The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-11-25

lines, but placing them properly and SO
that they will stay in place is harder
than restraining an exuberance Of adj.
pose tissue"
"Have YOU any especial style Of corset
for fat women? g
Yes, and for fat men. too. | call it
the military corset 1t is corset,
bandage and brace combined, very long,
so as to come down over the hips, and 1t
is very difficult to fit properly, so that
few persons can make it..
Your passing reference to fat men
was, Of course, merely a jest"
mot at all. ! make a great many
gentlemens corsets. Some wear them
because they wish to seem less corpulent;
others, because they want their support,
and not a few who do not really need
them, to give themselves erect, graceful
shapes, lace and buckle and strap them
selves Just as carefully as women do.
Lawyers and book keepers, people who
write a good deal, and are apt to get
round-shouldered, wear corsets frequent
ly; also gentlemen who ride on horse
back and wish to have an erect look. l
prefer not TO mention names among my
gentlemen customers. Should | do SO,
YOU would hear some Of the prominent
names Of New York, bit they might
not like that notoriety. No, it's no use;
| will not tell.
"Have you had much dealing with
actresses
ooh, Yes, and very pleasant people
they are, always wanting the best, and
willing to pay well for it. Lolita is
among my customers, and | have made
corsets in old times for some famous la
dies on the stage, can tell you. Among
others | remember now that have made
for, were Jenny Lind and Fanny Ellsler.
Actresses always want their corsets to
fit very tightly, so as to show their shape
in the best advantage. l have never
been in their dressing rooms, but | un-
derstand that very often they wear their
corsets next the skin, or with only a
very thin gauze jacket beneath. Some
society ladies do that, too, and even in
cold weather, when they are going out,
will eudeavor to find warmth in tight
fitting suit of channels skin, rather than
put on comfortable, healthful clothing,
for fear the beauty of their shapes may
be affected | have heard or read Of a
lady who was going to grand ball, and
she actually starved herself for days be-
forehand, so that she might get into the
splendid dress she was 70 wear on the
occasion. The night came; she got her
corsets laced on her SO that the dress
could lie put on, and she still could
breathe. The dress was put on. Then
nature demanded some sustenance. Up
on serious consideration. she concluded
that she could hold one dozen OF the very
smallest oysters without the corsets
and dress bursting Eleven of them
she succeeded in swallowing, but the
twelfth she had to leave on her plate,
though she felt as if she was starving
for it. There was absolutely no room
for that twelfth very small oyster. The
story is told of a French woman. |
hardly think an American woman would
be so foolish. She would at least have
had the daring TO swallow the twelfth
oyster, if she wanted it, and trust to
Providence for the consequences. But
the fitting of corsets depends upon the
style of dress in very great degree. If
lady is going TO wear one Of those
long bodied, close-titting cuirass waists,
she must be SHAPED tc match it, and
would have to have a very different cor
set from that which she would W, ar
under her wrapper about home when no
callers were expected Gentlemen
callers ?" Not necessarily. Women
dress more for each others inspection
than they DO for gentlemen's admiration.
They know that mans eyes are much
more likely to take for granted the re-
atty of pretty figure and much less
apt to detect small defects, as a general
rule than women are. Men admire
women criticise Women know each
others little tricks and devices, and in
stinctively arm themselves against each
others scrutiny, even when they may be
the dearest friends and have no appar-
ent immediate fear of betrayal.
| use the very best French coureille, a
linen fabric of great strength, and whale
bone ordinarily; but | also make corsets
of both farmers satin and real satin
ones are generally wanted by actresses,
,,.I | .alr . s Ill L