The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-08-06
FEMALE IMPERSoNkToRS.
The Stery of One Who Died From I.acing
Too Tight.

% Your order is for fancy dress ball.
Well, when have to refuse an order ] al
ways direct ladies to clever modiste, q
Miss Comstock, who has taste, and though
she does great deal of costuming also takes
private orders" Armed with the address,
&C the peoples train," as some one has
dubbed the Third avenue elevated, soon
whirled me toward Harlem River and few
steps brought me to q modest house. As
the door opened in response to my ring q
young man passed out, then returned to the
threshold n in q soft voice said to trim
making it too tight, and sew the corsage
bouquet on stoutlyl"
" All right; won't forget" answered
the little woman cheerfully, and then she
closed the door and ushered me into tiny
parlor, the walls of which were completely
covered by cabinet photographs.
After business was disposed of curiosity
called for satisfaction, and eliminated in
the question, E" Do you make stage costumes
for men ?"
" Yes, but only for what are called
female impersonators,' was the smiling
reply. "You did not know there were
many2 Oh, yes, in this city there are near.
ly dozen regularly employed, besides those
who travel in variety and circus companies.
| first began this branch of dressmaking by
making complete toilet for young gentle
man, the son of one of my customers, who
wanted to go to the French ball Us lady.
He was a rather slight, short, eifeminate-
looking man, and when his complexion was
made up and his golden wig put on, his
dress of pink, brocaded silk, looped with
roses and white ostrich tips, turned him
into darling looking blonde. In order to
take the role we'll he went to Walling for
some lessons in department, and the latter,
pleased with his pupils costume, came to
me. At first 1 hesitated at the idea, but
when found these impersonators belonged
to respectable families, and that they were
little trouble and good pay, was persuaded
to make speciality of it."
-" Who was this Walling you speak ?"
e He was the most proficient actor in his
branch of profession. Rather delicate in
appearance. He had whittier neck than l
ever saw on any woman, and his arms were
remarkably beautiful in shape not showing
the biceps; round and of snowy Wilderness.
His dresses were all made low-necked and
short-sleeved, and whit with his way of
using his eyes, flirting with a fan, and, in
short, affecting the airs and graces of
pretty woman, he could make any one forget
hia SEX"
Where is Walling now?"
Indeed don't know" said Miss Com
stock; adding ingenuously, che died when
he was only twenty-four years old from the
effects of tight lacing l suppose lacing
must be more injurious to men than women;
perhaps because the flesh ia frmer, and it
requires greater compression to reduce the
size of the waist. But, Mt any rate, I have
noticed that these impersonators die young,
and in some cases the doctors have decided
corsets the trouble to which they succumbed
or course they are only worn when being
fitted and ON the stage, but for this purpose
they are made of the stoutest jean that is
made, laced with whip-cord, and as most of
the wearers dance and sing some of them
even performing acrobatic feats, they must
suffer intensely "-NA,o York Litter 10
Cincinnati Enquirer.