Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-11-17
COrsets and COrpuIence - How to
Travel on Your Shape-vanity and
Va~nfInna

=
VexatiOns.
A writer in London Society says I'm
Fairholt's Costumes" we are told in the
time of George III girls used to be made
upright by having long needles fixed to
the top of their stays under their chin
and most of us have heard of backbosrds
and other contrivsnces for the same pur
| pose, which is now more pleasantly &C.
! complished by shoulder straps, pulling
the shoulders backward, not 10 pull
them down, which only pulls the stays
up above the proper and natural place
of the waist, which is Immediately above
the hips. Therefore, short and small
waists must be injurious. Uprightness
is said to be attained still better and more
easily by neck straps, which are merely
thin leather strap, faced with ribbon
for appearance, passing over the neck
and buckled to the stays behind. There
is no doubt that the best figure would be
spoiled by STOPPING and round shoulders
which also have an appearance of weak.
ness and bad health. For this reason a
riding master says he encourages his
pupils to wear very stiff and tight stays
and it must be confessed that some of the
best riders and most active walkers pcs.
sess figures which are quite unsttainable
without the help of steel and whalebone
and the stay lace.
|. Whatever view may be taken of the
cultivation of small waists for the sake OF
appearance or fashion, the prevention OF
corpulence, which is now recognized as a
kind of disease, and at least serious
Inconvenience, is a very practical ques-
tion. And on this point we are able to
add some information to that already
published from a gentleman whom we
know to have tried the experiment. he
writes as follows:
II have no objection to your publish
ing the results of my experience in the
art of getting thin. | need not tell you
that was never remarkable for my at
tention to dress and appearance; but
having been of active habits, found my
weight increasing to an inconvenient de-
gree. / tried the usual remedy of 'Bsnt-
ing, as far as it agreed with me, and
wearing a belt; but they were only par
TALLY successful, and the belt uncomfort-
able after few hours. l had the COM
mon prejudice against wearing laced
stays, and an impression that any COM
preston of the ribs must be injurious.
But after reading Of their merits |
thought it foolish to be deferred from
trying them by mere prejudice, and the
result has been most satisfactory.
my weight is reduced to what it was
ten years ago; my digestion is improved,
and the greatest compression that can be
borne, instead of being painful or disa-
greesble, is extremely pleasant. 1t is
not even necessary to wear them all day,
provided you are laced as tight as posi-
BILE the first thing in the morning, when
they are much more effective than if put
on after breakfast. About an hour after
breakfast, / agree with other writer's on
the subject, that one can always tighten
them still mere with comfort. But of
course the extreme of tightness requires
little relaxation for dinner.
~ must add my testimony to that
which you will, no doubt. quote from the
Corset and Crinoline as to the value of
nocturnal compression in reducing the
size. Dissgreesble as it sounds or feels
at first, ! was surprised to find that it
soon becomes rather agreeable than 9th
erwise. 1t certainly makes material
difference in the size you can bear after
washing aud relacing in the morning,
and is sometimes also bene fcial to diges-
ton. Although the exhibition of good
figure is no object of mine, | can not help
seeing the advantage of stays to those
who consider their appearance, in i'm
proying the figure and carriage and the
fitting of the dress, especially if they
have the least tendency to c0rpulence.
"I Gnd the best material for male cor
sets is we'll dressed leather, blocked or
stretched when vet and colt upor pair
of wooden blocks twelve or thirteen inches
high, by the method well known to cur
risrs. The blocks must DO prepared by
those who know the proper shape. be-
iievs it would answer to any ingenious
corset maker to take up and advertise
the manufacture, as many gentlemen
would wear them who, for various rea'
sons. will not wear stays like those of la
dies. The great advantage is that leather
keeps suita clean when worn next the
skin, and is re nsrksbiy pieassnt to wear,
and 90 the corset is concealed without
any further trouble. 1t may either be
stiffened with crinoliue steel, or be thick
enough to require no stitfening except,
of course, the steel plate in front, which
casnst be too stiff. 1t is most convent
ent to make the.i lsse ip tFcut, IS lscing
tight behind, without assistance, Is by no
means easy. They are laced with strong
whip-cord over separate piece of stiff
leather, about sixteen inches long and six
iaches vide. 9Th the steel plate attached
to it by thinner piece or leather.
"As your shape and size alter, the
leather can be cut and new holes
punched, and the blocks must be altered.
| cannot say this plan will answer in all
cases of incipient eorpulenes, but 1t Is
certainly worth trying. All the doctors
in England, with Punch to help them,
will not now convince me that this is in
furious BECAUSE ! know for a fsct thst
il does not produce the enecis which
they think il ought TO do, and go il seems
does every one who has fairly tried the
experiment for month"
A retired corset maker says 10 letter
to the EnglishseOmaH's Magazine, July