The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-02-14
The Corset.

DR., Richardson is one Of the most
eminent physicians Of London, and his
opiuion ON any subject connected with
health or disease is worthy OF respect.
When, therefore, he announces that
the corset "dcadCns the mental capt.
bility OF women" he furnishes a new
and powerful argument against that
almost univcrsally-worn article.
There has been, 50 the most pro-
found dressmakers assure us, a WON
doriul progress in the construction Of
the corset during the present 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 end around nucleus of
girl. and held together by cordage in
steal OF hoops. This remarkable
structure was in general use in New
England in the days Of Puritlnism,
ana undoubtedly was closely connect
ed with the general prevalence Of
austere morality in the Puritanic
community. 1t constituted an inn
permeable defense against fires, and it
chilled the ardUr oc the worldly
minded lover, vino found no delight
in the contact OF wood and coat sleeve.
The New England small boy would
sometimes borrow the corset Of an
allcctiouatc sister prior to a personal
interview with his father in the wood
shed, and there is no doubt that when
worn aDnornaIIy low, it afforded Ct-
llnicut protection against the parental
rul. IL was, however, source of
great discomfort to the Legitimate
Mcawr and the uuyicldng nature OF
thu S,jh, straight boards OF which
it was composed, eteclually prevent
cd it l'rm coming into Use outside of
New England except in isoNlcl AMI
peculiarly bony cases
To the wooden corset succeeded tine
WAalcoOnc corset, which was intro
duccd into the country in the year
1881. The Characteristic feature of
this corset was the substitution of
whalebOne for wood. Unquc,tiona-
bly, this was an improvement, since
the whalcbonc was to some extent
flexible, Experience showed, how
ever, that the whalcDUne was liable
10 break, and had to De frequently re-
ncwCd. In fact, the WGarCr was
Obliged to furnish herself a new set OF
"DOncs,' Is they were technically
called, once every six months. 4
still grayCr fault was the tendency of
an occasional bone to work upward
AMI outward. Accidents rivalIng in
horror those formerly caused BY rail-
way "snakC-bcnds," became painfully
common, and the young husband who
had succe dad in passing through the
period Of cOurtshlp without sustain
ing an injury in the check OF eye was
exceptionally fortunate. The whale
bone corset was succeeded in lSl0-i2
by tue steel corset, which has since
been frequently and greatly improv- B,
Ell. The steel "bone,," when first
used, sometimes broke, and pierced
the woman III vital parts Of her per-
sou, but accidents OF this kind have
now become entirely obsolete OF |
late years it is understood that the
corset has been modelled 50 rs to ii the
figure, at least to some extent, aud !
hence the usual physiolog ical argu-
nlent against the corset has lost much
of its force. There is, however, an
obvious difficulty in Obtaining the ex-
act truth in regarl to this matter,
since there is great and manifest diff
ference between archaeological and
contemporary Investigation. Tie old
assertion that the pressure OF the COR
set forced the ribs inNarl, or that
they ultimately emerged at the back
and wore out dresses and upholstered
furniture, was true only Of the board
and WhalebuIG cOrsets, and the mod
ern dress icIorlncrs, when they meet
in convention, rarely dcnoumcc tho
cor,ct, and prefer 10 spend their en-
orgies in attacking other articles of
dress.
DR., Richardson's assertion will have
the elect to revive the war against
the corset.