
article. and the tsntalizing delusion
would have been far less pleasing. But
the fact Of its existence was soon and
easily transmitted by sort of maiden
ly legerdemaln, and all who were desir-
rous OF making sensations by marvellous
perfection OF form, knew very we'll
where to supply their sweet selves with
potent calves.
This may be an announcement alto
gether unwelcome 10 those ambitious
young gentlemen who, at street cor
ners, from club windows, and IN the
bewIlderIug maze of the skating car
nivsl, have felt their hearts tbIub with
the delicious affiliations of delight at
spectacles which kindly art has quite
willingly placed at their disposal 1t
can hardly fail to De q disappointment
to such 10 learn that for very tritiing
consideration they might have pro
cured the abounding source OF their
happiness and that, 100, in q very port
able and enduring shape, by q visit to
almost any ladies' furnishing store
And If discontinue should chance to
lead 10 rage, 10 may be that an Inqul-
ring spirit would discover yet other re-
markable devices for lending enchant-
ment stIll more alluriug as concerns
the human form divine But If they
are wise they will be satisfied with but
one revelation, and Will hereafter de-
vote themselves 10 studies less decep-
tive and far more profitable If, how
ever, IL is a satisfaction to them 10 con
tinue the investigation, horrible as the
idea may seem, we should, counsel an
early visit 10 one Of the very numerous
stores consecIated TO the anatomy of
fashion, which is nothing more nor less
than the sculpture Of cords, wires and
cotton.
Ii would doubtless be matter of in
tertst 10 the innocent public 10 know
who the ladies may be that patrOnize
these enhancing little toys which call
forth the oghng glances OF 50 many ad-
mining spectators This is n secret
which only the corset dealers and the
ladies bureau can reveal. We learn,
however, that they have been very pop
ular with the so-called upper circles,
and it is their surprising success with
this class that has led to unusual
mania for skating during the past sea-
son. The ponds have been thronged
with young ladies as never before, and
not until this writing has the mystery
been fully revealed. In fact the rage
calves, nor has the demand fallen of
very materially with the passing away
of the skating season. They are worn
by the most fashionable If not the most
respectable, in the daily promenade and
at the weekly social gathering, aud, in
fact, almost everywhere. Very nice
young men stand behind counters, all
day long, and sell them TO very nice
young ladies in sizes TO suit So it
makes little difference how cadaverous
and ill-shapen one may be, even nature
is outdOue by the devices Of art What
with an investment or two in false hair,
a false bust, plumpers in the cheeks.
and the now thoroughly introduced
patent calves, the most awkward in
shape and unattractiye in general ap-
pearance, may become really charm
ing" Who does not say that the world
moves
Had the bold mountsineeT, who was
familiar only with that class OF women
known as squaws, and who lately visited
San Francisco, where he saw for the
first time a fashionable belle, known OF
these new contrivances, he would have
noticed, in giving his views, when he
said:
"Somewhars in every circumference
of silk and velvet that wriggles along
there's alters a woman, | suppose; but
how much of the holler is filled in with
meat, and how much IS CANNON, the
spectator dun no. A fellor marrys q
wife, and finds, when he comes 10 the
pint, that he has nuthin' in his arms
but regular anatomy. If men is gay
deseevers, what is to be said OF the ie
male who dresses for hundred and
forty weight, and hasn't reely got as
much fat on her as would grease a grid
die; all the apparent plumpness con
sisting Of cotton and whalebone."
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