Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-10
THE GRECIAN BEND.
The Experience and Troubles Of
Young Lady whS Tried IL.

lnG EXDeElemCC dhu AEVoDA~S VI ~
Young Lady who Tried IL.
The other day father came home and
told me about the new style of attitude
for women of fashion-the Grecian bend !
He said man should be straight, like a
pine tree; but woman should droop
gracefully, like willow or slanting
beanpole. The Grecian beauties, like
their statues, dropped or bent little, and
80 he wanted me to try and be bender
And he showed me how. He said there
was beautiful meaning init-an humble
posture, hands hanging meekly, upper
half Of body bent forward, to show readi-
ness to help others and haste to do some-
thing, instead of bent back haughtily-
also an attitude of reverence, kind of
standing prayer.
tried it, between the two long glasses,
for about an hour, and found it hard
work-made my back and other parts
ache--tired my neck-had to keep my
arms stiff as pokers, or else they would
swing and swagger like pendulums or the
forelegs of kangaroo-my head forward
like ducks, heels out behind and cramp
in my stomach.
All the blood that wasn't in my head
seemed to be in my arms; and all the
weakness that wasn't in my head seemed
to be in my back and knees. Bent l
was as bent as Jewsharp, and had much
less music in me.
Try the bend while you are in motion,
and il you keep your limbs stiff, you vi |
feel like walking clothes horse; and if
timber, yoawill look as if you were NOW.
ing with an invisible scythe. Ifyou fold
your arms across your bosom, you will
look as if you were hiding something you
had stolen, and on the lookout for a police
man.
l went out the other day bent in style,
dressed in black, my face protected by
my vail. But my vail didn't prevent me
hearing impertinent remarks; and when
| saw folks staring at me, and heard
them say, Poor old lady hardly able
to get along about foot and half In
the grave" pushed my vail aside to
let them see / was only nineteen, bend
or no bend. But this unvailing was an
avaiing. felt pale, and looked the
paler from the contrast between my
black dress and white skin, and soon |
heard such remarks as, :" In horrible
state of decl;ne-what a CHASTITY face
late hours-fashionable dissipation
riches won't save ber-a cripple, too-my
grandmother is straighter and firmer on
her pins !"
What could do but bend my head still
lower7 when suddenly received a
dreadful shock. | had thrust my head
into a mans stomach.
"Cheeses said he-he looked like q
butter merchant" Ms'am, if you come
at me again head first, I'd thank you to
hold your face right side up"
Just look where you're going, you
jade" says an old woman soon after,
poking me on the bend with her SUM-
shade.
What with the difficulty had, making
my way through crowd, trying to keep up
nv Grecian bend, and not having proper
command of my limbs, finally tottered
to q stage-lost my balance getting into
it-ditto getting out ofit-aud was caught
in the arms Of policeman, who escorted
me into the house, insisting that my back
must be hurt, my knees out Of joint, my
arms sprained, or my neck twisted, by
The fall and jus, as my aunt received me
| had the pleasure Of hearing a little
vsgabond cry out, "0h, what dirty stock.
iDgsf" GRACE HARROW