The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-29
CORsETs FOR GENTLEMEN.
A Practice that Appears To Be Growing in
Popularity.
San Francisco Call.


Popularity.
San Francisco Call.
In a recent fashion latter ''Clara Belle men
toned, as a matter Of great surprise, that
she had discovered a corset upon gentleman at
fashionable gathering in New York
While musing upon the subject Call report
er's attention was attracted by sign in the
window of large corset house. reading: Gen
tlemen's Corsets Made to Order Resolved to
know more about the subject the reporter
opened the door of the establishment and
walked in.
Does any man-always excepting Roscoe
Conkling-wear corsetss' he asked.
Certainly, SIR replied the polite young clerk,
to whom the inquiry was addressed I'VE have
furnished great many to gentlemen, not only
to residents of this city, but have filled orders
from as far east as Washington and West Vir-
ginia. One gentleman from Guatemala think
he is a consul there--recently had one made here.
He must be Unfortunately yain and / think he
corsets just for show, for he insisted on hav
ing it made of red satin and trimmed with Valen-
ciennes lace You may laugh, but it's an actual
fact The corset cost him $25 He had on a
delicate pink silk one when he came to US, which
l believe made for him by a lady corset
maker in this city"
sHow long have you been making corsets for
gentlemen9"
about three years, though we have not ad-
vertised the fact until recently. Since that pla-
card was put out in the window, at least dozen
gentlemen have called to investigate the subject.
AT first they treat the matter q joke, and are,
oh, SO difident, but they often leave order be-
fore they get through"
From what class of people do your customers
comet"
"Various classes. One of them is prominent
railroad mana 'magnate,' might say. We
have just completed corset for a practicing
physician and surgeon. / took his measure at
his house. great many gentlemen will not
come here but send for US to call on them. Lots
of the Kearny street dudes wear corsetS. L
could point out any number Of them to you"
why they wornl"
"Oh, they wonderful support to one, and
serve much the same purpose as braces in keep
ing them erect. We made one for young man
whose back is broken
is the manufacture of these articles general
among corset dealers!'
Z II believe ours is the only house in this coun-
try which makes specially of it. They
worn quite extensively in European cities, how
ever"
'Of what materials are they made!"
Ordinarily of plain coutil with busque
CROCHET steel in the back, and are lined with
sateen. Here is a sample OF that description;
just come inside and try it on
After few protests the reporter yielded and
followed his guide into a small dressing room
blushing furiously as he passed a full of
snickering girls, who evidently thought him
corset convert.
There you are said the accommodating
salesman. How do you like it?'
The reporter hated to acknowledge that he
felt as though in strai light jacket, and merely
said that ne thought tt would not be easy to
draw full breath, whereupon the salesman ex-
planned that the strips of elastic which held the
front and back portions of the corset together
were designed to allow one breathing privileges.
IF it is desired to stitfen the corset con-
tinued the artist, ''it can be done by additional
steels in the -"
just then gentleman came in, and, drawing
the salesman aside, whispered something about
a broken STEEL and the reporter quietly with
drew to cogtate upon the deterioration of hui
manty, viewed from physical standpoint,
and the probabilities of the strong minded
women lecturers of the future inveighing against
putting corsets on that boy before he Is half
grown"