The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-04-27

Those who wish to improvi
figures by stays have befor = p
the conception of twen y inca
waist Venus. To the outline of
this hour gless shaped goddess
they aspire. The normal waist
is quite oval; the fashion
able waist quite round. Wo-
men with miniature waists who
maintain that such waists are
natural to them, and are independ-
ent of art, must have been born de-
formed. No person enters this
world with q ready-made fashion
able waist. AS regards health, the
tapering waist is effected mainly by
a compression of the five lower ribs,
these ribs being more movable than
all the rest. There is popular de-
lusion to the effect that there is
plenty of empty space inside the
body, and into this space the DIS
placed organs are pushed in tight
lacing. Tight lacing means COM
preston not of skin, muscle and
bone, but of liver, stomach and
lungs. Even a slight amount of
construction affects these organs, and
stays that are by no means tight
lessen the capacity of the chest for
air. Post mortems on tight lacers
show the liver deeply indented with
the ribs, and more or less seriously
displaced. The stomach is also
commonly affected, as, too, are
chronic dyspepsia, liver derange-
ments, disturbances of nutrition,
etc. Tight lacing, moreover, rem
ders more or less useless the
diaphragm or principal muscle of
respiration. The breathing powers
| of the narrow-waisted are always
seriously impaired, and hence fol-
lows possibly the languor. the in
ability for exertion, the tendency 10
faint, etc. The circulation, more
over, is Interfered with, and certain
cases are reported of death from
apoplexy in young women who have
tight-laccd. Stays injuriously affect
the muscles of the back. These
muscles become wasted because
their function, that of supporting
the spine, is absorbed by the corset,
and they exhibit the usual charges
of muscles that have been long dis
used. Thus the back is actually
weakened by the use of stays, aud
those women who maintain that
they cannot do without the sup
port of stays, make use of the argu-
ment of the opium-eater, after hav-
ing by indulgence developed a
craving for the drug, asserts that he
cannot do without 10. Under no
circumstances do yonng girls ro-
quire stays, and TO the bulk OF
young women also the same remSrk
applies. A modified corset, COM
posed merely of some stiff material.
aud devoid of all bands and whale
bones, etc, may be used by those
who incline TO stoutness or whose
busts are prominent, and by
women who have been moth
ers. Such a corset or bodice would
merely give that slight amount Of
support required for comfort and
appearance. The lecturer next re-
ferred to shoes and boots, and de-.
nounced pointed toes and high
clothing usually worn by women
was too great, and that the number
of petticoats was often excessive.
These garments have for their prim-
ary object the protection OF the
lower extremeties, but IL additional
warmth is required for these parts
surely the use of an extra petticoat
or so is not the most sensible way of
supplying it. Not only do petit
coats add greatly to the weight Of
dress to be carried, but they throw
a very injurious burden on the hips
around which they are attached.
Several petticoats suspended layer
by layer about the waist cannot have
other than an injurious effect upon
health, and the evil 10 especially OBJ
noxious in young girls, in whom the
garments cannot be propery sup
ported without considerable
amount of construction of the
waist. II these garments must be
worn, let them be attached
to bodice, or let them be suspend
ed from the shoulders by modified
form of brace A far more sensible
way of clothing the lower extremi-
ties is provided by the so-called
coordination" garment, which is a
most valuable addition 10 reasona-
BILE and healthy dress. Gloves, with
a fabulous number of buttons. that
cover nearly the entire arm, and
with closeness of fit, and with inn
permeabillty of structure, must Sc
riously interfere with the action OF
the skin of the upper extremities.
There was need OF a dress both SEN
sible aud pretty, aud the evolution
of such a dress would appear TO be
al present somewhat hindered by
the action of these very persons who
oppose fashionable costume. The
Greek dress somewhat recently in
troduced was not only extremely
graceful, but it was also healthy,
and may, with some little ingenuity,
be adapted TO all the circumstances
| 4 -