, 1870-06-12
Is TIGHT-LACING INJURIOUS?

From London Punch.
A meeting Of fine ladies' was held the Other
evening at PbilIis's Rooms, in order 10 discuss
this Interesting question. In virtue Of possess
Ing the most faslIonable figure, her wais
OILY measuring fifteen inches and three-quar
tera, Miss WaSpc by reclamation was voted te
the chair.
In opening the proceedings, the Chairvoma1
remarked that, as her breath was rather short
she would beg to bo excused from making
long speech. Hear . Fashion, they al
That fashion had revived tie custom Of III tisht' '
lacing, Indies were obliged to cultivate
ali arrive at tie perfection ehe had
herself attained [Criss Of "Question r.
and JIe'Ahry, dear!"1 The advantage Of
acquiring 50 slim waist IS hers was only to
be gained By hours and hours OF actual tor.
e're belle; i; and il they did not mind a few
faintins fits at first, followed by continual de-
bility and headache, many ladies' might enjoy
: the pleasure OF possessing waist not MUCK
exceeding tbs dimensions ), OF her OWE.
Miss Pinch said her experience entirely
though, unhappi1y, her suffering had not yef
been rewarded by the rapture Of obtaining
quite 60 fashionable a figure. Still, her waist
barely exceeded eighteen inches and a hall
lshudders]; and sha hoped, by perseverance
and good strong lady's maid, to reduce it be
fore long to more genteel dimensions. lap,
Miss Love1ace said she also had suffered
much from headache since sho worc tight
stnyH, and 0Ece or twice had tainted at the
dmner-table. Her doctor had told her she was
running her health but she didn't mind her
doctor while she oboyed her dressmnker.
CBrapd
Miss Casper would like to asE, what could
doctors know abont it They didn't wear
stays, did they? How, then. could they tell
what ladies' suffered from tight-lacings
MrF. Al. Bonpoint observed that, although
che tried her utmost, she could not reduce
her waist to less than nineteen inches. Fs.Poo,'
dear"l Even this, however, made her
wretchedly uncomfortable ; and after eating q
good dinner she was frequently obliged to
have her laces cut, to save herself from faint
ing. Her doctor tried to frighten her. by tall
ing about fatty something Of the beart which
often had proved fatal. But she would rather
die martyr than dress out Of tho fashion.
[Applause.
41iss Wbeyfaee said sho feared that BY &C.
qnn!n6 sman waist eha had injured her com
plea1n: aer nose was getting red nov, and
nef cheeIs we're Pale and pimply. Some one
VEG told ler this was owing TO impedsd circu-
iaton. But she WAS conBoled by having a
fashionable figure.
1hss Tucker said the worst Of wearing a
tight dress was that it sadly took away one's
appetite. siuce she had reduced her waist. sho
could not cat one-hnlf Of what che usod III -
Sensation Now, this wss a reat 4alscrv
for ahe was fond of eating. Still she Iad r..
TIER fn give up her custards t1an her corset,
Miss Gosling thought it was not 1sdy1iko to
e9t much Hudo health was most unfemi-
nlne n possession. A person to be fashionable
shoaln re aiways rather delicate; and nothing
INSURED this 30 nicely ns tight laciug.
Mlss Lazle remarked that another Of it's
benefts wac, that it prevented any muscular
exeftion. To lie upon q sofa and read novels
al day long, was her idea OF almost perfect
earthly happiness; and, as tight lacine m
lifted her for any useful work, she Ind borne
IKE marty the torture it had caused her.
N her stays, they made her fcol 30 stir and
wooden: But her waist looked well on horse
back, though she never dared to venture mt
more than foot-pace, for her habit was 70
light that ahe could hardly breathe when trot-
Miss Prancer observed that, much as she
|oyed dancing, ahe found it impossible to
waltz IN her new ball dress. She felt 90
.qneezed and faint that the utmost sbe cnnId
1o Nas to walk through the Square dances.
!" Poor thing ~ In consequence ehe had
ost number of nice partners, and that oiioue
nlss nnnler Had shdly cut her out, although
Ghuddcrs. 'A''o'
MIS-. Wisen'an said her husband would not
: e - mer wear stays lsensation, and cries Of
: Hhat wretch ~ and she would adyisa |
oqng ladies' to leave of lacing tightly il thov
7shed to get good partners. Men loved |
ealthy wireH far better than small waists !
"Gracious goodness!"], and no one but
fool would link himself for
70 with woman in bad health, however ehe |
lleht pride herself Oh having a fine figure.
on:
THAT this meeting, being satisfied, from most
, ,oeoanaing cv1aGhse, that ught-lacing Is injurious
discourage and dlscolntenance 50 ha1barous
Here several ladies, intarposing, began al to
'eak ut once, and hence cnsued a scene Of
o1ent excitement. Many of tho fair COM
atants TAINTED from exhaustion and it was
teif carriages.
1