The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-12-30
LADIES COLUMN.
The Corset.

DR.. Richardson is one Of the most
eminent physicians OF London. and
his opinion on any subject connect
ed with health or disease, is worthy
of respect. When, therefore, he an
nounces that the corset "deadens
the mental capability of woman"
he furnishes new and powerful ar
gument against the almost univer
sally worn article.
There has been, so the most pro
found dress makers assure us, a
wonderful progress in the construc
ton of the corset during the pres
ent century. Sixty years ago it
was modelled in shape and method
OF construction upon the common
barrel of commerce. 1t consisted
of series of boards and slaves, set
on and around a nucleus Of girl.
and held together ty cordage in
stead of hoops. THE remarkable
structure was in general nse- IN New
England in the days Of Pufltanism,
and undoubtedly was closely CON
nected with the general prevalence
of austere morality in the Puritanic
community. 1t constituted an i'm
permeable defense against fires, and
1t chilled the ardor of the worldly
minded lover, who found no delight
in the contact of wood and coat
sleeve. The New England small
boy would sometimes borrow the
corset of an affectionate sister prior
to a personal interview with his ia
theI in the woodshed, and there is
no doubt that, when worn abnor-
mally low, it afforded afficient pro-
lection against the parental rod. 1t
was, however a source of great dis
comfort to the legitimate wearer.
and the unyielding nature of the
stiff, straight boards of which it was
composed, efectually prevented it
from coming into use outside of
New England, except in isolated
and peculiarly bUny cases.
To Che wooden corset succeeded
the whalebone corset, which was in
PRODUCED into the country IN the
year 1881 The characteristic fes-
ture of this corset was the substitu
Llln "a HuaicDOht iOt HOOus ~ Il
questionably this was an improve
ment, since the whalebone was, to
some extent, flexible. Experience
showed, however, that the whale
bone was liable to break, and had
TO be frequently renewed. In fact
the wearer was Obliged to furnish
herself a new set of 'bones," as
they we're technically called, every
six months. A still graver fault
was the tendency of an occasional
bone to work upward and outward.
Accidents riVsling in horror those
formerly caused by railroad "snake-
bends" became painfully common.
and the young husband who hat
succeeded in passing through the Pc
Rod of courtship without sustain
ing an injury to cheek or eye was
exceptionally fortunate. The whale
bone corset was succeeded in about
1910 AZ by the steel corset, which
has been frequently and greatly i'm
proved.
DR.. Richardson's assertion will
have the effect to revive war against
The corset. 1t must be confessed
hat the unlearned man will fail to
see the connection between tight lac
ng and the action of the brain. He
will say that the corset congresses
'nly that part of the human figure
,nown to ANTAGONISTS as the region
between the fourth and eighteenth
,utton, counting downward from
he neck, and that, inasmuch as the
rain is not situated within this re
ion, it cannot be affected by pres
ure applied thereto.
1t would be easy to show that no
7oman of brilliant intellect has
'orn corsets. In support Of this as
ertion, Sappho and Aspasia, George
eliot and host of other eminent .
women might be cited, but it is suf-
cient to refer to women of our
wn time and country. The long
career of Miss Susan Is.
anthony has been marked by her
consistent public reputation of the
orset IN every form. The example
'fiered by the lives of eminent
Americans should be brought TO the
attention of DIR. Richardson, as af-
ording a strong continuation of
lis theory that where we find great
mental power among women OF
whatever age, we also find a total
absence of corsets.