The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-15

The afternoon shopping hours were now at
their height and the corset department received
a very large share of the fashionable custom Of
the store. In a position from which he could
observe without being observed, the reporter in
the course Of an hour, noted as many as twenty
entries into the torture chamber" Finally, Il
lady, accompanied by her three daughters, the
eldest not more than thirteen years old, sought
the inner temple, much to the reporters aston
ishment.
rs it possible he asked, chat such children
are fitted with corsets?'
ooh, yes; some children even younger than
the youngest of the three you just noticed are
made to wear corsets," was the reply, but | am
happy to say that the practice is neither a com
mon nor growing one"
''Surely, no sensible mother could approve of
such practice!"
at is simply barbarous!" exclaimed the fore
woman, Indignantly. '"There is no shadow of
excuse for children and very young girls wear
ing stays such as applies in the case Of older
persons. Little girls should wear the Gabrielle
or Mother Hubbard style of dress exclusively
which is made in one piece, with the weight
resting on the shoulders, after the manner of
suspenders. Save for surgical purposes, such a
thing as a corset on little girl is torturing
abomination that none but women whose slavish
pursuit Of fashion amounts to disease would
think of permitting.
CoRsETs WORN BY MEN
''Will you inform me if you know any
mo: though have heard of such things" she
replied. 81 really can't imagine much mascu-
Unity about a man who would wear corsets You
must seek information on that head among the
fashionable tailors.'
1t was only after diligent search that the re-
porter succeeded in finding the fashionable tailor
who could or would afford the information de-
sired. He was forthcoming at last, however
and was communicative enough, though pru-
IDENTIFY careful to give no names.
'Why, there's nothing new in certain men
about town wearing cOrsets" said he, leading
the reporter to his plate glass window that over
looked fashionable thoroughfare then at the
height of the afternoon promenade. 'They al
ways have done so as far back as can remem-
Der, though of late years, with an advent of
aesthetics and dudism in general, the fashion has
been on the increase. The ultra dudes nearly
all wear stays, but bless you, there are others
too, who are by no means dudes or especial y
effeminate, either There go two swell gam
blers arm in arm. Yes, of course, you know
them by name and reputation-every one does;
but what you don't know is that the slenderer
and betterdressed one on the outside wears cor
sets, and has done so for years. | ought to know,
for | order his stays for him. Masculine corsets
are made to order by two large manufacturers
here IN the city. assure you that there are
few daughters or danes of wealth and
fashion with more expensive sik-woven fine
bOned gold-corded stays under their silks and
sealskins than that man yOnder carries under
his upper linen. There with that richly dressed
lady. IS one of the most prominent sporting men
about town, who has worn corset for years.
You can't deny that it helps him show off his
shouderpads to advantage. You know the
handsome actor swinging his cane in solitary
grandeur on the opposite sidewalk! Well, if
you don't likewise know that he helps his gener-
al make up, of the stage and on, by means of
corset don't know why | should tell you.
There go three we'll -dressed men together, all
customers of mine. Which would you give the
palm to in point of shapel The one in the mid
die. knew you would say that, for its the
solid truth; and he's the only one of the trio that
v'csr4e c0TSets Now catch on to the
brace of pinch backed long-tailed, toe
pointed dudes following, and note the differ
detect it mile off, for it simply gives EN- a gen
orally nOndescript idiotic air, while in the case
of the bucks already pointed out the practice
really serves to set up their shapes. Oh a
thorOughbreds thoroughbred, in stays or
out of EN-. It's all the difference in the world"
But this is astonishing" we exclaimed.
ut shouldn't be anything of the sort said the
tailor, complacently. Fashionable men have
good right to improve their shapes artifi-
cially as women have; and if false calves. pad
ded shoulders, bran biceps, and counterfeit
chest fronts are allowable in the masculine
make-ups, why not corsets just as well2 Under
stand, however that | don't saw | would wear
corsets myself. However, | must tell you lit
tie story about prominent society man whose
makeup, so admirably had he contrved it, |
only discovered the other day by the oldest of
accidents. Understand that I'm not his
tailor, or l wouldn't have Daen surprised
at all at what happened. But there was
business transaction between us, and he told me
to call any day at his club apartments to talk
the matter over, without appointing any particu-
lar hour. Well, CHANGED to drop in on him
early in the morning and, as his sitting room
door was aiar, ventured to enter unannounced.
Though | had otter been there before, thought
at first must have got into the wrong room,
for, while my friend is to ali the world a big,
grand, SuperhY preserved man OF middle age,
the only occupant of the room was a aldheaded,
tOOthless. shrivel-shanked sort of galvanized
anatomy shivering over feeble fire in a dressing
gown and old slippers. coughed and the old
wreck suddenly started I'D with a sort of fright
ened screech and darted into an adjoining dress
ing-room, slamming the door after him.
hadn't recognized him. Presently the door re
opened and there stood my big, grand, well
preserved, dle-aged friend, as large and self
possessed as usual, but just little out of sorts
at the discovery had made"
But what was the discovery, and what had
become of the shriveed-up old mani"
why, he had simply vanished into the per
had surprised en- dishabille don'tyO sect That
was the joke"
"Oh, yes!"
Now, for one more specimen" continued the
agreeable tailor, again directing the reporters
attention upon the promenade. There? Look
at that large wellmade, finely dressed gentle
man just making the crossing. He used to be a
prize fighter, but is now a prominent criminal
lawyer, and one of the best fellows in the
world"
Yes" said the reporter Nearly every one
knows and likes him
''To be sure! Wouldn't you be surprised to
learn that he habitually wears corsetsl"
Indeed, would"
We'll so would l. Ha. ha, ha!7 And this
was the last of the fashionable tailors jokes.
Mrs. Mac<ey and Her Portrait.
Lucy Hooper, in Philapelphia Telegraph.
Mrs. Mackey, is a beautiful, graceful and ele
cn,nt ON c,nn,,r- cido Of fnrtrr